If you want better 3.5mm analog input availability
Choose Nothing Headphone (a). It scores 5.0 vs 1.3 for 3.5mm analog input availability, with a 4.0 overall score.
Beats 360 Review
Bottom Line
Choose these for gym-ready over-ear comfort, strong ANC, long battery life and swappable cushions across iOS and Android. Skip them if wired listening, automatic pause, compact travel or fully adjustable EQ matters most.
Best for
Active listeners who want one premium over-ear pair for workouts, commuting and daily use, especially households that mix iPhone and Android devices.
Not for
Frequent flyers, console users and audio purists who need wired or lossless playback, automatic pause, compact folding or full manual EQ control.
Verdict
The Beats 360 stands out by making premium over-ear headphones genuinely practical for workouts. IPX4 protection, breathable and replaceable cushions, strong ANC, roughly 32-hour battery life, and excellent cross-platform support give it unusual day-to-day versatility. Comfort and build quality are widely praised, and most listening finds the sound cleaner and more balanced than older Beats, though bass and treble opinions vary and one test strongly disliked the tuning. The tradeoff is a surprisingly incomplete premium feature set: there is no 3.5mm or dependable USB-C audio path, no wear-detection auto-pause, and no manual EQ. That makes the 360 especially compelling for active wireless users, but less flexible for frequent flyers, console users and listeners who want wired lossless playback.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
92 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.038 (41%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.425 (27%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.47 (8%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.415 (16%)
-
Very negative below 1.57 (8%)
Pros
-
IPX4 sweat and water resistance is a defining strength, making the 360 unusually suitable for workouts and light rain among premium over-ear headphones.
-
The modular cushion and headband system is the signature feature: parts swap quickly, support workout-to-office use and make both style changes and wear replacement unusually easy.
-
Ecosystem integration is a major strength: iPhone users get AirPods-like pairing and switching, while Android still receives Fast Pair, Find Hub and useful native controls.
-
Long-session comfort is one of the strongest themes, helped by soft cushions, good weight distribution and a lighter-feeling headband. Larger heads may still notice clamp pressure.
-
Cross-platform compatibility is one of the 360’s best practical advantages, delivering a near-first-class experience on both iOS and Android.
-
The redesign is widely praised as modern, sleek and distinctly customizable, with swappable colors giving the 360 more personality than most premium ANC headphones.
Cons
-
The lack of a 3.5mm analog path is a major recurring complaint, especially for airplane entertainment, consoles and battery-independent playback.
-
Wear detection is one of the clearest weaknesses. The 360 does not sense when it is put on or removed, an omission repeatedly criticized at $350.
-
Automatic pause is absent, so music keeps playing when the headphones come off unless the user stops it manually.
-
Hi-res and lossless playback are major limitations: there is no wired lossless path and no high-resolution Bluetooth codec support.
-
USB-C is primarily a charging connection rather than a dependable wired-audio option, a recurring frustration for travelers and lossless-audio users.
-
Automatic power management is weak because the headphones do not reliably sleep when removed, creating avoidable battery-drain risk if left on.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Over-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Water/sweat resistance rating, Dolby Atmos with head tracking, Replaceable pads/headband, near average in Microphone quality for calls, Overall recommendation, below average in Detachable cable convenience, Built-in DAC and hi-res playback, 3.5mm analog input availability.
Comparison summary
90 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher36 (40%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts26 (29%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower28 (31%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water/sweat resistance rating | 5.0 | 2.3 | +2.7 |
| Detachable cable convenience | 1.0 | 4.0 | -3.0 |
| Built-in DAC and hi-res playback | 1.1 | 3.9 | -2.8 |
| 3.5mm analog input availability | 1.3 | 3.7 | -2.5 |
| Connectivity options | 2.0 | 4.4 | -2.4 |
| USB-C | 1.7 | 4.0 | -2.3 |
| Smart Pause performance | 1.0 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
| Gaming performance | 2.0 | 4.3 | -2.3 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Value for money
Choose CMF Headphone Pro. It scores 4.8 vs 4.3 for Value for money, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Travel friendliness
Choose Marshall Milton A.N.C.. It scores 4.8 vs 2.9 for Travel friendliness, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better Built-in DAC and hi-res playback
Choose Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 Headphones. It scores 4.6 vs 1.1 for Built-in DAC and hi-res playback, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: sound quality The Sony WH-1000XM6 is judged to have the sound-quality edge.
studio pros
- Worse: sound quality The Beats 360 are judged cleaner and better defined than the studio pros.
- Worse: comfort The new cushions are judged deeper, wider and more comfortable than the Studio Pros.
- Worse: sound quality The Beats 360 were judged cleaner with clearer bass than the Studio Pros.
AirPods Max 2
- Better: overall performance outside workouts Outside workouts, the reviewer considers AirPods Max 2 the stronger overall option.
- Worse: comfort and bulk The Beats 360 are judged more comfortable and less bulky than AirPods Max 2.
FAQ
Are the Beats 360 good for workouts?
Yes. IPX4 sweat resistance, breathable Performance Knit cushions and a generally secure fit make workouts a core strength, though very explosive movement and long sessions can still cause shifting or heat.
How do the Beats 360 sound?
Most testing finds them clean, energetic and more balanced than older Beats headphones, with strong detail and a wide stage. Bass strength is more divisive and can change with cushion choice and Spatial Audio.
Can the Beats 360 play audio over a cable?
The supplied coverage overwhelmingly reports Bluetooth-only listening: there is no 3.5mm input, and USB-C is used for charging rather than a dependable wired-audio path.
Do the Beats 360 have automatic pause when removed?
No. They lack wear detection, so playback does not automatically pause when you take them off and they may remain powered on until you intervene.
Do the Beats 360 work well with Android?
Yes. Android support includes Fast Pair, Find Hub, Audio Switch and the Beats app, making the experience unusually complete for an Apple-owned headphone.
How long does the battery last?
The main figure is about 32 hours with ANC, and multiple real-world tests found endurance strong. Fast Fuel adds roughly one hour from five minutes of charging, while Transparency mode can reduce runtime.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
Article Reviews
itechpost.com
Beats 360 review covering noise cancelling, battery life, IPX4 sweat resistance, comfort, sound quality, and why these wireless headphones...
- Review score
- 3.4
techzeeno.com
Quick answer: The Beats 360 are worth $349.99 if you want one pair of over-ear headphones for the gym and the rest of your day. They are the...
- Review score
- 3.1
recordingnow.com
My HONEST Beats 360 review with comparisons vs AirPods Max 2, Beats Studio Pro, Bose QuietComfort 2, QC Ultra 2, Sony WH-1000XM6, and...
- Review score
- 3.8
markellisreviews.com
The Beats 360 feature swappable cushions, IPX4 water resistance, and great ANC. But are they really the best gym headphones money can buy?
- Review score
- 4.4
techradar.com
I've been test-driving Beats 360, and I love the fit, the sound, and how it made one movie more enjoyable than it might've been otherwise.
- Review score
- 4.7
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