I Tried the Beats 360: An Imperfect Sports Headset That’s Hard Not to Love

As a reminder, the Beats 360 is Beats’ new flagship. A Bluetooth IPX4 headset with active noise cancellation that stands out thanks to removable ear cushions and a replaceable woven headband, enabling advanced personalization and, above all, sports-oriented use. The entire package includes active noise cancellation and advanced features on both iOS and Android. This model does not replace the Beats Studio; it simply inaugurates a new series.

With a clear head: a premium experience that comes at a price

If we were to judge it in a traditional test, the Beats 360 would clearly not rank among the very best high-end offerings. Without dwelling on a litany of points, we can note several technological aspects.

Sound quality is a strong point, as Beats has managed to balance technical capability with energy. From the first note, it was clear that the headset does not push the bass like the older Beats before Apple, nor the bass-neutral stance of the recent Studio and Solo lines. The sound is energetic, with the right amount of bass emphasis, and the treble is tuned enough to avoid harshness when the volume is raised. However, while the technical level isn’t bad at all, the headset doesn’t reach the breadth or detail level of a Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless. There is quality and versatility, but not enough to astonish at the €350 asking price.

Regarding the battery life, I measured about 33 hours with ANC active, placing Beats once again in a middle-of-the-pack range. Many headsets outperform it; many fall short. You can start to recognize the pattern with this headset.

Summing up the different points冷, Beats 360 isn’t the best at anything, but it doesn’t have a deal-breaking flaw, is not unpleasant, but lacks that extra something. A product that, if it weren’t branded Beats, would probably drift into anonymity.

On the field: pleasant beyond measurements

We could continue by discussing ANC measurements and frequency response, or the headset’s pure technical prowess, its autonomy, and so on. All of these aspects matter, but they don’t soften my observation after more than a week of testing: the Beats 360 could well become one of my everyday favorites.

Even though it didn’t deliver a premium feeling, it gives the impression of being thoughtfully designed, solid, and with a universally appealing look. Less flashy and more distinctive than a Nothing Headphone (1), it exudes a kind of unique elegance. So I won’t pretend that people didn’t stare at me not for my charm but for this headset.

Once on the head, I tested the device during several runs, and the Beats 360 holds its grip remarkably well. No bouncing (the runner’s worst enemy), and weight is distributed fairly well. Yet the headset pressures more than average, and while the mesh cushions allow good breathability, the tightness can become tiring. My head is relatively slim, so this issue stayed cosmetic for me. For larger or broader heads, I can’t guarantee the comfort. Still, it’s hard not to rate it as the most comfortable sports headset I’ve tried, with Adidas RPT-02 SOL being a previous benchmark that literally pressed on the ears after 30 minutes.

While not particularly built for the gym, I returned to this imposing space to test the Beats 360’s performance. Classic exercises, including lying down (bench presses or incline presses), pose no problem; the headset doesn’t slide as you move your head side to side or forward.

It’s also hard to know for now whether the Beats 360 will truly stand up to regular athletic use, especially the cushions’ foam. These elements are clearly robust and didn’t degrade over such a short period, but I’ll leave that question open for a few months. The best solution is probably to opt for a sports-specific set of cushions and a regular set for everyday use—the cushion swap is so easy that it’s never a constraint.

Finally, and this is key, the headset reminds us that you don’t need to be the best at every metric to be perfectly usable. Yes, active noise cancellation and transparency aren’t the best-in-class, but they’re all sufficiently effective for the headset’s targeted use.

In our case, transparency works very well in quiet environments, and the active noise cancellation helps, even if it doesn’t completely isolate from the world, to stay focused and avoid bothersome conversations around coworkers lifting weights. The sound quality isn’t Hi-Fi, but it never leaves you with a sense of something missing. The fact that this headset isn’t perfect in every regard may seem trivial, but it changes things in practice. I didn’t fear running out of battery quickly, being bothered by noise, or failing to take a call on the street, or dropping it during a workout. In short, if the Beats 360 is far from the perfect headset, it’s probably one of the most versatile and reassuring options.

Who the Beats 360 is really for

• Athletes who prefer headphones to earbuds
• People who are equally invested in Apple and Google ecosystems
• Those who value reparability and customization