Nothing has officially released its first over-ear headphones, and they've pulled out all the stops for Headphone (1).
The company has given these cans their signature transparent, minimalistic look that reminds me of Back to the Future. More excitingly, they've partnered with audio gurus KEF, which already sets an expectation in terms of sound quality, and it doesn't disappoint.
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Table of Contents
Design & Controls
Upon first glimpse, Nothing Headphone (1) instantly captures your attention. It's what I imagine someone strapping two Walkmans to a headband and calling it a headphones. In the best way possible, obviously.
You can actually peek at the inner workings – the "guts" of the headphones, if you will — such as the internal components and acoustic chambers.
They're built with a mix of aluminum and molded plastic, giving them a really smooth feel. The headband itself is light, but the speakers are quite weighty, measuring at 329g.
Now, let's talk controls. Nothing decided to go old-school with actual, clickable buttons and wheels right on the headphones. We've got the Roller, the Paddle, and the Button — yes, with a capital B.
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The Roller: Like the scroll wheel on your computer mouse, you're rolling it side-to-side to adjust your volume. Give it a click to play or pause. A long press switches between Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode.
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The Paddle: This one's for skipping tracks. If you want to fast-forward through a song or a super long podcast, just hold it down towards the right. Need to rewind? Hold left. Simple as that.
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The Button: It's meant to be a shortcut that works best with a Nothing phone, to activate a "Channel Hop" feature that lets you flick through apps. For Android and iOS users, it'll call up your phone's smart assistant.
Tucked away near the ear cups, there's also a tiny (almost easy-to-miss) Bluetooth button. And at the bottom, you'll find the power switch, a USB-C charging port, and a traditional audio jack.
Each pair of Headphone (1) comes in a sizable, squarish, hard-shell case that has a separate compartment for the audio cable and USB-C charger.
Performance & Sound
Conveniently, you can actually plug the Headphone (1) via aux cable into your laptop, which is a lifesaver for those of us who still appreciate a wired connection. Once you're plugged in, the only controls that still work is the Roller for volume.
As for the actual sound quality, it provides a well-balanced soundscape. The bass is rich, but the mids and treble stay clear and crisp.
The headphones supports two modes: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode.
The ANC is decent, drowning out an acceptable amount of external noises, which is ideal for focusing on work or being fully immersed in your favourite tunes or podcasts. It doesn't completely block out heavy noises such as construction or car alarms.
Meanwhile, Transparency Mode lets outside sounds in without you having to take your headphones off. It's super handy for commuters who want to stay aware of their surroundings like hearing train announcements or someone saying "excuse me" – while still enjoying their tunes.
A fair warning: when you switch between ANC and Transparency modes, there's this weird whisper, as though someone's breathing next to your ear. It's quite freaky, so don't say we didn't warn you!
Headphone (1) pack four microphones, utilising "AI-powered Clear Voice Technology," which intelligently picks out your voice if you're answering a call in a noisy environment.
There's a built-in head tracking feature that makes for immersive experience, particularly if you're watching a movie.
Comfort & Wear
The headphones are decently comfortable but perhaps not for the whole day.
Telescopic arms lets you adjust it to fit snugly around your head, and cushy black padding on top of the headband does provide some relief for sore spots, though it's not heavily padded. Personally, I felt like I needed to give myself a break from the headphones about three to four hours into wearing them.
As a glasses wearer, my eternal struggle with over-ear headphones is the earcups pressing uncomfortably on the back of my ears. Happy to report, zero issues here!
As mentioned, Headphone (1) is heavy. They are indeed heavier than a lot of other headphones out there. So, it'll probably be a dealbreaker for many, especially if you're used to lightweight headphones. If you wear them around your neck, you'll definitely feel it against your chest.
Connectivity & Battery
Of course, in this day and age, every pair of headphones comes with a companion app. For the Nothing Headphone (1), it's the Nothing X app.
If you're a Nothing Phone owner, there are extra perks. With the launch of Phone (3), the app links to Nothing's in-app "Essential Space" by taking a screenshot or recording a voice note. Plus, the app lets you customise the Button to pull up Spotify or "News Reporter".
But on other smartphones, you can still tweak the Button on the Nothing X app, though it's limited to mic muting, noise control, and spatial audio. There's an option to fine-tune your sound well beyong just basic bass and treble adjustments with an "advanced 8-band EQ".
The headphones supports auto-pause, which stops your music when you take them off. They also have dual connection, letting you link them to two devices at once. You can easily switch from watching a movie on your laptop to answering a call on your phone, without any re-pairing.
Battery life is pretty solid too. You can blast tunes with ANC on for about 35 hours straight. Turn ANC off, and you get 80 hours before needing a charge. And if you're in a rush, a quick 5-minute charge gives you about 2.5 hours with ANC on. Not too shabby!
Final Thoughts
For Nothing's first crack at over-ear headphones, Headphone (1) is genuinely an impressive debut. Priced at RM1,099, they've managed to create a complete visual standout with immersive soundstage.
So, who are these headphones for? If you love aesthetics, Headphone (1) is surely a head-turner if you're wearing it in the crowd. While the audio quality is pretty decent for Nothing's debut, it's definitely more suited for casual listening and watching. If you prefer physical buttons over touch gestures, you'll love these.
The weight might be a sticking point for some folks. But as a debut, the Nothing Headphone (1) is a seriously cool introduction to their audio game. I'm definitely excited to see what improvements they bring to the table next!
Pros
- Unique, eye-catching transparent design that looks like nothing else on the market.
- Great Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for blocking out external noise.
- Immersive head-tracking audio for movies and games.
- Easy-to-use, satisfying physical controls.
- Plenty of listening time on a single charge.
Cons
- Heavier than most over-ear headphones.
- Not comfortable for all-day wear.
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Limited customisation on the Nothing X app for non-Nothing Phone users.
You can purchase Headphone (1) from Nothing's website and their official flagship online stores on Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop.
Check out the video review here:
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