The retro-inspired Nothing Headphone (1) are polarizing on sight however pleasing on sound

I am an ’80s child, so tech that jogs my memory of Swatches, clear Gameboys, and making mixtapes for a girlfriend on my twin cassette deck stereo is prime tier. The brand new Nothing Headphone (1) does that and extra. My first nostalgic thought was the character Radio Raheem from Spike Lee’s “Do The Proper Factor,” as a result of you can be strolling round along with your “radio” prominently displayed.

You possibly can’t miss somebody sporting these, however did Nothing hit and miss with its first try at over-ear headphones? Like Radio Raheem, will your expertise be a mixture of love and hate?

Nothing has been nothing in need of spot-on with its most up-to-date Ear, Ear (a), and Ear (Open) earbuds releases, however parlaying these wins into headphones is a distinct beast altogether, so let’s examine in the event that they do the precise factor and provide you with some over-ears price strolling the block (or fitness center) in.

Worth, availability, and specs

The Nothing Headphone (1) launched in July 2025 on the worth of $299 in black or white colorways. You possibly can choose up a pair from Nothing’s web site and Amazon.com. Within the US, I’ve additionally seen them on Walmart.com and Keff’s web site.

What I preferred concerning the Nothing Headphone (1)

Standout design, strong controls, and tweakable sonics

Let’s start with the standout options: the design parts. Beginning with the laborious case, you would possibly discover that it has an analogous indentation for the thumb on the highest of the case, similar because the instances Nothing’s earbuds are available in. The felt-covered laborious case feels nice, although the zipper generally is a bit finicky. Open the case and you discover the headphones inside. A pocket on the case’s lid homes two cables: one 3.5mm aux cable and a USB-C cable.

Attending to the headphones, the daring design selections made with the Nothing Headphone (1) could also be polarizing. Every can seems like an old-school, clear Walkman, with small particulars behind the highest plastic to imitate a cassette participant. The corporate is thought for some delicate and not-so-subtle design prospers, which you will discover right here.

One can has KEF branding whereas the opposite has a purple chip underneath the plastic, with Nothing branding above it. The purple is purposeful as a result of it lets it is the precise aspect earcup. All of that is set in rectangular ear cup backs with a bunch of controls constructed into the precise aspect.

There is a fast actions button within the higher right-hand nook that permits you to management six totally different options two methods: single press and press and maintain. I’ve it set to invoke my voice assistant and to activate my EQ preset. You additionally get a cool curler that controls quantity and offers you customizable choices like the fast actions button. Once more, with the small print, there is a satisfying “ticking” sound as you scroll left or proper, controling the amount.

Additionally on the precise earcup is a paddle management that doubles for skipping tracks and fast-forward/rewind. The underside of that proper ear cup is the place you will discover the facility change. No strain change, which I admire, and subsequent to that’s the place the USB-C and three.5mm ports are discovered. You will discover the pairing button on the within of the precise earcup, which I discovered to be a little bit of an odd placement should you’re attempting to pair with a tool whereas sporting the headphones.

Apart from that, all of the controls have been a pleasure to make use of these final two weeks.

Nothing in need of a strong first effort

I am an enormous fan of the fee vs. high quality paradigm of Nothing’s beforehand launched earbuds. They’re feature-packed, and out of the field, they have been a pleasure to take heed to, much more so with the Nothing X app’s sturdy EQ choices. I am unable to say that with the Nothing Headphone (1). Out of the field, the Easy EQ default, the “Balanced” possibility, was a bit muddy for me. That is the place these sturdy EQ choices come into play — some headphones do not take too properly to EQ changes, however the Headphone (1) did.

“Diamonds on the Soles of Her Footwear,” by Paul Simon and a monitor from the Get Out OST, “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga,” you get a way of the depth and width of the vocal sound stage, and it is entertainingly much like that of a pair of open-back headphones.

“Violin Duel” from the Chevalier OST was an engagingly attractive orchestral association because it flowed by way of the Headphone (1). I completely loved the feel and management within the assault and decay of among the extra energetic string sections.

Whereas I used to be having fun with the pleasant sound stage offered by the headphones, I additionally seen the standard of sound separation. The stereo imaging and immersion, the nuance and texture at this worth level are nothing to sneeze at. I threw some frenetic Jazz at it with Charles Mingus’ “Moanin’,” and it dealt with the horn improvisations with aplomb. The upright bass that performs all through the tune is participating and has strong weight to it, whereas the chaotic horns by no means overpower different devices or the vocals which are peppered sporadically within the combine.

I listened utilizing each an iPhone 16 Professional Max and a Google Pixel 9, and each sounded nice over Bluetooth. The Pixel has the benefit resulting from LDAC compatibility, however AAC through the iPhone was nonetheless a strong expertise. The Pixel additionally had the benefit when it got here to wired playback. Type of — wired sound from each was a very immersive expertise and was appreciably higher throughout frequencies than the expertise through Bluetooth.

That mentioned, there was a quirk with the iPhone that could be resulting from me operating the iOS 26 public beta. With the iPhone, after plugging up the USB-C, as quickly as I turned the amount up two notches from 0%, it sounded someplace round 90% of max, and I used to be unable to manage the amount in steps both from the telephone or headphones. The Pixel behaved as anticipated over wire, permitting me to step by way of the amount incrementally.

Individuals are at all times asking me which over-ear headphones I like to recommend for fitness center use, and since most haven’t got an IP score, I give them recs with that caveat in thoughts. Nothing Headphone (1) is IP52, which signifies that it is protected in opposition to mud ingress and may stand as much as gentle publicity to water, like sweat. So these undoubtedly get the inexperienced gentle for fitness center use until you are actually a profuse sweater. Then you must go along with a set that has the next IP54 water ingress score, like Nothing Ear, Ear (a) or Ear (open).

Rounding out the tech, the microphone name high quality was strong underneath favorable circumstances. With very heavy city ambient noise, high quality might lower. The noise-cancelling was additionally fairly good — ANC does an amazing job of quieting city noise like automobiles and trains, together with dialog and different sounds within the midrange. That is due partly to the strong quantity of passive noise cancellation you get from the earpads.

Battery life holds as much as claims, as I obtained round 30 hours in my testing with each LDAC and ANC on, enjoying round 60-70% of most quantity. The way in which I hear will drain my battery sooner, together with sure genres of music.

What I did not like about Nothing Headphone (1)

Chipped cans and tough Bass Enhancement

The ergonomics of the Nothing Headphone (1) are such that they do not really feel heavy on the pinnacle in any respect after prolonged durations of listening, regardless of their measurement. They do not fold up, although, so you are going to take up a superb quantity of area in your bag if you journey, or throughout on a regular basis carry. The way in which they’re designed, anticipate the paint to chip over time because the earcans are likely to smack one another at their decrease, inside corners if you take away them from the case.

The prolonged bass characteristic within the Nothing X app was nice with the earbuds, however with sure music, at greater volumes, you are going to get distortion with it activated whereas utilizing these headphones. My two most important sub-bass check tracks have been an excessive amount of for Nothing when utilizing the characteristic — even with the amount set to round 60-70% max output.

Must you purchase Nothing Headphone (1)?

Sure — with a caveat

Sony and Bose premium headphones each value round $150 greater than the Nothing Headphone (1). Then there’s Sennheiser’s growing old however nonetheless extremely related Momentum 4 Wi-fi, which you’ll be able to at present discover on-line on the similar worth as Nothing’s providing. Lastly, you’ve got lower-cost choices from Soundcore and Earfun to cope with.

I believe the largest problem to Nothing is Sennheiser as a result of it handles bass higher on the similar worth, however it’s getting a bit lengthy within the tooth and could also be refreshed sooner moderately than later. I choose its design over the opposite choices, however that might be a extremely private selection. Finally, I believe the Nothing Headphone (1) is a superb first effort, regardless that it’s kind of expensive at $299. As we’re already midway by way of the 12 months, although, they’re a superb buy if a $50 worth drop occurs across the holidays.

Battery Life

As much as 80 hours with ANC off, 35 with ANC on

Wi-fi?

Sure

Microphones

4 mic ENC structure

Suitable With

Android, iOS