Update October 2025
On Amazon The Headphone (1) is currently available in black for €259. While this is almost €10 more than the best price from August, it's still an excellent price for what are arguably the most unusual headphones of 2025. Alternatively, it's available in white for €269.
Headphone (1): Design and comfort
The Headphone (1) are unmistakably a Nothing product. As with the brand's smartphones, the transparent plastic casing emphasizes visibility by exposing parts of the construction, even if the design is more for show than technical relevance.
Combined with the squircle-shaped ear cups and clean lines, the design is reminiscent of a cross between an '80s Walkman and a Stranger Things prop. A bold, deliberately different approach that you either like or dislike.
The material quality matches the brand's standards. The frame is made of aluminum, complemented by robust plastic, creating an overall high-quality impression. At 329 grams, the Headphone (1) are by no means lightweight, but they are surprisingly comfortable to wear.
The memory foam cushions adapt perfectly to the shape of your head and ears, and the headband is softly padded and distributes pressure evenly. This pays off in everyday life. Even after several hours of train travel, long sessions at home, or light workouts, the headphones sit comfortably and securely, without noticeable pressure points or excessive heat buildup.
The casing is IP52 rated, making it dust and splash-proof. This means nothing stands in the way of a walk in the rain or a sweaty workout. However, the design isn't entirely without compromises. Since the headphones aren't foldable, the included hard case is larger than you'd expect from other models. It's okay in a backpack, but can quickly become a nuisance in smaller bags.
Additionally, the ear pads aren't easy to replace. With daily use, you'll likely see wear and tear at some point. Replacing them is then only possible via Nothing Support. This isn't ideal for frequent users.
Headphone (1): Technology and Connectivity
Nothing doesn't do much wrong when it comes to technical features. The headphones (1) communicate via Bluetooth 5.3 and support the common codecs AAC, SBC, and LDAC. Hi-Res fans will especially appreciate the latter, as LDAC transmits audio at up to 990 kbps, provided the source device supports it. In practice, the connection was stable and unobtrusive in tests with iPhone, Android, and MacBook. No delays or connection drops occurred.
Those who use multiple devices benefit from multipoint support. This allows the headphones to connect to two devices simultaneously. Pausing a YouTube video on your laptop and seamlessly answering a call on your smartphone works seamlessly. Pairing is also quick thanks to Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, although the physical pairing button inside the right ear cup requires a bit of finesse the first time.
Even with a cable, you're not left stranded. The package includes both a jack-to-jack cable and a USB-C audio cable. The latter allows digital audio input without having to go through the often mediocre DAC in your smartphone. Operation via jack only works when the headphones are turned on, i.e., with a charged battery. Purely passive operation is not possible.
Wear detection is also included. If you take the headphones off, the music automatically pauses; if you put them back on, it resumes. This is complemented by a gaming mode that reduces latency, especially when watching videos and playing casual games.
Headphone (1): Sound and Tuning
When it comes to sound, Nothing relies on external expertise. The 40 mm drivers inside were tuned in collaboration with British hi-fi manufacturer KEF, which enjoys a certain reputation in audiophile circles. And indeed, the Headphones (1) deliver a solid sound that can be pleasing right out of the box, but isn't necessarily guaranteed.
In its factory state, the tuning is on the darker side. Bass is clearly present without being overly boomy, mids are somewhat subdued, and highs seem slightly subdued. This makes tracks like "Seven Nation Army" powerful, but also somewhat muffled in the details. Vocals sound pleasantly warm, but lose clarity in places. Instruments like hi-hats or acoustic guitars could use more presence. Especially in more complex arrangements, they sometimes sound a bit flat.
What the Headphones (1) excel at, however, is spatial imaging. The soundstage appears wide, almost open, with clear instrument separation. This is particularly evident in live recordings or orchestral pieces. This is where the KEF influence is most noticeable.
However, the potential is only truly realized with the Nothing-X app's equalizer. It offers eight bands, including an adjustable Q factor (i.e., bandwidth). If you take your time, you can specifically compensate for the weaknesses in the highs and make the sound significantly more transparent. For those who prefer to achieve their goal quickly, there are preset presets like "More Treble," "More Bass," or "Voice." You can also export and share your own settings as a QR code. A neat gimmick with real added value.
For movies and TV series, Nothing offers Spatial Audio with head tracking. In compatible apps, the stereo signal is virtually distributed across multiple channels. While this doesn't create a true surround effect, Spatial Audio does provide a noticeably larger sense of space, especially during action-packed scenes or gaming. However, a personalized hearing test for sound personalization, like the one Nothing offers with its in-ear headphones, is missing. This would have been quite useful for an over-ear model.
Headphone (1): Operation and App
Nothing takes a refreshingly classic approach to operation. Instead of sensitive touch gestures, the Headphone (1) features haptic controls that respond precisely and can be operated without touch. All buttons and controls are located on the right ear cup and are easily accessible. A slide switch, which can be folded down, is used for powering the headphones on and off. There's a separate button on the inside of the headphones for Bluetooth pairing.
The most striking element is the "roller," a volume wheel that feels pleasantly tactile and provides gentle feedback when turned. Turning it upwards increases the volume, downwards decreases it, and pressing it starts or stops playback. Directly below is the so-called "paddle switch," which allows you to skip tracks or skip forward or backward in 10-second increments. The controls seem unfamiliar, but quickly become second nature and offer more control than simple skip gestures.
The whole thing is complemented by a multifunction button that can be individually configured in the Nothing X app. For example, it can switch between ANC and transparency mode, launch the voice assistant, or activate spatial audio. Under Nothing OS, it can also be used for "channel hopping," allowing you to quickly switch between different audio applications. Holding the button down for a longer time allows you to assign a second function.
The Nothing X app is well-implemented. It's clearly laid out and expands the user interface with all the important additional functions. In addition to the button assignments, you can control ANC and transparency mode, activate gaming mode, and install firmware updates. All settings are saved directly in the headphones and are thus retained even when changing playback devices.
Headphone (1): ANC and Transparency Mode
Nothing advertises the headphones (1) with adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) and promises attenuation of up to 42 dB. In practice, the performance is slightly below the top models from Sony or Bose, but still at a high level.
Low-frequency noise from engines, turbines, or air conditioning systems is reliably filtered out. ANC also noticeably reduces mid-frequency voices and everyday noises, although not completely. The app lets you specify whether ANC automatically adjusts to the environment or manually sets a fixed intensity.
The consistent tuning is a positive feature. While many headphones significantly dampen background noise but also create a slight pressure on the ears, these remain pleasantly relaxed. Even during longer sessions, there's no annoying "sucking" feeling associated with aggressive ANC.
Also included is a transparency mode that selectively lets ambient noise through. Conversations, announcements, or street noise sound more natural, though not quite as clear as with the AirPods Max. However, the quality is sufficient for everyday use, especially when making phone calls or trying to keep track of traffic.
Headphone (1): Battery life and charging
With a battery life of up to 80 hours (without ANC), these headphones (1) are among the most durable over-ears in their class. Even with noise cancellation enabled, the manufacturer claims up to 35 hours of playtime. This has been confirmed in practice. In our test with ANC and LDAC at medium volume, the battery life was over 40 hours, which even slightly exceeds the stated value.
Even with intensive use, a single charge easily lasts for several days, or even an entire trip, including a round-trip flight. If you do need to charge on the spur of the moment, you'll benefit from the quick-charge mode. Five minutes on the power adapter is enough for around five hours of playback without ANC or just under two and a half hours with noise cancellation enabled. This makes the headphones ready for use even at the last minute.
Charging is via USB-C. A power adapter isn't included, but the corresponding cable is. The headphones (1) don't support wireless charging, which wouldn't make much sense given their 1.040 mAh battery.
The headphones are also energy-efficient in standby mode. Thanks to automatic shutdown and wear detection, the battery drains very slowly when not in use. If you don't charge them daily, you don't have to worry about sudden power outages.
