A few hours after Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo in Cupertino, California, a hands-on experience was held for the new Beats 360 headphones. The Beats 360 are the most versatile product we’ve seen from the company, featuring powerful sound, impressive comfort, and plenty of style. Oliver Schusser, Beats President and Apple Music VP, discussed the latest headphones and the relationship between Beats and Apple.
The Beats 360 are distinct due to their focus on customization, with over 256 combinations available from day one. This allows users to choose a unique pair that may not be replicated. Schusser stated that Beats aimed to create a different kind of over-ear product catering to the active lifestyle.
Beats 360 Design and Features
Schusser noted that Beats noticed people wearing over-ear headphones to the gym and saw an opportunity to combine breathable materials, a tight grip, and an experience similar to earbuds in a pair of over-ear headphones. The Beats 360 sound great, with crisp, clear, and powerful audio, despite not using Apple’s proprietary audio chips.
Schusser said, “It’s a case-by-case decision which chip we use. What’s important for us is that we want to be optimized for both iOS and Android. With this chip, users can have personalized Spatial Audio, and Android users can have the full feature set as well.” The headphones also feature replaceable ear cushions and headbands, with customers able to choose between four different frames, eight cushions, and eight different headbands.
Customization and Accessories
To celebrate the release, Beats is offering these add-on accessories for $9.99, but they will eventually climb to $49.99 each. The ability to customize the headphones is a key feature, allowing users to personalize their Beats 360 to suit their preferences.
The relationship between Apple and Beats is also noteworthy, with Schusser stating that the teams are the same and decisions are made consciously. Schusser said, “It’s all about what we want the product to be, what price point we want it to be at. We also want to make sure our headphones work just as great on both iOS and Android platforms.”
Beats and Apple’s Future Plans
Schusser confirmed that Beats is stepping away from the case business, at least for now. Schusser said, “We’ve had two iPhone cycles of cases. We’ve actually learned a lot and we’ve decided not to make any cases this year.” However, Beats plans to add more colors to their popular cables and may release new accessories in the future.