Beats 360 reviews position Apple's new over-ears as lighter, cheaper rival to AirPods Max

Beats 360 arrive as a $350 challenger to AirPods Max

Apple-owned Beats unveiled the Beats 360 over-ear headphones on September 22, 2026, with reviews positioning the new flagship as a more comfortable and significantly cheaper alternative to Apple's $550 AirPods Max 2. The headphones went on sale immediately at $350 and are scheduled to reach store shelves and Apple.com on September 24.

Comfort, weight and customization set the Beats 360 apart

According to reviews published on the launch date, the Beats 360 are markedly lighter than Apple's AirPods Max and stand out for long-wearing comfort, helped by an optional breathable Performance Knit earcup. Beats sells interchangeable ear cushions for the headphones, offering a Performance Knit option and a higher-end UltraPlush version, each with matching headband cushions. Performance Knit colors include Black, Cloud, Pink, Sky, Navy and Volt, while UltraPlush is offered in Black and Cloud, with cushions priced from $9.99 on a limited-time basis before rising to $50.

Audio features track Apple's premium over-ear playbook

The Beats 360 carry a custom acoustic transducer and Active Noise Cancelling that Beats rates at 1.75 times the performance of the Beats Studio Pro. They also include Adaptive EQ, Transparency Mode, Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, and an IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant rating. Reviewers noted that the soundstage is wide and detailed with ample highs and lows, though the bass does not quite match the AirPods Max or Sony's popular WH-series headphones. Additional features include 32-hour battery life and Android Fast Pair, supporting use beyond Apple's ecosystem.

Beats 360 enter a more crowded premium over-ear market

Reviewers framed the Beats 360 as Beats' attempt to recapture cultural cachet by undercutting Apple's own flagship on price and comfort while adopting similar premium features. The headphones are available in Black, Cloud, Pink and Sky. With the $350 Beats 360 arriving just ahead of Apple's $550 AirPods Max 2, Apple now sells two competing over-ear models under its own corporate umbrella, raising the competitive stakes within the company's own audio lineup.

Beats pushes firmware update ahead of first shipments

Separately, Apple released a firmware update for the Beats 360 on September 22, 2026, so customers ordering the headphones will have new software available when their units arrive.

Next milestone

The Beats 360 are scheduled to reach store shelves and Apple.com on September 24, 2026, marking the first opportunity for broad retail availability alongside the rollout of the launch-day firmware update.