On September 22, 2026, Beats unveiled the Beats 360, a new flagship over-ear headphone priced at $349.99 in the US, with shelf availability from September 24. It's the first Beats over-ear with swappable cushions and the first with an IPX4 sweat and water rating. Here's what's actually new, what it would realistically cost in Kenya, and what you can buy in Nairobi today.
What's new in the Beats 360
According to Beats' official announcement, the headline features are:
- Interchangeable cushions: the ear and headband cushions come off and can be swapped for other colours or materials. Performance Knit (breathable, aimed at workouts) comes in the box; UltraPlush engineered-leather kits are sold separately. Standard cushion-kit pricing is $49.99.
- Stronger noise cancelling: Beats claims up to 1.75x more total noise cancellation than the Beats Studio Pro, using eight of its nine microphones for ANC.
- IPX4 sweat and water resistance: a first for a Beats over-ear headphone.
- Battery: up to 32 hours with ANC on (24 hours in Transparency mode), and a 5-minute Fast Fuel charge gives about 1 hour of playback over USB-C.
- Works with iPhone and Android: a custom Beats chip, Class 1 Bluetooth 5.3, one-touch pairing and Find My on iPhone, plus Fast Pair and Find Hub on Android (the Beats app needs Android 15 or later).
- Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking and Dolby Atmos support.
Beats also dropped the Beats Studio Pro to a new US price of $299.99 alongside the launch.
What would it cost in Kenya?
Beats 360 is not officially stocked in Kenya yet. At current exchange rates, $349.99 works out to roughly KES 45,000 before shipping, import duty and VAT, so expect any grey-import units that show up in Nairobi in the coming weeks to sell for noticeably more. Early imports also mean limited colour choice and no easy local access to the separately sold cushion kits.
If you want the Beats 360 specifically, it's worth waiting a few weeks for stock and pricing to settle. If you need good headphones now, for matatu commutes, working from a noisy co-working space in Westlands, or long flights out of JKIA, there are strong options already on the shelf.
What to buy today instead
Beats Solo 4 (KES 22,500): if you like the Beats sound and design and don't need noise cancelling, the Solo 4 is roughly half the likely local price of the Beats 360. It's an on-ear design rated for up to 50 hours of battery, supports Personalized Spatial Audio, and works with both iPhone and Android. Fewer charges also helps if power at home is unreliable.
Sony WH-1000XM5 (KES 32,000): if strong ANC is the main reason you're looking at the Beats 360, the WH-1000XM5 is a proven flagship noise canceller with up to 30 hours of battery with ANC on, excellent call quality and an over-ear fit that suits long listening sessions. It costs less than the Beats 360 is likely to land at, and it's available now.
FAQ
Is the Beats 360 available in Kenya?
Not officially yet. Beats launched it on September 22, 2026 through Apple in the US and over 100 other countries and regions. Local stock in Nairobi will likely be grey imports priced above the roughly KES 45,000 US-price equivalent.
Does the Beats 360 work with Android phones?
Yes. It supports Google Fast Pair and Find Hub, and the Beats app for Android requires Android 15 or later. Some features, like Personalized Spatial Audio profiles, need an iPhone.
Beats 360 or Sony WH-1000XM5 for noise cancelling?
Beats says the 360 cancels up to 1.75x more noise than its own Studio Pro, but independent comparisons against Sony are still coming in. For now, the WH-1000XM5 is a proven ANC headphone you can buy today in Nairobi for KES 32,000 and pay for with M-Pesa.
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