Nothing is on a roll with its releases, and apart from the new Phone 3 that’s shaking up the smartphone segment, we have the Nothing Headphone 1 to review. After an interesting assortment of wireless earbuds, Nothing has finally decided to branch out to over-ear headphones, making the transition in a way that only Nothing can.
Unified with the rest of its products in terms of design language and still exceedingly unique, the Nothing over-ear headphones are one of the oddest gadgets we’ve seen in 2025. With Active Noise Cancellation capabilities and the use of actual buttons instead of just touch sensors, the company may be onto something with the Nothing Headphone 1 release. The headphones were created in partnership with audio tech manufacturer KEF, which sounds like the start to a promising collaboration between two businesses with a clear vision of what they want to bring to the market.
Nothing Headphone 1 Review: It May Look Like a DIY Project, But It Has Quite a Bit to Offer
After weeks of teasers and hints at what was to come, Nothing finally revealed the Headphones 1 on July 1, 2025, right alongside the Nothing Phone 3. While many of us had already seen images of the headphones floating around, the launch was a confirmation that Nothing had really committed to this cassette-like appearance for its first pair of Nothing over-ear headphones.
CEO Carl Pei explained that Nothing wanted to try something radically different with the headphones, and from the looks of it, the company has succeeded at just that. The transparent retro-futuristic design is unlike anything else on the market and is set up to be a close hit-or-miss among audiophiles. They’re available in two colors, Black and White, but the distinct design ensures that they look anything but boring.
The Nothing Headphone 1 has Buttons, and We Greatly Appreciate the Detail
Keeping with the retro theme, the Nothing Headphone 1 features tactile buttons and a roller for controlling the music and switching the ANC on and off, and this is a design detail we can appreciate. Not everything needs to have a digital screen or touch controls. The touch controls on most devices swing wildly between being overly sensitive and not responsive enough, and both can be frustrating to use.
The Nothing Headphone 1 is slightly heavier than one might expect at 329g, but they don’t stray too far from the realm of comfort to be sure. Especially with the plush cushioning on the ear cups, the headphones are designed for comfort, even if the external design looks like it would make for an odd fit.
Nothing Headphone 1 Specs—What Do These New Audio Devices Offer?
The specs of the Nothing Headphone 1 are interesting. The device comes equipped with custom 40mm dynamic drivers with polyethylene surrounds, tuned by KEF to minimize distortion and enhance low-frequency performance.
With reliable sound clarity and a nice bass response, the gadget presents customizable EQ options with bass, mid, and treble adjustments, plus a 5-level bass enhancer that can be accessed through the Nothing X app. With a simple QR code, users can also reportedly share their EQ profiles for others to test.
Another impressive point of note in the Nothing Headphone 1 review is the on-device spatial audio with built-in head tracking to allow for an immersive audio listening experience, and support for lossless audio 3.0. If ANC is a priority for you, then the Nothing Headphone 1 don’t skip on this element either, providing AI-adaptive hybrid ANC. It supports Bluetooth 5.3 with dual-device mode, Fast Pair, and low-latency performance for gaming fanatics.
The 3.5mm audio jack and the softshell case that is available with the headphones also make us quite happy, and it has an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance.
Nothing Headphone 1 Battery—Presenting A Reliable Companion
The new headphones promise up to 80 hours of playback without ANC enabled, which is a standout feature compared to many competitors. With ANC enabled, it does drop down to 35 hours, but it is an understandable drop.
It offers USB-C wired charging and requires 120 minutes to fuel up completely. In a rush, a 5-minute charge can give you 5 hours of playback with ANC off or 2.5 hours of playback with it on. Overall, the battery potential of the Nothing Headphones 1 is far superior to some of its top competitors.
Nothing Headphone 1 Pricing and Availability—Not the Most Expensive Alternative
The Nothing Headphone 1 may be competing with premium headphones like the AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM6, but its pricing in the US is a lot more affordable. The headphones retail for $299 / £299, if you’re interested in trying them out.
If you want to pre-order the Nothing Headphone 1, you can do so right now. Pre-orders began on July 4, 2025, with full availability starting on July 15, 2025.
Final Thoughts to Conclude the Nothing Headphone 1 Review
The Nothing over-ear headphones are one of the best releases we’ve seen in 2025 for the audio category, providing a good mix of sound quality, EQ controls, battery, and design, at a reasonable price. Its heavier build, ANC capabilities, and sound quality may fall short of what some competitors are able to offer, but it is still a pair of headphones that we’d recommend without hesitation.
Just like the newly released Nothing Phone 3, the design of these headphones is not for everyone, but Nothing has always counted on its uniqueness to find its audience, and this product is no different. From the tactile controls to the audio jack, Nothing manages to maintain some of the old-school components that we’ve missed in other over-ear headphones, making it all the more endearing to us.
Do you have your own review of the Nothing Headphone 1 to offer? Let us know what you think. Subscribe to Technowize for more reviews of the latest gadgets released in 2025.
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