Beats 360 review: Apple’s closest AirPods Max alternative costs $349.99

Beats 360 are now on sale for $349.99, making them the most expensive Beats headphones. They are positioned as a lighter alternative to the $549 AirPods Max, but do not support wired audio.

Deliveries and in-store sales begin September 24. Beats Studio Pro are also receiving a permanent price cut to $299.99, although retailers already sell them for less.

Apple features and battery life

The Beats 360 use custom Beats silicon but add automatic switching through an Apple Account, Hey Siri and full Find My integration. They also support Adaptive EQ in iOS 27, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and IPX4 sweat and water resistance.

Compared with Beats Studio Pro, the new headphones are 12dB louder, provide 1.75 times more active noise cancellation and last about eight hours longer with ANC enabled. They do not automatically pause playback when removed.

Replaceable cushions and colors

Beats 360 come in Cloud, Sky, Black and Pink. Users can replace the ear cushions and head cushion, with UltraPlush and Performance Knit options available for the ear cushions.

Four base colors and eight cushion options create 32 combinations, or up to 256 when headband and ear-cup cushions are mixed. Cushion kits cost $49.99, but are discounted to $9.99 through October 31 or while supplies last in the US, Canada, the UK, France, China, Australia and South Korea.

No wired listening mode

The Beats 360 have no headphone jack, and the review says USB-C apparently does not support audio input. That may be inconvenient on airplanes or when connecting to a game console.

The review is broadly favorable, describing the headphones as lighter and more comfortable than AirPods Max, with some compromises in sound quality. It specifically recommends UltraPlush cushions for everyday use.