Leaked details suggest Beats is on the verge of releasing the Beats 360, a new over-ear headphone model targeting active users with enhanced durability, customiseability, and a competitive price point below the AirPods Max.
Beats is poised to add a new over-ear model that looks designed to sit between the Studio Pro and AirPods Max, with a clearer focus on exercise and portability than either existing option. According to leaked retail listings reported by MacRumors and later echoed by TechRadar and StereoNet, the unreleased headphones are expected to carry the Beats 360 name, use a lighter circular design, and borrow some visual cues from AirPods Max through mesh ear cups and a padded headband.
The most notable detail in the leak is not the styling but the positioning. The headphones are expected to cost about $299 in the US, placing them below the current AirPods Max and, at list price, below the Beats Studio Pro. That would make sense only if Beats intends the new model to offer a broader feature set, or if the Studio Pro is headed towards a lower tier or a phased retreat from the line-up. The listings suggest exactly that kind of repositioning: a more active, more modern Beats headphone, not simply a refreshed version of an older product.
Two features stand out. First, the Beats 360 are said to be the first Beats over-ear headphones with IPX4 resistance, which should protect against sweat and splashes. That does not make them waterproof, but it does make them far more plausible for gym use than most premium over-ear rivals. Second, the design appears to support interchangeable cushions and pads. Beats is reportedly including Performance Knit cushions in the box and selling UltraPlush replacements separately, an unusual approach that could make the headphones easier to customise and maintain.
The noise-cancellation claim deserves caution. The Amazon listing reportedly described active noise cancellation as “up to 1.75x more noise cancellation than Beats Studio Pro”, but it did not explain how that figure was measured. TechRadar noted that such claims are difficult to interpret without a defined testing method, and that remains true here. Until independent measurements are available, the number should be treated as marketing language rather than a verified performance benchmark.
Several other details remain unclear. The leaked material refers only to “all-day battery life” with ANC enabled, without giving an actual hour count. It also does not confirm whether the headphones use Apple’s H2 chip, which would matter for switching between devices, power efficiency and audio processing. For Android users, codec support is another open question. If the model launches with AAC alone, it would be less attractive to listeners who prioritise higher-bitrate wireless audio.
Signs of a launch have accumulated quickly. MacRumors reported that the codename B518 appeared in macOS Tahoe 26.7, while regulatory filings in the US and Brazil have now linked model A3577 to the same product. The headphones were also seen on athletes during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, suggesting Apple and Beats have already been testing public visibility before a formal announcement. Taken together, the leaks point to a product that is close to release, even if Apple has not yet confirmed timing.
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