The Beats 360 are full-size wireless headphones designed for workouts, combining a lightweight build, IPX4 splash resistance and replaceable ear cushions with Beats’ broad Apple and Android compatibility. They offer several features associated with Apple’s AirPods line at a lower $350 price, but their strong clamping force, limited adjustment and lack of wired audio keep them from being an uncomplicated recommendation.

Design and durability

The headphones use a restrained design built around a slim frame, large foam-filled ear cushions and a matching mesh-covered headband. The ear cushions twist off, while the headband can be removed by pulling it away from the frame. That makes worn or stained parts easier to replace and lets owners change the headphones’ appearance.

Beats sells replacement cushion kits with both Performance Knit fabric and UltraPlush leather options. Performance Knit kits come in Black, Cloud, Sky, Pink, Navy and Volt, while UltraPlush is offered in Black and Cloud. The headphones themselves are available in Black, Cloud, Pink and Sky. A full replacement kit includes both cushions and the headband, so individual components cannot be bought separately.

The IPX4 rating protects the Beats 360 from splashes and sweat, although it does not cover submersion or powerful streams of water. Build quality is strong, with durable-feeling plastics and solid moving parts. Lighter fabric colors may stain more readily, and the mesh covering the speaker grille is not removable for cleaning.

Comfort remains a concern

Comfort is the weakest part of the design. The telescoping headband has roughly 3cm of travel on each side, which may not be enough for larger or taller heads. Extending it fully can also increase the already-heavy clamping force.

The ear cups do not use a conventional vertical hinge. Instead, the cushion material flexes to accommodate the angle of the wearer’s head. That can create uneven pressure around the ears. The fabric cushions are practical for exercise because they do not cling to skin as much as leather, but they can feel less pleasant during relaxed listening. The optional UltraPlush cushions feel softer and more comfortable, though they do not eliminate the underlying fit issues.

Apple and Android features

On Apple devices, the Beats 360 support one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, automatic switching, hands-free Siri, audio sharing, Find My and background firmware updates. Android users get Fast Pair, device switching, Find Hub, voice assistant support and the Beats companion app, which can also handle firmware updates and show battery status.

Unlike AirPods Max models, the Beats 360 lack wear detection, so removing them will not automatically pause playback. They also require a physical power button. Beats uses its own proprietary chip rather than an Apple H-series chip, which helps explain why some newer Apple features are absent.

Audio and connectivity

The Beats 360 use a single dynamic driver in each ear cup and support Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC and AAC codecs. There is no wired listening option. Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound based on the listener’s ears and the ear-cup seal, but it works only when active noise cancellation is disabled.

With Adaptive EQ off, the tuning has a modest bass boost, mostly neutral mids and a largely balanced treble presentation. The broader mid-bass lift gives the headphones a warmer character than the AirPods Max 2. Overall, the Beats 360 are best suited to buyers who value workout durability, replaceable parts and cross-platform features more than maximum comfort or connectivity flexibility.