Nothing’s first stab at over-ear headphones, the Headphone 1, dropped on July 1, 2025, and it’s a bold middle finger to boring designs. At $299, it’s gunning for big dogs like Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000XM6, bringing Nothing’s see-through style, KEF-tuned sound, and a hands-on control vibe to shake up a packed market.
Nothing’s all about that transparent look, and the Headphone 1 rocks it hard. The earcups mix boxy aluminum with clear, circular bits that show off the guts like an old-school cassette player laid bare. It’s a head-turner, though not everyone’s cup of tea. “We wanted something totally different,” Nothing CEO Carl Pei said at the launch, taking a swipe at the “same-old” designs out there. The aluminum frame and cushy PU memory foam earpads feel solid yet cozy, though the plastic-heavy earpads don’t quite scream luxury like the $549 AirPods Max’s metal-and-mesh setup. Still, at 300 grams, they’re light as a feather, and the foam hugs your ears for hours of easy listening.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION: Premium noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology
- LONG BATTERY LIFE: Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback)(USB Type-C Cable included)
- TOUCH SENSOR CONTROLS: Pause play skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls.
Sound is where Nothing teams up with KEF, the British audio wizards known for nailing precision. The Headphone 1 packs 40mm dynamic drivers, fine-tuned by KEF with an 8.9mm PU surround to keep distortion low. You get a rich, balanced sound with thumping bass and crisp highs, spanning 20Hz to 40kHz. Early buzz calls it “clear and punchy,” with that KEF sharpness shining through. The Nothing X app lets you tweak an 8-band EQ to get the sound just right, and spatial audio adds a cool, immersive vibe, though it’s not quite as slick as Apple’s version.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) offers up to 42dB of noise reduction through a hybrid system that scans surroundings every 600ms. A wear-detection system adjusts for noise leakage every 1875ms. As for battery life, expect up to 80 hours without ANC and 35 hours with it, outpacing AirPods Max (20 hours) and matching Sony’s best. A 5-minute charge is good for 2.4 hours of ANC playback.
Controls skip finicky touchpads for real-deal rollers and buttons. A clicky volume wheel feels great, and a paddle lets you skip tracks or scrub through songs. A customizable button on the right earcup defaults to voice assistants but can trigger Nothing’s Channel Hop when paired with a Nothing phone. “We ditched touchpads for buttons and switches you can feel,” a Nothing rep said, doubling down on user-friendly vibes.
Connectivity is no slouch either, with Bluetooth 5.3, LDAC for high-res audio, and dual-device pairing. The inclusion of USB-C and a 3.5mm jack adds versatility, though the IP52 water resistance feels underwhelming compared to competitors’ more durable builds. In the US, the headphones launch at $299, with pre-orders starting July 4, 2025, and shipping on July 15.
