Nothing Headphone (1) Review: Way More Than Just Eye Candy

The headphone market is brutally competitive, especially at the premium end where brands like Sony, Apple, and Bose dominate with years of refinement and trust. So when Nothing, a relatively new tech brand better known for its transparent earbuds and flashy smartphones, decided to launch its first over-ear headphones, expectations were naturally split. Would this be another case of style over substance? Or could Carl Pei’s audio team actually compete with the big boys?

With the Nothing Headphone (1), priced at ₹21,999 (₹19,999 as an introductory offer), the company isn’t just aiming for a slice of the pie. It wants to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple’s AirPods Max. And surprisingly, after weeks of daily use across office work, binge-watching the new season of the Squid Games, and several long meetings, it turns out the ambition might not be misplaced.

A Design That Refuses to Blend In

From the moment you unbox them, it’s clear these headphones weren’t designed to disappear. The transparent earcups, revealing circuits and components, are distinctly Nothing. It’s the kind of visual language that turns heads in cafes and conference rooms alike. While some might find the blocky, cassette-era aesthetic too bold, others will appreciate the retro-futuristic vibe. Either way, they’re a conversation starter.

Build quality is solid. The headband feels reinforced and sturdy, with soft padding underneath and just the right amount of clamping force. At 329 grams, these aren’t feather-light, but the weight is well distributed. The plush memory foam cushions, wrapped in skin-friendly leather, make them comfortable enough for extended office sessions. After several hours, some pressure on the crown of the head does creep in, but nothing out of the ordinary for over-ear headphones in this weight class.

One limitation worth noting is the non-foldable design. The Headphone (1) only swivels flat, not inward. The included soft-shell case is well-built, but its size can eat up space in a backpack. Durability over time is another question mark—transparent plastic and white plastic bands are notoriously hard to keep pristine but after two weeks, mine still look fresh.

Physical Controls That Just Work

Nothing ditches touch gestures for actual buttons and dials — and it works. The volume roller and track paddle are placed on the back of the right earcup, while the customizable button sits on the flat outer face. At the bottom, you’ll find the USB-C port, 3.5mm jack, and a power switch. The Bluetooth pairing button is tucked discreetly on the inside — easy to miss at first.

While everything is well-placed, locating them blindly takes a bit of muscle memory. For the first couple of days, I was still guessing where each control was. But once you get the hang of it, the layout feels logical and far more dependable than finicky touch panels.

The roller is especially satisfying — precise, grippy, and doubles as a play/pause and ANC toggle. The paddle handles track skipping and scrubbing, and the customizable button unlocks even more if you’re on a Nothing Phone. Once you’re dialed in, the physical controls feel intentional, reliable, and oddly fun to use.

Sound Signature: KEF Collaboration Pays Off

Sound is where the Headphone (1) steps up and punches above its weight. The tuning, done in collaboration with British audio brand KEF, is balanced and detailed with an energetic character that’s fun without being fatiguing.

Bass has depth and weight, but doesn’t overpower the mids. Vocals are crisp and lifelike, with a warm midrange that flatters everything from indie acoustic to jazz. Treble is clean, with enough sparkle to keep tracks engaging but without harshness.

Volume levels are more than sufficient. These headphones play slightly louder than the Sony XM5 at the same volume level, which is great for quiet recordings or louder listening environments. And with support for LDAC, hi-res audio fans will find plenty to like here.

There’s even an Adaptive Bass feature that boosts low-end subtly when needed. It activates automatically depending on the content, but never feels intrusive. Whether I was watching Squid Game, editing a podcast, or getting pumped for the gym with hip-hop playlists, the sound remained immersive and premium as expected from a headphone worth this price.

ANC and Transparency: Surprisingly Effective

Active Noise Cancellation on the Headphone (1) isn’t just decent—it’s right up there with the best in its class. In open-plan offices, it easily handled AC hum and dulled surrounding chatter to a comfortable level. It adapts to changing environments in real-time, and while it may fall just slightly short of Sony or Bose in edge cases like wind noise or sudden sharp sounds, the differences are minimal.

Transparency Mode is also quite good, though not quite as natural as Apple’s best-in-class implementation. Still, it’s perfectly usable for quick conversations or keeping an ear out for announcements.

What stands out is how effortlessly the ANC fits into daily life. It doesn't create that uncomfortable “pressure” some headphones do, and transitions between ANC and transparency are seamless.

Smart Features and App Experience

The Nothing X app ties the experience together. It’s clean, responsive, and gives you access to an 8-band EQ, custom button remapping, low-lag gaming mode, and firmware updates. Nothing overcomplicates things here—it just works.

Multipoint connectivity is included and works without glitches. I frequently switched between laptop and phone during calls and music playback, and the transitions were smooth and automatic.

There’s also support for wired listening, both via a 3.5mm jack and USB-C. This flexibility is rare now, and it’s appreciated. Whether editing a video or gaming on a console, latency was minimal and audio quality stayed consistent.

Nothing’s deeper ecosystem features, like Channel Hop and Essential Space, are exclusive to the Phone (3) for now. While not essential, they show a willingness to experiment with software-hardware integration in meaningful ways. Unfortunately, I couldn’t try this feature yet, but I’ll update this section as soon as I test it.

Mic and Call Quality

With four microphones and AI-powered noise reduction, call quality is excellent. My voice came through clearly on Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams, even in moderately noisy environments. Colleagues didn’t notice I had switched from my usual office mic setup, always a good sign.

Battery Life: The Real Power Move

Battery life on the Headphone (1) is exceptional. With ANC on, I got over 33 hours of usage. With ANC off, the headphones can push close to 80 hours, a number that still seems hard to believe. But even in mixed-use scenarios, it comfortably outpaces most rivals.

A quick 5-minute top-up via USB-C gives over two hours of playback, I did try it and it actually does match up to the claim from Nothing. And since standby drain is negligible and they auto-sleep when not in use, battery anxiety becomes a thing of the past.

This kind of endurance is a genuine differentiator, especially when you consider that Sony, Apple, and Bose all lag behind here.

My Take

The Nothing Headphone (1) is not a gimmick. Yes, it has a striking, transparent design. But beneath that flash is a product that delivers where it matters: sound quality, ANC performance, usability, and battery life.

There are some compromises. It’s heavier than the average pair, and the non-folding design might not suit frequent flyers. The physical controls, while excellent once learned, take a bit of acclimation. And some of the clever features are locked to Nothing’s own phones.

But these are small trade-offs in a package that consistently punches above its price point. Whether you’re in meetings, watching shows, or just zoning out to music, the Headphone (1) performs like a veteran.

For a first attempt, this isn’t just promising—it’s competitive. And that should make every legacy audio brand sit up and take notice.

Verdict: The Nothing Headphone (1) combines bold design with genuinely strong performance. It’s not just different for the sake of it, it’s different in a way that adds value. If you’re looking for high-end features without the high-end price, and don’t mind a bit of visual flair, these are easy to recommend.

We've also shared our thoughts in a video review of the Nothing Headphone (1):