Nothing, in partnership with premium British audio manufacturer KEF, has launched its first full-size over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone (1). These wireless headphones were officially unveiled in the UK on July 1, 2025. Their release appears well-timed, as they are a promising model that could significantly impact the over-ear headphone market. Headphone (1) come packed with useful features, and here are the highlights:
- Unique Design.
- 40mm dynamic drivers, with acoustics engineered in conjunction with KEF.
- Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) up to 42 dB.
- LDAC audio codec support.
- Up to 80 hours of battery life using the AAC codec, and up to 54 hours with the LDAC codec (without ANC).
- Gaming mode, personalized sound customization, and surround sound features.
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Sound. The Headphone (1) utilize 40mm dynamic drivers with nickel-coated diaphragms. The headphones have an impedance of 16 Ohms, and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 40 kHz. The acoustics are a collaborative design with KEF, a renowned British audio equipment manufacturer since 1961. Nothing formed a long-term partnership with KEF in May of this year, and Headphone (1) is their first, but not last, joint product.
For wireless connectivity, the headphones support LDAC, SBC, and AAC audio codecs. Additionally, they feature USB-C and 3.5mm ports for wired connections, offering versatile usage options.
Noise Cancellation. The headphones are equipped with 6 microphones—3 on each side. For calls, 4 microphones with AI-powered Clear Voice technology are used to provide superior voice isolation. Nothing claims their neural network was trained on 28 million real-world scenarios. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) suppresses noise up to 42 dB across a frequency range of up to 2000 Hz. An adaptive mode with automatic tuning and a transparency mode are also available.
Battery life. The Nothing Headphone (1) boast impressive battery life: up to 80 hours of playback with the AAC codec, or up to 54 hours with the LDAC codec. When Active Noise Cancellation is engaged, these figures are 35 and 30 hours respectively. Fast charging is also supported: a mere 5-minute charge provides up to 5 hours of playback.
Controls and App
The headphone controls are distinct and intuitive:
- A dual switch for powering the headphones on and off.
- A scroll wheel for volume adjustment.
- A paddle for track skipping.
- A button for pause and playback.
For personalized settings, users can customize controls within the dedicated Nothing X app, available for both Android and iOS. The app also offers a range of useful features, including:
- An 8-band equalizer and 4 pre-set sound profiles.
- An adaptive bass enhancement function.
- Spatial audio with head-tracking capabilities.
- An integrated ChatGPT neural network, which, notably, only functions with Nothing phones.
- Gaming mode, earbud fit test, headphone locator on a map, and on-head detection.
The Nothing X app is known for being both user-friendly and feature-rich, a characteristic consistent with the experience of using previous CMF and Nothing audio devices.
Design and Materials. The external design of the Nothing Headphone (1) is truly unique and unconventional, ensuring owners will stand out from the crowd. However, some might find the aesthetics quite polarizing. The headphones feature a construction of molded aluminum and cast plastic. The ear cushion material is made from durable polyurethane.
According to the manufacturer, the headphones have undergone 50 different durability tests. They come with IP52 dust and water resistance, meaning they are protected against dust ingress and light water droplets. The headphone dimensions are 173.85 x 78.0 x 189.25 mm, and they weigh 329 g.
Connectivity. The headphones support Bluetooth 5.3. For quick pairing with Android devices, GOOGLE FAST PAIR is included, and MICROSOFT SWIFT PAIR allows for fast connection to Windows systems. The package comes complete with a USB-C cable, a 3.5mm audio cable, and a convenient soft carrying case.
Price and Availability. The headphones are available in white and black color options, priced at €299 / $299 / £299. Pre-orders can be placed on the official Nothing website starting July 4, 2025. Official sales are set to begin on July 15, 2025.
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Source official website nothing
