After a series of wireless earbuds, Nothing is stepping into the over-ear headphone market with its Headphone 1. These new headphones combine the brand’s signature transparent aesthetic with an interesting array of controls and boast up to 35 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Priced at $299, the Headphone 1 launches alongside Nothing’s new flagship smartphone, the Phone 3, marking their most premium audio release to date. Pre-orders begin July 4th, with sales starting July 15th in black and white colour options.
Read: Honor unveils the world’s thinnest foldable, the Magic V5
True to Nothing’s identity, the Headphone 1 immediately looks like a product from the company. The design incorporates a transparent element featuring an oval shape that exposes parts of the internal hardware, set against an aluminium rectangle with curved corners. The two metallic dots on each oval are acoustic chambers, not buttons, as one might initially assume. While the white option leans into the classic “Nothing” look, the black version offers a slightly more subtle take on the unique design.
Nothing has opted for a mix of physical buttons, paddles, and a roller instead of touch sensors. The roller control offers precise volume adjustments and can be pressed to play/pause tracks or long-pressed to switch between ANC and transparency modes. While functional, the side-to-side movement of the roller for vertical volume changes feels a bit unconventional.
Below the roller, a paddle control allows for track skipping and even includes a rewind function, though this feature’s compatibility depends on third-party app support. On the same ear cup, a traditional button provides a shortcut to voice assistants and Nothing’s Essential Space software. When paired with Nothing phones, this button enables seamless switching between recent audio apps, a feature that will first roll out to the Phone 3 before reaching older Nothing devices. Supported apps already include Audible, Soundcloud, and Patreon, in addition to standard music streaming services. A discreet Bluetooth pairing button is also located on the inner side of the ear cup, preventing accidental unpairing.
Comfort appears to be a priority for Nothing. As someone accustomed to wireless earbuds, the sub-12-ounce (329 grams) Headphone 1 felt surprisingly light and comfortable. They are nearly two ounces lighter than Apple’s AirPods Max, a product Nothing seems to be directly targeting, though some Bose models and the Sony WH-1000XM6 are even lighter. The ample PU leather padding on the ear cushions and headband is designed to resist oils and makeup, and any sweat residue was easily wiped off during testing. The adjustable arms also securely held their preferred length.
The Headphone 1 features custom 40mm dynamic drivers, supporting Hi-Res Audio and spatial audio with head tracking. The ANC system uses four feedback microphones. The headphones also offer dual device connection, allowing seamless switching between a Nothing Phone 3 and a laptop, for example.
Nothing collaborated with KEF on acoustic engineering and proprietary tuning tools, aiming for a sound profile that faithfully reproduces music as intended by artists across normal playback, ANC, and Spatial Audio modes. In initial testing, the Headphone 1 delivered a bass-forward soundscape that was noticeably richer than Nothing’s earbuds. However, vocals occasionally sounded a little muddy compared to other premium headphones. Nothing states these were pre-release units and software, so potential improvements may come.
See also
The updated Nothing X app provides an 8-band EQ and allows remapping the “Button” (a separate control from the paddle and roller) to functions like channel hopping, AI voice assistants, noise control, spatial audio, or even switching to a favourite EQ preset.
Battery life is impressive, with Nothing claiming up to 80 hours of audio playback and 35 hours with ANC enabled. Initial tests confirmed around 35 hours with ANC on, a common use case for quiet office listening. A quick five-minute charge can provide over two and a half hours of listening.
The Headphone 1’s design is undeniably divisive, yet it’s distinctly different, which is core to Nothing’s philosophy.
