Beats 360 over-ear headphones with interchangeable cushions exude cool

When you think of headphones brands with a reputation for “cool,” Beats is one of the first, if not the first, that comes to mind. They resonate with the younger generation since the brand was originally launched by musician Dr. Dre. Owned by Apple since 2014, Beats headphones offer seamless connectivity with Apple devices, which makes them even cooler. (They work with Android, too!) Now, the new Beats 360 over-ear headphones, for which Best Buy is an exclusive retail partner, are making even bigger waves thanks to the customizable, interchangeable cushion design. It’s a clever bespoke design choice that speaks to this generation’s desire for personalization. I set out to see not only if they look good, but more importantly if they sound as good as they look.  

The most customizable headphones you can buy

Once you get a pair of these headphones, you’ll want to explore the interchangeable ear and headband cushions since it’s what defines the design. You can buy a different cushion kit or two and get swapping right away. Coordinate them to your outfit, a theme, or match the colour to your mood. Even get creative and combine different coloured earcup and headband cushions. If this concept doesn’t scream Gen Z or Alpha (I have a 14-year-old, so I know!) I don’t know what would.

Fashion advantages aside, there’s a practical reason for switching cushions, since there are two different types. Performance Knit cushions are wrapped in breathable knit fabric so they’re lightweight and durable, perfect for working out. UltraPlush is made with leather for comfort during long wear sessions, like while commuting. I wish the boxes outlined these recommended use cases. It would make it easier to determine which is better for travel, for example, versus exercising.

Swapping cushions is super simple. Twist and remove one, then place the other on the speaker and twist back into place. Pull out the headband cushion with a light tug and click the new one into the three grooves. Beats will reportedly offer a user-replaceable battery option in future, though there’s no concrete information on that just yet.

Fit, comfort, and basics: missing some handy features

The Beats 360s are comfortable, the memory foam ear cushions forming a good seal. There’s a distinct difference with the feel of the Knit cushions compared to the UltraPlush, the latter a bit more malleable. They feel more premium and conform better to your ears.

The headband is slim with a memory foam cushion and telescoping stainless steel arm to fit different sized heads. While they look cool, I wouldn’t look at these and think they’re a premium pair of headphones. The design has retro, playful vibes versus elegant and refined.

I wish there were markings for left and right cups, a small but appreciated detail that many other headphones have. Without wear detection, they won’t turn on automatically when you put them on, nor turn off or pause when you remove them. That’s a feature you’d expect with headphones that come at such a premium price.

Durability and storage

With an IPX4 rating, the first-ever Beats headphones to meet this rating, you don’t need to worry about light rain or sweat damaging the cushions. (I did wear them outside in light rain once and they’re totally fine). Beats headphones popularized the “around the neck” fashion trend, so these of course fold flat to rest against your chest when you take them off for a break at the gym or to check in for your flight.

They also fold flat to fit into the woven ripstop case, which functions like a cross between a hard case and a soft pouch. The magnetic closure secures them inside and is easy to open. The case is big enough to fit a second set of earcups and headband cushion: if you position them just right, you can still close it.

Operation and connectivity: special features for iPhone users

Physical controls are easy to use. I like that these headphones have tactile buttons versus touch sensitive. Find them on the back of each earcup, the right for volume, play/pause, and calls, and the left for power and listening mode. You can customize this in the app if you want to switch it up.

Beats 360, of course, work with any Bluetooth-enabled device. But you get a seamless experience when pairing with Apple devices.

Connecting to Apple devices

It starts with one-touch pairing, after which settings are accessible in the Bluetooth menu – there’s no need for a separate app. There’s always-on Hey Siri, automatic switching between devices, audio sharing, and Find My with network location support.

Most notable is FaceTime with Spatial Audio and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, which is exclusive to Apple devices. In iPhone settings, you can customize which notifications play through the headphones, like updates from your calendar, social media, and maps. However, this only seems to work if you actively have audio playing, not if you’re just wearing them for noise cancelling.

There are settings for those who are hard of hearing or have sensory sensitivities, like the option to play sounds to mask unwanted background noises, set mono audio, and add voice isolation to enhance dialogue.

Connecting to Android devices

Android users can use these headphones, too, and still get a solid experience. The custom Beats chip offers simple integration, including audio switch, fast pair, and find hub. I connected them to a Google Pixel 11 Pro and was pleased to see them pop up on screen, instantly recognized once I put them in pairing mode. They work with a separate app for Android, but it’s just as simplistic as the Apple Bluetooth menu, offering basic controls.

Sound quality: superb bass, super-cool Follow iPhone mode

A new acoustic architecture with custom drivers promises powerful bass, greater precision, and low distortion.

Podcasts sound great with an immersive, studio-like feel. Streaming tunes are pleasant, vocals clear and crisp in songs like Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall in Love).” There was no noticeable distortion when I cranked the volume to uncomfortable levels. With bass-heavy and electronic tunes like Darude’s “Sandstorm,” the headphones have punch: there’s a reason they’re called “beats,” after all! If you like bass-heavy tunes, these headphones won’t disappoint.

There are no manual EQ settings in the app, but adaptive EQ kicks in when you turn ANC and Transparency modes off. Enjoy compatible content in Dolby Atmos and, as noted for Apple devices, use Personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking if desired. With this feature on, audio follows you as you move your head, always remaining front and centre.

Sound quality was just as good when connected to the aforementioned Pixel phone. Playing 4 Non Blondes‘ “What’s Up?,” it was detailed, the singer’s vocals distinct. The guitar strings in the intro to The Backstreet Boys‘ “I Want It That Way” draw you in, while the bass in the song “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac is powerful, no distortion when raising the volume.

Follow iPhone is a unique sound feature

Unique to these headphones is a feature called Follow iPhone that makes a compatible spatial audio track sound like it’s coming from the iPhone, not the headphones. Even before I knew this feature was turned on (and that it existed at all), I was watching an episode of A Different World on Netflix. I picked up my phone and held it to my ear, confused because I thought the headphones weren’t working and everyone else in the coffee shop could hear the audio coming from my phone. It’s a strange sensation but gives you a sense of depth beyond the headphones.

Call quality is great

Making calls on the go or having Zoom meetings at home is possible with these headphones, too. They have nine advanced digital MEMS microphones, eight for ANC and three for voice pickup. As you talk, a dedicated beamforming voice microphone works with the feed-forward mics to focus on your voice and reduce environmental noise. If a stronger signal is needed, the system will pick up from other microphones to further optimize call quality.

I tried a few calls in different environments. I also wore the headphones for a virtual meeting, connected to my MacBook Pro. Voices were clear with no issues hearing the other person or them hearing me.

ANC performance is one step down from the best

Active noise cancelling (ANC) with transparency mode make these headphones a good choice for travel. Beats says they offer up to 1.75 times more total noise cancellation than Beats Studio Pro (see our 2024 review of the Beats Studio Pro). I did not travel during my review period. But I did wear them outside while walking on noisy streets and in local coffee shops. I also wore them at home while the furnace was running, and while vacuuming to simulate loud ambient noise.

The noise cancelling is impressive. It silenced the loud music in a coffee shop where I was working. It also quieted the busy chatter of others around me. I compared them to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 headphones (see my Bose QC Ultra 2 review), which are among my favourites for ANC. Wearing both in a coffee shop, I could barely hear the background music with the Bose headphones. With the Beats 360, it was still audible, albeit fainter. But it still did a fine job.

Battery life

They offer up to 32 hours battery life with ANC and personalized spatial audio. So, you should be able to fly from Toronto to Hong Kong or Vancouver to Australia and back without needing to charge. There’s no specified rated battery life with these features turned off. But you can expect to gain a few more hours at least. Recharge them for five minutes to get up to another hour of playback. I’m not sure how accurate this is, though. I found myself in the red one morning and after about 10 minutes of charging, it was still only at 17% (maybe this does equate to an hour, though). I also found the battery drained more quickly with these headphones than others I have tested. It’s worth noting that they don’t come with a cable in the box. But they use any standard USB-C cable.

There’s an idle timeout feature, but they only power down after seven hours (!) of inactivity. That’s a lot of battery to waste if you forget to manually turn them off. Having customizable idle times or reducing the default from seven hours would make more sense. At least the ’80s-style power down tone is cute, so this might encourage you to power down.

Who should get the Beats 360 headphones?

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the Beats 360 will be a top-seller this holiday season. Along with appealing to a younger generation by brand alone, the concept is cool. There’s something that sets Beats apart, even more so with this unique interchangeable design. Cushion kits are great follow-up gifts or stocking stuffers, too. I can see lots of parents picking these up for their teens.

That said, I’m not suggesting that these headphones are only for those born in the oughts. I was born many decades before the 2000s. And noise cancelling headphones that work well and I can match my outfit is something I could get behind. I also love that I don’t have to use the same cushions for weekend walks as I do on a plane ride to New York. Is using the same earcups really a problem that needs solving? No. But having dedicated ones for workouts and travel is worthwhile. And so is being able to easily replace the cushions to increase longevity of the headphones overall.

Should you buy the Beats 360 headphones?

The Beats 360 over-ear headphones are on the more expensive end of the scale. So, I would only recommend them if you plan to buy and use the cushion kits. In fact, I wish for the price they at least came bundled with one cushion set. They’re better suited to iPhone owners given all the Apple integration features. Otherwise, you can find better-sounding headphones for less.

But there’s the customizable looks and ultra-comfort plus great Apple integration. You also get above-average noise cancelling, great sound quality, and of course, that signature lower-case “b” on the earcup. Given all this, you may be more than happy to spend a bit more on these headphones.

Best Buy Canada is an exclusive retail partner for the Beats 360 over-ear headphones. Check them out now at Best Buy online and in stores.