Nothing’s first stab at over-ear headphones, the Headphone 1, dropped on July 1, 2025, and it’s a daring center finger to boring designs. At $299, it’s gunning for large canine like Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000XM6, bringing Nothing’s see-through fashion, KEF-tuned sound, and a hands-on management vibe to shake up a packed market.
Nothing’s all about that clear look, and the Headphone 1 rocks it exhausting. The earcups combine boxy aluminum with clear, round bits that showcase the center like an old-school cassette participant laid naked. It’s a head-turner, although not everybody’s cup of tea. “We wished one thing completely totally different,” Nothing CEO Carl Pei stated on the launch, taking a swipe on the “same-old” designs on the market. The aluminum body and comfortable PU reminiscence foam earpads really feel strong but cozy, although the plastic-heavy earpads don’t fairly scream luxurious just like the $549 AirPods Max’s metal-and-mesh setup. Nonetheless, at 300 grams, they’re gentle as a feather, and the froth hugs your ears for hours of simple listening.
Sound is the place Nothing groups up with KEF, the British audio wizards recognized for nailing precision. The Headphone 1 packs 40mm dynamic drivers, fine-tuned by KEF with an 8.9mm PU encompass to maintain distortion low. You get a wealthy, balanced sound with thumping bass and crisp highs, spanning 20Hz to 40kHz. Early buzz calls it “clear and punchy,” with that KEF sharpness shining via. The Nothing X app allows you to tweak an 8-band EQ to get the sound good, and spatial audio provides a cool, immersive vibe, although it’s not fairly as slick as Apple’s model.
Lively Noise Cancellation (ANC) presents as much as 42dB of noise discount via a hybrid system that scans environment each 600ms. A wear-detection system adjusts for noise leakage each 1875ms. As for battery life, anticipate as much as 80 hours with out ANC and 35 hours with it, outpacing AirPods Max (20 hours) and matching Sony’s greatest. A 5-minute cost is sweet for two.4 hours of ANC playback.
Controls skip finicky touchpads for real-deal rollers and buttons. A clicky quantity wheel feels nice, and a paddle allows you to skip tracks or scrub via songs. A customizable button on the appropriate earcup defaults to voice assistants however can set off Nothing’s Channel Hop when paired with a Nothing cellphone. “We ditched touchpads for buttons and switches you’ll be able to really feel,” a Nothing rep stated, doubling down on user-friendly vibes.
Connectivity isn’t any slouch both, with Bluetooth 5.3, LDAC for high-res audio, and dual-device pairing. The inclusion of USB-C and a 3.5mm jack provides versatility, although the IP52 water resistance feels underwhelming in comparison with rivals’ extra sturdy builds. Within the US, the headphones launch at $299, with pre-orders beginning July 4, 2025, and transport on July 15.
