Nothing’s Headphone (1) Debut: Audio Innovation Takes Shape

The new Headphone (1) from Nothing promises a unique blend of immersive sound and distinctive design, stepping into the over-ear headphone market. With a focus on noise cancellation and physical controls, these headphones are poised to challenge industry standards.

Designed for Sound and Experience

The Headphone (1) represents Nothing‘s initial venture into over-ear headphones. They aim to deliver superior sound, noise cancellation, and an original design using transparent materials and physical controls to stand out from competitors. Adam Bates, Nothing’s design director, said during the launch event in London, “We wanted to create something that not only sounds amazing, but feels different from the first moment.”

The audio design was a collaboration with the audio firm, KEF, to provide an immersive sound experience. A custom 40 mm dynamic driver offers an “enveloping and natural audio, with deep serious, defined media and sharp sharp” sound across all modes.

Nothing also highlighted head movement monitoring. The headphones transform stereo sound into a 360-degree audio experience that responds to user movements in real-time.

Features and Functionality

The Headphone (1) supports LDAC audio, lossless playback through USB-C, and a 3.5 mm jack to provide exceptional sound. Precision damping and high linearity suspension help minimize distortion. They also incorporate a four-microphone environmental noise cancellation system, enhanced with AI, for clear calls in noisy environments.

The Headphone (1) includes transparent materials such as molded aluminum and viscoelastic foam. The pads are sweat and fat-resistant, designed to fit comfortably for extended use.

The headphones use integrated physical controls, including a Roller, a Paddle, and a Button. These offer more precise and reliable adjustments compared to touch controls, according to Nothing. Pressing the Button activates ‘channel hop’ to switch between audio apps or customize it for voice commands.

“The Headphone (1) transforms any stereo sound into a 360 degree sound scenario that adapts in real time to user movements.”

—Nothing Experts

The headphones provide up to 35 hours of playback. Just five minutes of charging gives 2.4 hours of use with ANC activated. They also have Bluetooth 5.3 and can connect to two devices simultaneously. According to a recent report, the global headphone market is expected to reach $40 billion by 2027 (Statista, 2024).

Availability

The Headphone (1) will be available in black and white for 299 euros. Pre-orders start on July 4, 2025, on Nothing.tech and with selected partners. Official sales commence on July 15, 2025.