The Beats 360 is unlike anything Beats has released before. It’s the first Beats over-ear headphone with an IPX4 sweat and water resistance rating. It’s the first with a modular cushion system you can swap out in seconds. And it’s the first Beats headphone designed to work equally well on Android and iOS without compromises.

Beats also claims meaningful upgrades under the hood: new 40mm drivers, adaptive ANC that’s supposed to cancel 1.75× more noise than the Studio Pro, and 32 hours of battery life with ANC and Spatial Audio turned on.

But there’s a real trade-off worth knowing about before you spend ₹42,900. The Beats 360 has no wired audio. No 3.5mm jack. No USB-C listening. It’s Bluetooth only, which is unusual at this price. If you’re an audio purist who wants lossless listening or a wired connection for studio work, this is not the headphone for you.

Beats 360 at a Glance

What’s New on the Beats 360?

• → Swappable ear and headband cushions — the headline feature
• → IPX4 water and sweat resistance, a first for Beats over-ear
• → Up to 32 hours battery with ANC and Spatial Audio
• → Adaptive ANC that Beats claims cancels 1.75x more noise than Studio Pro
• → New 40mm drivers with Beats claiming 12dB higher output
• → Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
• → Full platform support for both Apple and Android

Beats 360 Price in India & Availability

The Beats 360 is available through Apple’s India website and Apple retail stores. It launched on September 22, 2026, with in-store availability from September 24. You can pick from four colours: Black, Cloud, Pink, and Sky.

Pricing from Gadgets360 and Gadgets Now.

What the Beats 360 Actually Costs

Here’s something the ₹42,900 headline number doesn’t tell you: if you want extra cushion kits to actually use the customization feature, the total goes up fast.

That’s before you factor in anything else. For context, at ₹56,700, you’re above the price of the Sony WH-1000XM6 (₹39,990 in India) and closing in on the AirPods Max 2 territory. The customization is genuinely useful, but it’s worth knowing that the entry price isn’t the whole story.

Design & Swappable Cushion System

The main event here is the modular cushion system. Ear cushions twist off. Headband cushion snaps off. You can swap them in seconds without tools. Beats says there are up to 256 possible colour combinations if you mix and match ear cup and headband colours.

The Beats 360 uses removable ear and headband cushions that can be replaced with different materials and colours.

There’s a smart detail here most people miss: sensors inside the headphone detect which cushion is attached and automatically adjust the acoustic tuning. This means whether you’re using the breathable Performance Knit or the plush leather, the sound stays consistent.

Which Beats 360 Cushion Is Right for You?

There are two cushion materials, and they serve genuinely different purposes.

Beats 360 Full Specifications

Sources: Wired, MacRumors, FoneArena.

Sound Quality & Noise Cancellation

The Beats 360 uses a completely redesigned acoustic setup. Beats claims the new 40mm drivers deliver 12dB higher output than the Studio Pro with lower distortion.

The Beats 360 uses 40mm drivers with dual neodymium ring magnets for higher output and lower distortion.

What Beats Claims About ANC

Beats says the adaptive ANC system cancels 1.75x more combined active and passive noise than the Studio Pro. It uses a fourth-generation chip with nearly double the processing power of previous generations.

In independent testing, CNET described the ANC as “strong” and “only slightly behind AirPods Max 2’s.” That’s a meaningful qualification — the Beats 360 is not the best ANC headphone you can buy, but it’s close.

How Reviewers Describe the Sound

The Indian Express called the Beats 360’s sound “one of the most balanced sound profiles I have heard in a while.” On the other hand, Wired noted the midrange is “lackluster” and criticised the absence of hi-res codecs like LDAC.

Call Quality

CNET specifically praised the “top-tier voice-calling performance,” with a transparency mode that sounds more natural than the Studio Pro. The nine microphones handle calls well in noisy environments.

Battery Life & Charging

Beats says the Beats 360 delivers up to 32 hours of playback with ANC and Spatial Audio enabled.

The 32-hour figure is higher than the Studio Pro’s 24 hours and slightly above the Sony WH-1000XM6’s 30 hours. That said, “up to” numbers are measured under specific conditions — real-world battery life will vary depending on volume, ANC intensity, and whether you’re using Spatial Audio.

Controls & Connectivity

A dedicated listening mode button cycles through ANC, Transparency, and Adaptive EQ.

Beats stuck with physical buttons instead of touch controls. The left ear cup has a listening mode button to cycle between ANC, Transparency, and Adaptive EQ. The right ear cup has play/pause and volume controls.

The right ear cup houses play/pause and volume buttons for media and call handling.

Apple Features

• One-touch pairing
• “Hey Siri” hands-free activation
• Automatic switching between Apple devices
• Audio Sharing
• Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking
• Apple Find My support

Android Features

• Google Fast Pair
• Audio Switch between Android devices
• Find Hub support
• Voice assistant controls

The Beats 360 is unusual in that it supports both platforms properly. Most premium headphones lean heavily toward one ecosystem. Beats has actually done the work to make both feel native.

Sources: MakeUseOf, SoundGuys.

5 Things to Know Before Buying the Beats 360

1. The cushions are the actual headline

   Don’t think of this as a headphone with a colour option. Think of it as a system. You’re buying into a cushion ecosystem. If you only ever use the cushions that come in the box, you’re paying a premium for a feature you’re not using.

2. It is not a wired-audio headphone

   No 3.5mm jack. No USB-C audio. No analog connection at all. If you do any studio work, use a wired DAC, or fly on airlines that require a wired connection, this is a dealbreaker. The USB-C port on the Beats 360 is for charging only.

3. IPX4 does not mean waterproof

   IPX4 means the headphones are protected against splashing water from any direction — sweat, light rain, gym use. It does not mean you can dunk them in a pool, wear them in the shower, or submerge them. If you need real water protection, look elsewhere.

4. “Up to 32 hours” is not a guaranteed number

   Manufacturers measure battery life under specific conditions, usually at moderate volume with adaptive features optimised. Your real-world mileage will depend on volume, ANC intensity, Spatial Audio use, and temperature. Expect less if you’re a loud listener with ANC maxed out.

5. Both Apple and Android users are genuinely supported

   This is one of the few premium headphones where Android users aren’t treated as an afterthought. You get Google Fast Pair, Audio Switch, and Find Hub — the same quality of experience Apple users get from the Apple-specific features. That’s rare at this price point.

What Nobody Tells You About the Beats 360

The launch coverage focuses on the headline specs. Here are the details that matter more when you actually live with the headphones.

Is the Beats 360 Right for You?

Depends entirely on how you’ll use it. Here’s an honest breakdown.

What Matters Most to You?

Jump straight to what you actually care about.

Beats 360 Pros and Cons

Beats 360 vs Competitors

Beats 360 vs AirPods Max 2

The Beats 360 wins on weight, battery, durability, and price. The AirPods Max 2 wins on sound quality and offers USB-C lossless audio.

Beats 360 vs Sony WH-1000XM6

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is cheaper in India, has wired audio, and supports better codecs. The Beats 360 wins on water resistance and the swappable cushion system. Both have strong ANC.

Beats 360 vs Beats Studio Pro

If you’re shopping Beats, you’ll almost certainly see the Studio Pro next to the Beats 360. Here’s the honest comparison.

The Studio Pro is cheaper, lighter, and has wired audio. The Beats 360 gives you longer battery, better ANC, IPX4, and the swappable cushions. If wired audio matters to you, the Studio Pro is a legitimate alternative that saves you ₹10,000.

Our Take on the Beats 360

Our Testing & Evidence

We want to be clear about what this article is based on. Here’s the transparency you should expect from any tech review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

• Beats by Dre official product page
• Gadgets360 — India pricing and launch details
• CNET — in-depth review
• MacRumors — specifications
• Wired — critical review
• TechRepublic — Sony WH-1000XM6 comparison
• The Indian Express — India review

Final Thoughts

The Beats 360 is a headphone with a specific point of view. It’s not trying to win on sound quality alone, or on ANC alone. It’s trying to be the most flexible premium headphone you can buy, and it mostly succeeds.

The cushion system is genuinely useful, the IPX4 rating opens up real workout use, and cross-platform support means Android users aren’t treated as second-class. The 32-hour battery is competitive, and the ANC is close to the best in class.

The lack of wired audio and hi-res codec support are real limitations. If those matter to you, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is a stronger choice. If they don’t, the Beats 360 is worth considering — especially if you want one headphone that works for both the gym and the flight.