Beats has spent years making headphones that move easily between the studio, the subway and the street. The new Beats 360 pushes that idea somewhere more demanding: the gym. Its pitch is not simply better sound in another familiar shell. It is an over-ear headphone designed to survive sweat, stay planted during movement and recover quickly when the workout is over.

At $349.99, the Beats 360 sits in premium territory. The difference is that its most important features are physical. The ear and headband cushions can be removed and replaced, while the headphone carries an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance. That combination makes the 360 feel less like a delicate travel accessory and more like equipment.

THE CUSHIONS ARE THE REAL IDEA

Interchangeable cushions change how an over-ear headphone fits into daily life. Beats includes color-matched Performance Knit cushions, while additional kits are available in different colors and materials. A fresh set can replace the pair soaked during a workout, or change the entire look without buying another headphone.

It is a practical answer to a problem most premium over-ear models ignore. Ear cushions absorb heat, sweat and wear long before the electronics become obsolete. Making those contact points replaceable gives the Beats 360 a longer visual and functional life. It also turns a piece of audio hardware into something closer to a sneaker: the base stays the same, but the material and color can rotate.

BEATS BUILT ITS FLAGSHIP TO MOVE

The IPX4 rating is the clearest sign that Beats expects the 360 to leave the desk. It is the company’s first sweat- and water-resistant over-ear headphone, built for running, commuting and training in conditions that would make most owners nervous about their usual noise-cancelling pair.

The shape follows the same brief. Memory-foam ear cushions create the seal, a slim cushioned headband is designed for stability and telescoping stainless-steel arms adjust the fit. The earcups rotate independently and fold flat, making the headphone easier to wear around the neck or pack into the included woven ripstop case.

Physical controls remain on both cups. Volume and playback live on the right, while power and listening modes sit on the left. That matters during a workout, when a real button is faster and more reliable than hunting through an app or swiping a touch surface with damp hands.

THE AUDIO SPECS MATCH THE PRICE

Beats is calling this its best-sounding headphone to date. A custom acoustic system uses three-layer diaphragms, dual neodymium magnets and a high-dynamic-range amplifier. Adaptive EQ adjusts frequencies around the wearer’s individual seal, while Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is available for music, movies and gaming.

Active Noise Cancellation is rated to deliver up to 1.75 times more total noise cancellation than Beats Studio Pro. Transparency mode is there for traffic, conversations and the moments when complete isolation becomes a liability. Nine microphones handle noise control and voice pickup, with a dedicated voice mic and beam-forming system helping calls cut through the background.

32 HOURS MAKES IT AN ALL-DAY HEADPHONE

Battery life reaches up to 32 hours even with Active Noise Cancellation and Personalized Spatial Audio enabled. A five-minute Fast Fuel charge adds up to an hour of playback. Charging is handled over USB-C, although Beats does not include a charging cable or power adapter in the box.

The 360 also avoids treating Android support like an afterthought. Apple users get one-touch pairing, automatic switching, Audio Sharing, Find My and hands-free Siri. Android users get Fast Pair, Audio Switch, Find Hub and voice-assistant support through the Beats app.

The Beats 360 is ambitious because it treats durability, hygiene and style as part of the premium-headphone equation. Plenty of over-ear models can cancel noise on a flight. Far fewer are built to handle a hard training session, swap into a clean set of cushions and still look intentional on the walk home.