Beats 360: interchangeable ear cushions, IPX4 resistance, and 32-hour battery life

Beats introduced the Beats 360 on September 22, 2026, as its new flagship over-ear headphones. They cost $349.99 in the United States and combine an uncommon idea in this category—interchangeable cushions on both the ear cups and the headband—with IPX4 resistance, active noise cancellation, and up to 32 hours of battery life.

The new feature is not just about changing the color. The design aims to solve a specific problem with large headphones used for workouts: sweat stays in contact with the cushions and accelerates wear. Being able to remove them for cleaning or replacement gives them a functional advantage, although extra kits are sold separately.

Beats 360: the design revolves around the cushions

The Beats 360 are the brand’s first headphones with removable cushions on the ear cups and the headband. The mechanism lets you take them off with a twist and install another set without tools. Each unit includes Performance Knit cushions in the same color as the body; the UltraPlush alternative is aimed at a softer feel for extended use.

The four main finishes are Black, Cloud, Pink, and Sky Blue. The Performance Knit kits add Navy Blue and Volt to those four shades, while UltraPlush is offered in Black and Cloud. That combination turns the cushions into both a replacement part and an aesthetic accessory.

The change has a more important consequence than customization: when the foam or fabric deteriorates, it does not force you to replace the entire headset or go through a repair. Beats also designed the parts so they can be swapped after a workout, a proposition that fits the product’s sweat and water protection.

The trade-off is the price of those replacement parts. The kits cost $49.99 in the United States outside the initial promotion. They include the two ear cup cushions and the headband piece, but buying more than one set quickly raises the total cost.

Sound, ANC, and spatial audio on the Beats 360

Inside is a custom dynamic driver with two neodymium magnets and Beats’ own high-dynamic-range amplifier. Beats says the new system reduces distortion and keeps the response more consistent, while adaptive EQ adjusts the sound based on the seal of the cushions and how they are positioned.

Active noise cancellation uses eight of the product’s nine microphones. According to the official Beats announcement, the combination of passive isolation and ANC cancels up to 1.75 times more noise than the Beats Studio Pro under the IEC 60268-24 test method. This is a comparison against the brand’s previous model, not a claim of leadership over Bose or Sony.

They also include Transparency mode and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. Creating the spatial audio profile requires an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera; once configured, it syncs with compatible Apple devices. On Android, ANC, Transparency mode, and controls from the Beats app still work, but not every Apple ecosystem feature has an equivalent.

The nine microphones are not dedicated only to ANC. Three are involved in voice capture—two of them shared with noise cancellation—and the system can dynamically select the cleanest signal during a call. The architecture uses a custom Beats chip in each ear cup instead of an Apple H chip.

Are the Beats 360 good for working out?

Yes, with one clear limit: the IPX4 rating protects them against splashes, light rain, and sweat during non-water sports, but it does not allow them to be submerged or charged while wet. This is the first time Beats has applied this level of resistance to over-ear headphones, a category where official protection remains uncommon.

The physical controls are also designed so you do not have to rely on a screen. The right ear cup has the playback and call button plus volume controls; the left has the power button and the selector between ANC and ambient sound. Siri can be activated by voice on compatible Apple devices.

The ability to remove the cushions after a demanding session is the natural complement to IPX4 protection. Even so, the rating is not permanent: Beats warns that it may decrease with normal wear. The product must be dried before charging it again.

At 294.5 grams, they are not light compared with all of their rivals, but they remain well below the heaviest aluminum headphones. The slim headband distributes pressure, and the stainless steel telescoping arms allow size adjustment. The ear cups rotate independently and lie flat for wearing around the neck or storage.

All-day comfort and fit

The included Performance Knit cushions use memory foam covered by a breathable fabric. UltraPlush swaps the surface for a softer finish, but it is not included in the box. The choice is not purely visual: the fabric is meant to dissipate heat better during movement, while UltraPlush prioritizes the feel against the skin during long sessions.

The final experience will depend on head size and the material chosen. An early Tom's Guide test praised their stability and weight distribution, but also pointed out two important omissions for a $350 product: there is no wear detection for automatic pausing, and no charger is included.

Battery life, compatibility, and what comes in the box

Beats claims up to 32 hours of playback with ANC and personalized spatial audio enabled. With ANC and Transparency mode turned off, maximum battery life is also 32 hours when adaptive EQ is active. Fast Fuel restores up to one hour with five minutes of charging.

The connection is Bluetooth 5.3 Class 1 and works with Apple and Android devices. In the Apple ecosystem, there is one-touch pairing, iCloud syncing, automatic switching, Find My, audio sharing, and “Hey Siri.” On Android, it offers Fast Pair, audio switching, Find Hub, voice assistant support, and settings through the Beats app.

The Spanish spec sheet confirms that the box includes the headphones with their Performance Knit cushions, a carrying case, the quick-start guide, and documentation. The USB-C cable, power adapter, and additional kits are sold separately.

There is another omission that matters if the headphones are used with a console, an audio interface, or in-flight entertainment. 9to5Mac reported in its test that they do not play audio through the USB-C port and also do not have a 3.5 mm input. Their use is wireless; USB-C is only for charging.

Beats 360 price and availability

The Beats 360 can be ordered starting September 22, 2026, for $349.99 in the United States. In-store availability begins September 24 in more than one hundred countries and regions. The four base colors include matching Performance Knit cushions.

Additional kits have a standard price of $49.99 in the United States. A promotion lowers them to $9.99 until October 31, 2026, in selected markets, so that temporary amount should not be treated as the real long-term cost of maintaining or customizing the product. Alongside the launch, the Beats Studio Pro dropped to $299.99.

The $50 difference between the two models buys IPX4 resistance, the modular cushion system, a new acoustic platform, and what Beats says is the best noise cancellation it has ever made. In return, the Studio Pro retain wired connections that the Beats 360 have abandoned.

Outside the brand, comparing priorities is more useful than listing specifications. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 prioritize noise cancellation and travel, while the Sonos Ace Ultra focus on integration with the speakers in their ecosystem. The Beats 360 stand apart from both through the combination of IPX4 and modular cushions.

Who the Beats 360 make sense for

The Beats 360 have a clearer identity than generic premium headphones. They are the logical option for anyone who wants an over-ear model for workouts, values sweat resistance, and prefers replacing the surfaces that wear out before replacing the entire product. Balanced compatibility with Apple and Android also keeps them from being locked into a single ecosystem.

They are not the most complete purchase for travel or working with multiple sources. The lack of wired audio and automatic pause matters more the farther the use case moves away from the gym, and the cushion kits add an expense that is central to the product’s proposition.

Beats’ bet is strong because customization solves maintenance, hygiene, and style with the same part. But at $349.99, the product requires accepting one firm decision: everything it does, it does over Bluetooth. If training is the priority, that trade-off makes sense; if a wired connection is essential, the Studio Pro remain the more flexible alternative within the brand.

Author

Alexis Paez