The Beats 360 are positioned as a solid pair of headphones featuring a genuinely novel design. Available for £299.95 in the UK and $349.95 in the US, the unit boasts a distinctive aesthetic, with the translucent earcups allowing light to shine through when viewed at an angle.
The design element is highly customizable. Both the earpads and headband cushion detach and swap. Consumers can purchase two different Cushion Kits: Performance Knit, meant for sweaty workouts, or Ultra Plush, aimed at commuting. Each kit comes in multiple colours and costs £49.95 per colour.
The overall physical build weighs 294.5g. The headphones carry an IPX4 rating, allowing them to handle sweat and splashes, a rarity among over-ear models.
Comfort testing showed that while the clamping force is slightly tight at first, it eases over time. During the review, they remained secure during intense activity, including running and stomach crunches.
Functionally, the packaging includes a woven ripstop fabric pouch with a magnetic closure. The earcup physical controls sit on the unit and respond reliably once their location is determined through touch.
Charging the device requires a specific supply range of 2.5W to 7.5W, as the box contains neither a USB-C cable nor a charger. The Android Beats app manages various functions, including ANC modes, firmware, battery, and call controls.
Battery life is a strong point. Beats claims 32 hours of playback with Personalised Spatial Audio and ANC enabled. Testing indicated that the battery retained 8% over four hours and was expected to decline to 20% after two weeks of regular use. Furthermore, the Fast Fuel feature provides an hour of playback from just a five-minute charge.
When tested, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) held up reliably across varied environments, including planes, the Underground, public transport, gyms, and city walks.
The noise cancellation performance, however, lagged behind class-leading competitors. It was noted that the ANC is not as potent as the Technics EAH-A1000, though the Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen maintains an edge in consistency, and the Sennheiser Momentum 5 is slightly better at reducing ambient noise.
Other features are well-executed. Transparency mode was tested as natural-sounding, and call quality received high marks, specifically noting that no background noise leaked through during calls.
Sound quality, the area of greatest critique, reveals that the 360s sound smoother than their predecessors, featuring a wide soundstage and bass that maintains a controlled power. However, this smoothness contributes to an impression of less detail in the midrange and vocals. The treble is clear without becoming pronounced.
Comparatively, the sound profile differs from rivals: the Bose QuietComfort Headphones 2nd Gen sound warmer, while the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless sacrifices some bass punch for more midrange character. The Studio Pro were deemed the clearest, most natural, and most detailed option in the group.
Feature parity includes Bluetooth 5.3, multi-point functionality, Google Fast Pair, and Apple One-Touch Pairing. However, multi-point testing failed when connecting between an iPad and an Android phone, as the unit connected to one device but not both.
Ultimately, the Beats 360 are praised for their smart design and reliable long-term battery performance. Yet, their final assessment suggests that the ceiling is lower than their primary rivals. The combination of an unexciting, balanced tuning and the slight audible hiss when ANC is active prevents them from being considered the best-sounding Beats over-ear option at their price point.
