Beats 360 launched in India, challenges Sony WH-1000XM6 aBose QC Ultra
New Delhi: Beats has launched its new flagship over-ear headphones, the Beats 360, in India at Rs 42,900, positioning it directly against Sony WH-1000XM6 at Rs 39,990 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) at Rs 49,900.
The 360 went on order via Apple on September 22, with retail availability from September 24 in four colours – Black, Cloud, Pink and Sky. At this price, it is the brand’s most premium over-ear offering after the Studio Pro was cut to Rs 32,900.
The launch marks two firsts for Beats over-ear: interchangeable earcup and headband cushions, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance. The brand says this is aimed at users who want one pair for workouts, commuting and office use.
The headphones offer two cushion types. Performance Knit is targeted at active use, while UltraPlush engineered leather is for everyday wear. The headphones auto-detect the cushion type and retune audio accordingly. Additional kits cost Rs 6,900.
On core specs, Beats claims ANC is 1.75x more effective than Studio Pro, with Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking and Dolby Atmos. It uses custom drivers with three-layer diaphragm and dual neodymium magnets, 9 microphones and Bluetooth 5.3.
Battery life is up to 32 hours with ANC on. A 5-minute USB-C quick charge provides up to one hour playback. It supports cross-platform features – one-touch pairing, auto-switching and Find My for Apple, and Fast Pair, Audio Switch and Find Hub for Android.
Early comparisons show trade-offs. While Beats emphasizes customization and durability, rivals retain edges in other areas. Sony WH-1000XM6 offers LDAC codec support, 3.5mm wired listening and 30-hour ANC battery, and has been rated stronger in voice cancellation in independent tests. Bose offers aptX Adaptive and its own immersive audio modes.
The premium headphones market has shifted from being purely about sound to also include comfort, ANC, call quality, battery life and lifestyle fit, making differentiation key.
