Beats 360 headphones have begun arriving at many Apple Stores around the world, with some in-store stock also reported at Best Buy and Target. The new over-ear model carries a $349.99 price and gives buyers an unusually visible way to tailor a familiar part of the headphone experience: its ear cushions.

That matters because the cushion is not merely a decorative ring around each ear cup. It is the part of a headset that sits against the user during every playlist, party chat, cutscene, commute and workout. Beats is offering two cushion styles for the 360, and the basic choice is clear: performance-oriented breathable memory foam, or a softer alternative described as more pillowy.

Beats 360 ships with the Performance Knit memory foam cushions. UltraPlush cushions are sold separately. For a limited time through October 31, add-on cushions are discounted to $9.99 through Apple. That promotion makes the accessory decision less intimidating for anyone tempted by one configuration for active use and another for long listening sessions.

An over-ear Beats model built around changing the fit

The Beats 360 has an over-ear design similar to AirPods Max, with interchangeable cushions enabling color swaps as well as changes in feel. The headphones themselves come in Black, Cloud, Pink and Sky. Performance Knit cushions have the broader palette: Black, Cloud, Pink, Sky, Navy and Volt. UltraPlush is available in Black and Cloud.

That separation between headphone colors and cushion colors makes the 360 a little more flexible than a product whose appearance is fixed at checkout. A black headset can stay understated, for example, while the cushions supply the brighter part of the setup. More importantly, the two materials are presented as serving distinct uses rather than being the same accessory in different shades.

Performance Knit versus UltraPlush

Performance Knit cushions use breathable memory foam and are intended for workouts. “Breathable” here refers to a material designed to allow more air circulation around the ears, while memory foam describes foam that conforms under pressure. Beats includes this version in the box, and its purpose aligns with another stated 360 feature: IPX4 sweat and water resistance.

IPX4 is a water-resistance rating. In practical terms, Beats positions it for sweat and gym use. It should not be interpreted as a promise that the headphones are waterproof, nor as a reason to assume every kind of water exposure is safe. The supplied information supports use around exercise and sweat; it does not set out broader water-use guidance.

UltraPlush cushions, meanwhile, are described as softer and more pillowy. There is no stated performance hierarchy between the two styles. The sensible interpretation is that the choice is about personal priorities: the included knit cushions for a breathable, active-use orientation, and UltraPlush for those who prefer a softer contact point around the ear.

Noise cancellation is the headline comparison

Beats says the 360 offers up to 1.75 times more noise cancellation than Beats Studio Pro, alongside improved sound quality. The wording “up to” is important. It presents a maximum comparative claim, not a guarantee that every listener, environment or sound type will produce the same result.

Noise cancellation is a headphone feature intended to reduce the impact of outside noise on what the listener hears. Its practical appeal is easy to understand whether the use is music, dialogue in a game, a podcast or simply a quieter listening space. The stated comparison specifically uses Beats Studio Pro as the benchmark; no comparisons to other headphone brands, gaming headsets or Apple models have been provided.

The 360 also supports Transparency mode. In broad terms, this is the counterpart to more isolated listening: a mode intended to let outside sound remain perceptible rather than shutting the listener into a sealed audio bubble. The exact balance, controls and behavior are not detailed here, so prospective buyers should avoid assuming more than the feature’s confirmed presence.

For people moving between noisy surroundings and situations where they need awareness, the combination is notable on paper. Noise cancellation is geared toward reducing surrounding distraction, while Transparency mode is intended to keep a user connected to what is around them. They answer opposite needs without requiring a change of headphones.

Spatial audio, Adaptive EQ and Apple-device convenience

Beats lists Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, fast pairing and automatic device switching among the 360’s supported features. These names can sound like a stack of settings-menu vocabulary, but each points to a different part of the experience.

  • Personalized Spatial Audio is an audio feature that aims to present sound with a sense of space tailored to the listener.
  • Adaptive EQ refers to equalization that adjusts audio tuning. Equalization, or EQ, is the balancing of frequency ranges in sound.
  • Fast pairing concerns the initial connection process between headphones and a compatible device.
  • Automatic device switching concerns moving the headphone connection between devices without repeatedly managing that handoff manually.

Those latter conveniences may be especially appealing to people who rotate through several devices during a day, although the supplied details do not list a full compatibility matrix or explain exactly which devices participate. The 360’s positioning plainly sits close to Apple’s wider hardware experience, a space that continues to produce smaller platform-quality-of-life changes as well, including this reported Apple Watch screenshot development.

For gamers, it is worth separating confirmed listening features from assumptions often attached to the word “headset.” Beats has confirmed the audio modes, pairing conveniences, water resistance and cushion system described above. It has not, in the information available here, detailed game-console support, microphone behavior, latency, wired connections, battery life, companion-app controls or platform-specific voice-chat features. Those are all reasonable questions for a prospective buyer, but they are not answered by the current specifications.

What the price includes, and what it does not

At $349.99, Beats 360 arrives as a premium-priced over-ear option. The base package includes the Performance Knit cushions. UltraPlush cushions are a separate purchase, though Apple’s limited-time $9.99 add-on-cushion pricing runs through October 31.

There is a practical purchasing angle here beyond color coordination. Because Performance Knit comes in six colors and UltraPlush in two, shoppers who want the broadest customization options will find them in the included-style cushion range. Buyers who specifically want the softer UltraPlush feel are choosing from Black or Cloud, and should account for its separate cost after the promotional period if they miss the October window.

The product was announced earlier in the week after several months of teasers, and its retail arrival means the conversation can move from anticipation to straightforward availability. Stock varies by location: Beats 360 is available at many Apple Stores, while Best Buy and Target have some in-store supply. Availability at one retailer or store should not be treated as proof of inventory everywhere.

The clearest case for Beats 360

Beats 360’s distinct pitch is not one single specification. It is the combination of an over-ear form factor, stronger stated noise-cancellation claims relative to Beats Studio Pro, supported spatial and adaptive audio features, gym-oriented IPX4 resistance, and cushions that can be exchanged for both comfort and color.

The included Performance Knit option makes the out-of-box package the workout-focused configuration. The separately sold UltraPlush set gives buyers a defined alternative rather than forcing them to settle for a single material. Add fast pairing and automatic device switching, and the 360 is designed for someone who values less friction between devices as much as a changeable look.

Whether that package is the right fit comes down to priorities, not just the headline number. People considering Beats 360 should distinguish the confirmed claims from unanswered specifics: the $349.99 price, supplied knit cushions, available colors, $9.99 temporary cushion offer, water-resistance rating and listed software features are established. Questions around platform support and the more granular parts of daily use remain questions until Beats provides further details.