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The Beats 360 fix the one thing AirPods Max owners can't replace
Aug 26, 2026 — 4:00 AM ET
A fresh leak has revealed almost everything about Apple-owned Beats’ next headphones, the Beats 360, and buried in the spec sheet is a fix for a problem AirPods Max owners have been stuck with for years: a headband you can’t replace.
According to listings spotted on retailer websites, the Beats 360 will have a replaceable headband and replaceable earcups, offered in a mesh fabric option or the cushioned pleather style already used on the Beats Solo 4. That might sound like a small detail, but it’s an important upgrade for anyone who’s owned a pair of AirPods Max long enough to watch the headband’s mesh wear out or turn yellow.
How is your AirPods Max headband holding up?
On the AirPods Max, the cushioned headband is fixed in place. Once the mesh frays or the padding flattens, which happens with regular use over a couple of years, there’s no official way to swap it out. Apple doesn’t sell a replacement part, and third-party fixes have mostly meant improvising with 3D-printed inserts or other DIY workarounds just to keep the metal frame from resting directly on your head. It’s one of the more common complaints about an otherwise well-built pair of headphones, and it’s pushed some owners toward buying a new pair entirely rather than repairing the one they have.
Beats appears to be avoiding that problem entirely with the 360. If the leak holds up, you’d be able to swap in a new headband or earcups yourself, whether that’s because the originals wore out or because you just want a different look or feel.
The headband isn’t the only upgrade on the list. The leak points to noticeably stronger active noise cancelation than the Beats Studio Pro, along with personalized spatial audio with head tracking, and beamforming microphones tuned with AI for clearer calls. The Beats 360 is also expected to be the company’s first headphone with sweat- and water-resistance (IPX4), plus all-day battery life with noise cancelation enabled.
Pricing is expected to land at $299, which would undercut the Beats Studio Pro while offering more features on paper, including the repairability that Apple’s own flagship headphones still lack. There’s no confirmed release date yet, but a launch timed to the holiday shopping season would fit Apple’s usual playbook.
If the replaceable headband makes it to the final product, it’ll be worth watching whether Apple eventually brings the same fix to the AirPods Max lineup. Until then, Beats may end up solving a problem its parent company has left unaddressed for years.
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