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Beats introduces the new flagship model in its over-ear headphone series. For the first time, the ear and headband cushions are replaceable, and the headphones also feature IPX4 water and the most powerful noise cancellation the brand has ever produced. They are available to order now and will be in stores on Thursday.
The headphones had been anticipated for months. In May, an over-ear model from Apple appeared in the FCC database, and shortly afterward, an unknown Beats model was spotted on a professional soccer player. Now Beats has officially unveiled the 360, as the company's press release describes. It costs €349.95 in Germany, placing it significantly below the AirPods Max 2.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Beats 360 costs €349.95, available to order now, in stores from September 24th.
- For the first time on Beats headphones, the ear pads and headband pads can be replaced.
- Four basic colors: black, cloud, pink and sky blue, each with matching cushions.
- Cushion sets normally cost €59.95, but are temporarily available for €9.95 at launch.
- The Beats Studio Pro now costs €299.95.
Interchangeable cushions as the core idea
The unique selling point lies not in the acoustics, but in the accessories. Performance Knit cushions are included as standard: memory foam wrapped in a breathable knit fabric, whose strands consist of 36 micro-threads each. They are designed for training and a secure fit.
In addition, there are UltraPlush ear cushions made of processed synthetic leather, the same material as in the Studio Pro and the Solo 4. Both versions cover the ear cups and headband.
The color selection is larger for the sets than for the headphones themselves. Performance Knit is available in six colors, including Navy and Volt, while UltraPlush comes in Black and Cloud.
| Position | Price in Germany |
|---|---|
| Beats 360 | 349.95 euros |
| Cushion set, regular | 59.95 euros |
| Upholstery set, introductory price | 9.95 euros |
| Beats Studio Pro, new price | 299.95 euros |
What's in acoustics
Beats built a custom acoustic platform for the 360, with drivers developed exclusively for this model. The diaphragms are triple-layered, and each driver contains two neodymium magnets.
According to the manufacturer, the noise cancellation is the strongest the brand has ever offered. It claims up to 1.75 times more total attenuation than the Studio Pro, measured according to IEC 60268-24. This value explicitly includes both active and passive attenuation, so it's not a pure ANC comparison.
Nine digital MEMS microphones are integrated: eight for noise cancellation, three for voice recording, two of which perform both functions. During phone calls, a beamforming microphone enhances the voice.
The battery information has a footnote
Beats claims up to 32 hours of battery life, both with Adaptive EQ and noise cancellation disabled, and with ANC and personalized 3D audio enabled. According to the manufacturer, a five-minute charge provides one hour of playback.
A third value is only mentioned in the footnote to the measurement: In transparency mode, the battery life drops to 24 hours. Those who listen with a lot of ambient sound will therefore lose eight hours compared to the advertised figure – a detail that didn't make it into the main body of the announcement.
Custom chip instead of Apple silicon
Technically, Beats takes a different approach than Apple's own headphones. The 360 uses a custom-designed Beats chip, not the H-chip found in AirPods and AirPods Max. Class 1 Bluetooth version 5.3 is used for connectivity.
The approach has a reason: the headphones should perform equally well on both platforms. On iPhone and Mac, there's one-tap pairing, "Hey Siri," automatic switching between devices, audio sharing, personalized 3D audio with dynamic head tracking, and "Find My" with network-based location services – the latter requiring iOS 27. On Android, Fast Pair, Find Hub, and automatic switching are supported.
The controls are located on the back of the earcups: on the right a rocker switch for volume and a button for playback and calls, on the left the on/off button and a separate button for the listening modes.
Waterproof for the first time, and that has consequences
The 360 is Beats' first over-ear headphone with IPX4 sweat and water resistance. According to the manufacturer, this was made possible by the design of the rear acoustic chamber and the internal electronics.
What Beats has sacrificed for this is remarkable. The headphones are designed to be completely wireless, freeing up space in the headband that the developers have used to optimize weight distribution and clamping force. A headphone jack for wired listening, like the one offered by the Studio Pro, is not mentioned in the press release.
Priced between their own models
At €349.95, the 360 takes the top spot in the Beats lineup, pushing the Studio Pro down, which simultaneously drops to €299.95. It remains significantly more expensive than the AirPods Max 2.
For buyers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH region), the price of the ear pads is particularly interesting. An additional set normally costs €59.95, roughly one-sixth of the headphones' price. The introductory price of €9.95 is only valid until October 31st, while supplies last, and is limited to three sets per customer. The English version of the announcement doesn't include Germany in its sample list of participating markets, while the German version explicitly states the price. Anyone wanting to change the ear pads should therefore buy within the next five weeks. Besides the Apple Store, the Beats 360 is also listed on Amazon.
We expect that this accessories business is precisely what Beats is targeting. Headphones whose appearance can be changed for ten euros retain customers differently than those that come pre-made – and after the promotion ends, the same change costs six times as much.
Would you buy extra ear pads in multiple colors for your headphones, or is the interchangeable headband more of a solution to a problem you don't have? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
