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 together with your “radio” prominently displayed.

You possibly can’t miss somebody carrying 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 wanting spot-on with its most up-to-date Ear, Ear (a), and Ear (Open) earbuds releases, however parlaying these wins into headphones is a special beast altogether, so let’s have a look at in the event that they do the fitting factor and offer you some over-ears value 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 decide 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, stable controls, and tweakable sonics

Let’s start with the standout options: the design components. Beginning with the onerous case, you may 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 onerous case feels nice, although the zipper is usually 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 to be like an old-school, clear Walkman, with small particulars behind the highest plastic to imitate a cassette participant. The corporate is thought for some refined and not-so-subtle design prospers, which you may 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 useful as a result of it lets it is the fitting facet earcup. All of that is set in rectangular ear cup backs with a bunch of controls constructed into the fitting facet.

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 provides you customizable choices like the fast actions button. Once more, with the main points, there is a satisfying “ticking” sound as you scroll left or proper, controling the amount.

Additionally on the fitting 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 may discover the ability swap. No stress swap, 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 fitting earcup, which I discovered to be a little bit of an odd placement for those who’re making an attempt to pair with a tool whereas carrying the headphones.

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

Nothing wanting a stable first effort

I am an enormous fan of the price 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 hearken to, much more so with the Nothing X app’s strong 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 strong EQ choices come into play — some headphones do not take too nicely to EQ changes, however the Headphone (1) did.

“Diamonds on the Soles of Her Sneakers,” 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 just 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 introduced by the headphones, I additionally observed 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 music is participating and has stable weight to it, whereas the chaotic horns by no means overpower different devices or the vocals which might be 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 as a result of LDAC compatibility, however AAC by way of the iPhone was nonetheless a stable expertise. The Pixel additionally had the benefit when it got here to wired playback. Form of — wired sound from each was a really immersive expertise and was appreciably higher throughout frequencies than the expertise by way of Bluetooth.

That mentioned, there was a quirk with the iPhone that could be as a result of 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 cellphone or headphones. The Pixel behaved as anticipated over wire, permitting me to step by way of the amount incrementally.

Persons are at all times asking me which over-ear headphones I like to recommend for fitness center use, and since most do not have 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 mild publicity to water, like sweat. So these undoubtedly get the inexperienced mild for fitness center use until you are really a profuse sweater. Then it’s best to go together 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 stable underneath favorable circumstances. With very heavy city ambient noise, high quality might lower. The noise-cancelling was additionally fairly good — ANC does an excellent job of quieting city noise like vehicles and trains, together with dialog and different sounds within the midrange. That is due partially to the stable quantity of passive noise cancellation you get from the earpads.

Battery life holds as much as claims, as I bought round 30 hours in my testing with each LDAC and ANC on, enjoying round 60-70% of most quantity. The best way I pay attention 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 top in any respect after prolonged intervals of listening, regardless of their measurement. They do not fold up, although, so you are going to take up a very good quantity of area in your bag whenever you journey, or throughout on a regular basis carry. The best way they’re designed, anticipate the paint to chip over time because the earcans are inclined to smack one another at their decrease, inside corners whenever 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 increased volumes, you are going to get distortion with it activated whereas utilizing these headphones. My two essential sub-bass take a look at tracks had 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 price round $150 greater than the Nothing Headphone (1). Then there’s Sennheiser’s growing older however nonetheless extremely related Momentum 4 Wi-fi, which you’ll be able to presently discover on-line on the similar worth as Nothing’s providing. Lastly, you’ve gotten lower-cost choices from Soundcore and Earfun to take care of.

I believe the most important problem to Nothing is Sennheiser as a result of it handles bass higher on the similar worth, but it surely’s getting a bit lengthy within the tooth and could also be refreshed sooner reasonably than later. I desire its design over the opposite choices, however that will probably be a extremely private selection. In the end, I believe the Nothing Headphone (1) is a superb first effort, though it is a bit dear 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