The new Beats 360 headphones won me over with swappable cushions and water resistance

If you thought you had a handle on how Beats headphones should look, think again. The Beats 360 wireless headphones offer a completely new design with more features than meet the eye.

While the 360 headphones have robust audio quality and solid ANC performance, the most interesting feature is the removable ear cushions and headband padding. It’s not just for repairability either. The pieces are meant to be swapped out frequently. Beats is offering six color choices across two material types.

Customization goes further by mixing in four headphone colors. In total, there are a lot of combinations. The swappable pieces allow people to show off their personalities. But interchangeable cushions also mean that dry parts can be added after a workout so the headphones are ready for the office.

I’ve had a chance to hear from Beats and use the new 360 headphones prior to their release. All around, they’re good headphones. They can do it all. But because the 360 are IPX4 water-resistant, I think people looking for headphones to wear while being active are the ones who are going to love these the most.

Sweating in Beats 360 headphones isn’t a big deal

I haven’t ever wanted to wear over-the-ear headphones while running, primarily because it won’t take long before they get gross. Small, plastic earbuds are easier to wipe clean. But I do see people wearing over-ears while working out. You might be one of these people. Beats says this is one of the most popular uses for its headphones.

The company designed the cushions to be easy to swap, so each works the same whether on the left or right side, and there is no top or bottom orientation. You can even hear a little chime each time you successfully click one into place. The drivers have been reengineered and are fully protected from sweat ingress without compromising audio quality.

Now that I can take off the ear cushions and put dry ones on after a run, I’m much more interested in using them for fitness activities. Whether I’ll end up preferring them is a different question.

The fit of the 360 headphones is secure enough to stay in place while moving around. I do find them to be a little tighter than some other premium headphones from Sony or Bose. But I also haven’t found them to be too tight that they’re uncomfortable.

All around, the headband cushion and ear cups make for a good listening experience. In terms of the different materials, I much prefer the leather-like UltraPlush black and white ones. The fabric ones make sense for sweating in but are a little scratchy for daily desk use for me. They feel like the AirPods Max cushions.

Sound booms, while ANC dampens

For better or worse, Beats is known for its bassy boom. The audio on the 360 is deep and expansive. It’s vibrant and warm. But by default, I wouldn’t call the sound overly boomy. The bass is tight and well-defined.

Songs sound as good as you would hope for $350 headphones. I can think of more expensive headphones that sound better, but those other ones also don’t have the same customization and water resistance. I can also think of a couple around the same price that sound worse.

The only obvious downside I see in this area is that there isn't any wired connectivity. For that, you'll want the Beats Studio Pro.

For noise cancellation, the ANC is respectable. Beats says it has 1.75 times more total noise cancellation than the newly priced $299 (retail) Beats Studio Pro. I flew with the 360 headphones, so I can verify they can handle an airplane. They aren’t, however, at the top of my list among premium options for silencing engine noise. They are more than capable of keeping you focused in the midst of a busy gym.

I noticed that the transparency mode has a bit of an audible noise floor—a very subtle hiss. It won’t be distracting for most people, but it might annoy very sensitive ears.

In general, I like the media control buttons. The volume rocker took me a few uses to get familiar with, but beyond that I haven’t had any problems navigating them.

Should you buy the Beats 360 headphones?

After spending some time with the Beats 360 wireless headphones, I like them a lot. Their design instantly grabbed my attention the first time I saw them. They look fresh and attractive. Even more than the appearance, I think the sound and functionality give these a wide appeal for all kinds of uses.

Since they include auto-switching between Apple devices and can summon Siri hands-free, they will work well for listening at home or in the office. But of course, the water resistance is a big deal for using them at the gym or even in the rain.

For people who want a do-it-all pair of headphones, the 360 can be that product. If you just want the ability to customize the look based on your mood, these work well for that purpose too. My go-to has been to change the color of the right earcup, so I instantly know which way to put them on without trying to look for the left and right designation.