Apple’s new Beats 360 over-ear headphones deliver many hallmarks of the AirPods Max experience—strong noise cancellation, spatial audio, comfort—and they do it at a lower price. But there’s a major trade-off: the absence of any wired audio input. Here’s a full look at what makes the Beats 360 worth considering, and where they come up short.
What you get (and how they stack up)
Priced at $349.99, Beats 360 target the premium headphone buyer—under-cutting the $549 AirPods Max, yet commanding more than Beats’ Studio Pro models. To reflect that shift, Beats permanently dropped the Studio Pro’s price to $299.99. The Beats 360 borrow Beats-brand silicon, but bring long-awaited features: automatic device switching via your Apple account, Hey Siri voice control, and full Find My integration.
On performance, Beats 360 are louder by 12 dB compared to Beats Studio Pro, and offer about 1.75× more effective active noise cancellation. They support Adaptive EQ under iOS 27, include spatial audio with head tracking, and are IPX4 rated—making sweat and water resistance a first for Beats bigger headphones. Battery life with ANC on outlasts Studio Pro by roughly eight hours. Four color options launch—Cloud, Sky, Black, Pink—all finished with a premium look and feel.
Customization without compromise
One of the Beats 360’s standout features is modular design. You can replace ear cushions and head cushion in either of two materials—UltraPlush for comfort, or Performance Knit suited for workouts. While each replacement set usually costs $49.99, a promotional deal drops them to $9.99 through October 31 in select countries. Mix and match headband and earcup colors, and you have dozens to hundreds of combinations, depending on how deep you go.
The trade-offs
Lighter and more comfortable than AirPods Max for many users—especially with UltraPlush cushions—Beats 360 still take hits in sound fidelity compared to the Max. Transparency mode and ANC are strong, but don’t quite top Apple’s premium set. Also, there’s no auto-pause when removing the headphones from your head, which some might expect in this category.
The biggest drawback is lack of wired audio support—no headphone jack, and USB-C doesn’t allow wired connection either. That means no backup for travel or devices where Bluetooth isn’t ideal, like airplanes or game consoles. It’s a limitation that could be a dealbreaker for certain users.
Availability and pricing
Beats 360 go on sale starting September 24; you can preorder now. The cushion promo (for new or replacement pads) runs through October 31 in multiple countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, South Korea and France.
Verdict
For Apple users who’ve longed for an AirPods-Max-like over-ear that’s lighter, customizable, and more affordable, Beats 360 come remarkably close. Noise canceling, spatial audio, comfort—all align well. But the lack of wired connectivity is a glaring omission. If you rarely travel or mostly use Apple’s ecosystem, it might not bother you. If you need that extra reliability, the AirPods Max still hold an edge.
