How Beats designed the Beats 360 headphones

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Beats has just revealed its new Beats 360 headphones, which sit above the established Beats Studio Pro as an even more premium alternative. I had the chance to check out the new Beats 360 before the official launch, and the product is definitely attractive. It’s quite different from the classic Beats design, but still retains key elements loved by the brand’s most loyal fans. To better understand this launch, I sat down with Oliver Schusser, Vice President of Apple Music and Beats. We talked about how this model differs from other Beats and Apple products, and even what to expect in the future.

We already have a full review of the new Beats 360 if you want to take a closer look at what they can do. But to summarize, Beats opts for a more modular and more fun design. The ear pads and headband are easily interchangeable and you can mix and match different colors. Personally, I loved this approach, but I had to ask Schusser who exactly they are targeting with the new headphones.

Turns out, Schusser says these headphones are for everyone. “It’s women, men, younger people, older people. It’s actually quite broad,” he said. But of course, he finds that the mix-and-match trend appeals best to young people. The idea is like having different pairs of sneakers, but this time with earphone cushions. “It’s almost like you have multiple headphones,” he added.

This customization goes beyond colors. Beats offers two different versions of ear cushions: one is made of fabric and is perfect for working out, while the other is made of eco-leather for a sleeker look. Think of it like changing your iPhone case depending on where you’re going. Not everyone will care about this, but it’s nice to have the option.

When Beats designed the new headphones, it wanted to try something new without losing the brand identity. Schusser told me he still sees Beats’ identity in the new product, from the fun colors to the iconic “b” logo on the sides.

“It still feels very Beats to me, even though it’s a very new, innovative, lighter look,” he said. In fact, the Beats 360 pairs well with other products in the line, such as the Powerbeats Pro 2 and the company’s iPhone cases, although Beats isn’t making cases for the iPhone 18 this year, which is a shame.

Beats is an Apple brand, and while they pride themselves on their battery life, you can clearly see Apple’s influence in Beats products. It’s no surprise that the Beats 360 resembles the AirPods Max in some ways. But it’s worth noting that the Beats 360 headphones don’t have an Apple audio chip like the AirPods Max. Instead, Beats is betting on a new generation of its own custom chip. For what? Schusser says that’s because some Beats products take a very different approach to AirPods, even though they work very closely with Apple.

“Engineering, operations and manufacturing are all integrated into Apple. And we never really question that,” Schusser told me. “We think everyone at Beats is very proud to be part of Apple, and everyone at Apple is very proud to have Beats as a sort of team. It allows us to sort of have two different approaches.” He then explained that Beats headphones can support Apple features like Find My and automatic switching between devices, even without Apple’s proprietary chip. At the same time, they are also fully compatible with Android. “We optimized the chip for iOS and Android,” he added. “And the chip, by the way, has nothing to do with it.”

Also in this context, Schusser does not consider Beats products to be competitors of Apple. In fact, he argues that some people might choose to have both for different uses – like AirPods for everyday use and Beats for the gym – which is the case for me.

“What’s great for the customer is they have more choice,” he said. “They are both high-end products.”

Beats is known for being a music-focused company. Its headphones are very popular, and there’s also the Beats Pill, one of my favorite portable speakers. But Beats has also been exploring accessories lately, such as USB cables and iPhone cases. I asked Schusser about the future of Beats and whether its customers still view the company as “just an audio brand.”

He told me that many Beats users love the brand and are loyal to it. They love the fun, sporty vibe that Beats embodies. “And we thought for a long time about what else we can do with this,” he said. When it comes to cables, for example, Schusser says Beats has become “really good at making cables” because they have a long history of designing their own custom cables for Beats headphones. “And they were a huge success for us,” he said.

Looking ahead, Schusser suggests we can expect even more Beats accessories, although it’s not like they’re just throwing things out left and right. The idea is to figure out what makes sense for Beats users and under the Beats brand. “But we want to be careful,” he explained. “We don’t want to touch on too many things.” There have been rumors that Beats is working on a new gaming controller for the iPhone, so perhaps that will be the next big product from them.

For now, the next big thing from Beats is the Beats 360 headphones, which back up everything Schusser told me. It’s a bold – and really good – new product that still has that unmistakable Beats identity.