While Beats says they have “the best Beats acoustics yet, as well as the best Beats noise cancellation yet,” they are missing some features that AirPods users might miss. Since they have a proprietary, custom-designed Beats chip instead of an H2, you don’t get AirPods features like live translation, hearing protection, and talk boost.
If you can live without those features, however, the Beats 360 is everything the AirPods Max aren’t. In particular, they are very light, weighing only 295 grams, compared to 386 grams for the AirPods Max. The cushions are available in one of two options: high-performance fabric for workouts or ultralush for longer listening sessions. They also come in a variety of bright colors: black, cloud (off-white), pink and sky (blue), which are recommended to mix and match with different cushions, which are available in their own set of colors and cost $50 each, with a special introductory price of $10.
While the AirPods Max aren’t rated for water resistance, the Beats 360 have IPX4 water and sweat resistance, making them very gym-friendly. They also have controls on the device to control the music. You get 32 hours of battery life, about 50 percent more than the AirPods Max.
You can order the Beats 360 on the Beats websites or through Amazon and other third-party retailers for shipping starting Thursday.
