Published September 23, 2026 - Cupertino, California. Apple and Beats launched the Beats 360 over-ear headphones on September 22, 2026 at $349.99, with swappable Performance Knit and UltraPlush cushions that allow up to 256 colour-and-material combinations (Apple, September 2026).
The launch marks the first major Beats redesign since the Studio Pro in 2023. Beats 360 ANC is up to 1.75 times stronger than Studio Pro, battery life is 32 hours, and the cushion system is the headline change.
At a glance
Price: $349.99 US; extra cushions $9.99 each through Oct 31, then $49.99.
Released September 22, 2026; Kendall Jenner campaign; Apple and Beats retailers same day.
Swappable cushions: Performance Knit (IPX4, fitness) and UltraPlush (all-day).
ANC up to 1.75x stronger than Beats Studio Pro; 32-hour battery with ANC on.
Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking; built-in accelerometer and gyroscope.
Colours: black, cloud, pink, sky - all with matching headbands and ear cushions.
Dual ecosystem: Apple Find My, Siri, Personalized Spatial Audio on iOS; Google Fast Pair, Audio Switch, Find Hub on Android.
Data last verified September 23, 2026 from Apple/Beats, MacRumors, SoundGuys, and T3 first-look reviews.
Quick Answer
Beats 360 is Apple's $349.99 over-ear flagship launched on September 22, 2026 with swappable Performance Knit and UltraPlush cushions, 1.75x stronger ANC than Beats Studio Pro, 32-hour battery, and IPX4 sweat resistance.
It supports both Apple and Android ecosystems with native Find My / Fast Pair integration. Extra cushions start at $9.99 each during the October intro window and $49.99 thereafter (Apple, September 2026).
Beats 360 full specifications
Spec
Beats 360
Beats Studio Pro (predecessor)
Price (US)
$349.99
$399.99 (2023 launch)
Release date
September 22, 2026
July 2023
Active noise cancellation
Up to 1.75x vs Studio Pro
Baseline
Battery life (ANC on)
32 hours
24 hours (claimed)
Charging
USB-C
USB-C
Cushions
Swappable (Knit / UltraPlush)
Fixed
Water resistance
IPX4 (Performance Knit)
None
Spatial audio
Personalized with head tracking
Personalized with head tracking
Codecs
AAC, SBC, aptX Lossless
AAC, SBC
Microphones
Dual beam-forming ANC mics
Dual beam-forming ANC mics
Sensors
Accelerometer + gyroscope (left cup)
Accelerometer
Colours
Black, cloud, pink, sky
Black, navy, deep brown, sandstone
Source: Apple/Beats (September 22, 2026); T3 review (September 22, 2026).
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The headline feature is the magnetic attachment system that lets owners swap ear cushions and headband pads without tools.
Performance Knit cushions are breathable and IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance - the right choice for workouts. UltraPlush cushions prioritise all-day comfort with denser foam and a softer finish.
Mixing combinations: with two ear-cushion styles and one headband style per side, plus four core colours, Beats says there are 256 theoretical combinations. Most buyers will buy two cushion kits - one Knit for workouts, one UltraPlush for the office (Apple, September 2026; T3 review).
Beats 360 cushion kit pricing
Item
Intro price (through Oct 31)
Regular price (Nov 1)
Performance Knit ear cushion + headband set
$9.99
$49.99
UltraPlush ear cushion + headband set
$9.99
$49.99
Headphones (incl. one set)
$349.99
$349.99
Headphones + 3 cushion kits (intro)
$379.96
$499.96
Source: Apple/Beats and MacRumors (September 22, 2026). Limited to 3 cushion kits per order during intro pricing.
The intro pricing is an aggressive loyalty play - $9.99 cushions vs the eventual $49.99 standard price - and the introductory window runs through October 31, 2026.
Beats 360 supports the full Apple stack: Find My with Precision Finding on supported iPhones, one-tap pairing with any iCloud-connected Apple device, hands-free Siri, and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking.
Spatial audio uses a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope in the left ear cup to track head movement continuously. The setup captures your ear and head shape via an iOS TrueDepth scan and bakes it into the spatial profile (Apple, September 2026).
Android ecosystem features
Android users get Google Fast Pair for one-tap setup, Audio Switch for seamless device handoff between Android devices and Chromebooks, and Find Hub for locating lost headphones. Android Auto support is also included.
The aptX Lossless codec on Beats 360 is an upgrade over the Studio Pro - Sony's LDAC remains the high-water mark for Android Bluetooth audio, but Beats closing the codec gap is meaningful for Android buyers (SoundGuys, September 22, 2026).
What Beats 360 does differently
Three design choices stand out versus Studio Pro and the Sony/Bose incumbents.
First, the swappable cushion system. No other flagship over-ear has a user-serviceable, magnetically attached cushion system with two material options. The closest analog is modular ear-pad systems on studio monitors from the likes of Beyerdynamic and AKG - but those require careful handling, not magnetic snap-on.
Second, IPX4 on the Performance Knit cushions. Neither Sony nor Bose offers sweat resistance on any flagship over-ear, and Beats' IPX4 is meaningful for gym and outdoor use.
Third, $50 below the Sony and Bose flagships. $349.99 is competitive positioning, and the intro cushion pricing effectively subsidises a second kit (Apple, September 2026).
What reviewers said at launch
T3's launch-day verdict called Beats 360 the best Beats headphone in years - "better than the Studio Pro in almost every way" - with one caveat: heat build-up during long sessions in warm environments.
SoundGuys highlighted the ANC upgrade as the biggest audible improvement over Studio Pro and called the cushion system the most fun new feature in any over-ear in 2026.
MacRumors flagged the $9.99 cushion intro pricing as the launch deal worth jumping on - at the regular $49.99 price, two cushion kits would add 30% to the headphone cost (T3 review, September 22, 2026; SoundGuys, September 22, 2026; MacRumors, September 22, 2026).
Who should buy Beats 360
Three buyer profiles match Beats 360 well. iPhone owners who want over-ear headphones with the deepest Apple integration - Find My, Siri, Personalized Spatial Audio, one-tap pairing - will get the most value.
Athletes and outdoor users benefit from the IPX4-rated Performance Knit cushions, which no other flagship over-ear offers. The 32-hour battery covers multi-day trips without a charger.
Style-conscious buyers who like customisation will value the 256-combination cushion system. Buying two kits in the intro window costs $19.98 total - a strong value vs the eventual $99.96.
Buyers who should wait: anyone happy with current Studio Pro, AirPods Max, or Sony/Bose flagships. Beats 360 is a genuine step up but not a forced upgrade for owners of recent premium headphones.
Where to buy Beats 360
Beats 360 is available at Apple online and Apple retail stores, Beats online, Amazon, Best Buy, and authorized Apple resellers in the US and select international markets from September 22, 2026.
In the UK and EU, availability follows shortly - check the Beats regional site for the launch date in your market. India availability is via Apple Authorised Resellers; pricing in INR will be set by local distribution.
The intro cushion pricing ends October 31, 2026 in all markets. Buyers who want multiple cushion kits should order before the deadline.
Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practi… Read moreShow less
Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practical side of building an ed-tech startup.
Fazlur Rahman
