After months of rumours, speculation and quite a few leaks along the way, Beats’ latest flagship wireless headphones have officially arrived.
The Beats 360 have been in the pipeline for a long while, but the all-new flagship cans have now definitively broken cover, pledging to bring “the best sound and most refined comfort in Beats history” along with them.
Built around a bespoke acoustic platform, the flagship over-ears boast an all-new acoustic architecture with bespoke drivers developed exclusively for the 360. The drivers employ three-layer diaphragms and dual neodymium magnets to create what Beats calls “powerful bass and incredible precision across the tonal range with ultra-low distortion”.
The 360 are also equipped with what Beats describes as its “most powerful noise-cancelling technology”, complemented by a transparency mode that lets users hear their surroundings more readily.
An Adaptive EQ setting works to dynamically adjust acoustic frequencies based on the wearer’s fit for a more personalised sound experience, while Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking promises “deep, immersive audio across music and movies”.
The flagship Beats deliver around 32 hours of battery life with noise-cancelling switched off, and up to 32 hours with ANC and spatial audio on. Thanks to the headphones’ ‘Fast Fuel’ capabilities, a five-minute charge provides an hour of playback via USB-C.
The Beats 360 are powered by a custom Beats chip for integration across both Apple and Android ecosystems.
That means Apple users get iOS integration, one-touch pairing, access to Apple’s Siri voice assistant and automatic switching between devices, as well as ‘Find My’ capabilities to help locate your headphones using your iPhone. Android users, conversely, benefit from the likes of Android Fast Pair and the ‘Find Hub’ product locator for a smoother user experience.
The 360 are the first over-ear Beats headphones to come with an IPX4 sweat and water resistance rating, so you should be able to take them out in the rain without fear of damage, with Beats promising "an exceptional level of durability" from its latest wireless cans.
The headphones’ ear cushions are acoustically engineered to form an optimal seal that enhances sound isolation and helps deliver a “rich, immersive” audio signature. The flagship Beats also feature interchangeable ear and headband cushion kits to help users make their headphones feel like their own.
The Beats 360 are available now in four core colours – Black, Cloud, Pink or Sky – while cushion kits can be purchased separately across Black, Cloud, Pink, Sky, Navy or Volt options.
The headphones themselves will set you back £300 / $350, while the standard cushion kits will cost £50 / $50 per set. At that kind of money, Beats is pitching the 360 to rival the Sony WH-1000XM6 (currently £359 / $400), the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless (£330 / $400) and the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 (currently £319 / $429).
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