Early Prime Day DealsBest Mesh Wi-FiBest LaptopsBest Samsung PhonesDeals Delivered The Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED Consulting Beats’ new flagship over-ear headphones are customizable, stylish, and comfortable for workouts. Easily swappable ear cups and headband. Multiple cushion color and fabric options.
Water-resistant. 32 hours of battery life with ANC. Lackluster midrange sound. Strong clamping makes for uncomfortable everyday wear.
The Beats 360, I'll admit, didn't click for me until I started thinking of them as over-ear workout headphones. As everyday headphones, I had a tough time ranking these, given the competition, but as gym cans, the Beats 360 are stellar. It took me a while to come to this conclusion because working out with over-ear headphones has always kind of sucked.
They shift around a lot, get warm and sweaty around your ears, and are way, way heavier than earbuds. That last part might not seem like a big deal, but if you’re running a half-marathon, a half-pound weight on top of your head starts to get annoying fast. This stigma made me ignore this attribute about the Beats 360 at first.
Still, the number of people I see working out (and running) with Apple AirPods Max, one of the heaviest popular over-ear headphones around, shows the demand is there. And the Beats 360 fulfill that niche brilliantly, with a secure fit, IPX4-rated water resistance, and swappable cushioning. They may not be the best over-ear headphones for other things (like high-resolution audio), but it’s hard to knock them when they get their main thing (customizable over-ear workout headphones) right.
The Beats 360 are, first and foremost, fun headphones. That may not sound like much, but it’s a rarity in the sea of same-y over-ear headphones I’ve reviewed. The 360 have a slim, smooth design that’s appealing, with a soft-touch finish and an adjustable headband with smooth, telescoping metal (similar to AirPods Max or Sonos Ace Ultra).
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