Beats Changes Its Tune

Apple is rarely the first to an idea, but when it enters a space, it tends to do the best version of it. Apple hopes that’s true of its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, but it certainly seems to be true of the Beats 360, its new lifestyle- and fitness-focused over-ear model. You buy the headphones in one of four base colors, then can buy new ear-cushion-and-headband kits in different colors and materials, which you can easily switch out for a new look or function.This isn’t a new idea. With OnTrac, its second pair of headphones, Dyson dropped the air-filtering visor and added interchangeable ear cushions and outer caps, with more than 2,000 possible color combinations. But Beats has added a practical twist: you can swap the headband cushion, too, and choose padding for either exercise or everyday listening.They’re a curvy, slim pair of over-ear headphones, and come with color-matched ear and headband cushions in the exercise-focused Performance Knit material. Without buying anything extra, this is a pretty compelling package, with IPX4 sweat and splash resistance and what should be a pretty comfortable fit, courtesy of their new headband design.Beats says its wireless-first architecture frees the headband from cable management, giving it more room to distribute weight and tension. The headphones have noise cancellation, Transparency mode, and Personalized Spatial Audio, offer up to 32 hours of listening with noise cancellation on, and weigh 10.39 ounces. The adjustable stainless-steel arms also let the earcups rotate flat for storage, though — like the AirPods Max — they don’t fold inward.But what takes them to the next level is their customization. After a workout, or when changing to a different outfit, you can twist off the ear cushions and detach the headband cushion, then replace them with a new kit in another color or material. The headphones come in Black, Cloud, Pink, and Sky, with Performance Knit kits in all those colors plus Navy and Air Max-adjacent Volt green. Those should be great for a workout, but if you want smoother cushions for being out and about, you can also swap in UltraPlush in Black or cream-colored Cloud. That’s less material choice than one might like, but it’s still far beyond the standard headphone, and even if Apple doesn’t add more options, third parties will. You can also replace worn cushions instead of living with them.The Beats 360 costs $349.99 — about $199 less than the $549 AirPods Max 2 — with extra cushion kits normally costing $49.99 each. Beats is offering them for $9.99 a set through October 31, while supplies last, with a limit of three per customer. So if there are some color combos you would like to try, stock up now.

Beats Changes Its Tune

Beats Changes Its Tune

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