Nothing Headphone (1) Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with 6 Mics, 80Hrs Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, KEF-Tuned, Spatial Sound, Comfort Fit & Fast Charging White

AlynaUnited States

Style & Substance in a Crowded Space; the Refreshingly Bold Choice amidst Copycat Headphones

I've seen tons of headphones that follow the same safe, monotonous design language. The Nothing Headphone (1) is not one of them. This is Nothing's ambitious first entry into the over-ear headphone market, and it's clear they aimed to do more than just compete. They came to make a statement. After putting the headphones through their paces, I can say they’ve created a product that is as compelling as it is polarizing, blending standout design with features that challenge the top players, though not without a few important caveats. Design & Controls: A Masterclass in Tactile Satisfaction The first thing you'll notice about the Headphone (1) is the design. It's a stunning piece of retro-futuristic industrial art, with unique square-ish earcups, transparent elements, and a high-quality aluminum frame. They feel premium and sturdy, and they will absolutely turn heads. More impressive than the look, however, are the controls. In an era of finicky touch gestures, Nothing has opted for gloriously tactile physical controls. No confusing touch-sensitive pads that screw up the listening experience. There's a satisfying power switch, as well as a "paddle" for skipping tracks. And the star of the show: a metal "roller" for volume. It’s intuitive, precise, and an absolute joy to use. This is, without a doubt, one of the best control schemes on any pair of headphones today. A few things to note on the design front: they're a bit heavier than the best sets from Sony or Bose, and while the memory foam earpads are plush, comfort over long periods might vary depending on head shape. That said, you should almost certainly be good for flights across a few time zones. They also fold flat to make it easy to slide into a backpack, but they don't fold up into a ball, so they aren't the most compact you can get. Personally, I prefer them to fold flat & thin, even if it means taking a wider shape, but to each their own. A huge, unexpected plus is the IP52 rating, offering dust and water resistance that is virtually unheard of in this category, making them a viable option for the gym or a commute in light rain. Sound Quality: A Tale of Two Experiences The sound of the Headphone (1) is complex. Out of the box, the audio, tuned in partnership with high-end audio brand KEF, is clean and clear but can feel a bit reserved or "sterile." It lacks the immediate "wow" factor thumping some might be expecting at this price, but that's where the settings come into play. The magic is unlocked in the Nothing X app, which features one of the most comprehensive and powerful 8-band equalizers available. If you are willing to spend a few minutes tweaking the settings, these headphones absolutely sing. You can dial in a sound profile that is rich, dynamic, and perfectly suited to your tastes. For those who enjoy tinkering, the audio potential is immense. For those who want a perfect plug-and-play experience, the default sound might feel underwhelming. Plus users can share your audio setup with a QR code. This means it's easy to find audiophiles that've made an ideal sound profile for your preferred type of music. This makes the headphones a music junkie's delight! Additionally, although the Bluetooth connection has been perfectly reliable, the headphones come with 3.5mm cable as well, if you want that physical connection for your audio. ANC, Battery, and Features: Punching Above Their Weight The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is surprisingly potent. It does an excellent job of silencing the consistent, low-frequency drones of planes, trains, and air conditioners, putting it in contention with models that cost significantly more. Battery life is simply phenomenal. Nothing claims up to 80 hours with ANC off and a massive 35-50 hours with ANC on. My experience confirms these numbers are accurate, placing the Headphone (1) at the very top of the class for endurance. In regards to ANC & Battery, these headphones are a superb value, especially at their pricepoint. The Verdict: A Uniquely Compelling Choice for the Right Person The Nothing Headphone (1) is a fantastic and refreshing product. It's not trying to be a direct copy of its competitors; it's forging its own path. It succeeds by offering a truly unique design, the best physical controls on the market, class-leading battery life, and powerful ANC. Who are they for? If you value distinctive design, love the satisfaction of tactile controls, and enjoy personalizing your audio with an EQ, these are an outstanding choice. The excellent battery life and rare water-resistance rating add a layer of practicality that's hard to ignore. Who should look elsewhere? If your top priorities are the very best-in-class comfort, or the most compact design, you may want to look at lighter, more foldable competitors. For those whose priorities align with what Nothing offers, the Headphone (1) is a brilliant debut that delivers style and substance in equal measure.

Filip SkakunUnited States

So far so great. May replace all my Bose/Sennheiser/Sony

Since Bose QC35ii, I haven't seen wireless ANC headphones I didn't immediately feel like returning soon after putting them on. Not so this time. Physical controls are that important and that much better than the weird trend of making everything controlled by touch. No triple tap or two finger swipe combinations to figure out and remember, which may also be incompatible between brands if you use headphones from multiple brands. No accidental pauses, skips or volume changes because you accidentally touch something, brush against a pillow or a hood. It's like comparing typing on an iPad screen vs. a mechanical keyboard. You just get satisfying clicks, toggles and rolls. The 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable may be a tad annoying to switch to since I have the tiny 2.5mm to 3.5mm cables strategic plugged into some of my devices or instruments but is obviously a better choice since the 2.5mm plugs and jacks wear out so quickly. I was surprised to find how satisfying and secure the rectangular earcups make it to grab and hold your headphones. They may seem slightly weird at first, but I think this may be a great improvement! No automatic pause when taking off by default, but that also means you won't accidentally stop playback when you just want to scratch your ear or adjust the earcup. You can turn it on though. With the long lasting battery, I may also finally not need multiple pairs of headphones to have a spare any time I don't charge my QCs overnight for all day use. The spatial audio with head tracking feature seems fun. I'm going to keep it on for a while to see if it's more of an improvement or an annoyance. It basically makes the sound seem to come from in front of you, so when you turn your head - it moves the stereo balance a bit in the other direction. I'd turned it on once or twice for novelty, but then turned it off and forgot about it. There are tons of settings to explore in the app including supposedly most customizable equalizer and... Essential News widget? So far, these seem like the most innovative tech product I got in a long time out of a very long list of gadgets. Now, after a month of use I did see a few issues. Compared to my QC35s, they squeeze your ears a bit harder and the padding also isn't as soft. If you don't have them in the exact right place - they may also end up pressing hard plastic into your ears. Overall, they may be a bit less comfortable in long use, but I'm sure YMMV. The other issue is that they have a problem where occasionally when I pause playback from my phone using the button on the headphones and a minute later try to resume it the same way - the headphones end up resuming playback on my iPad instead of the phone which I last paused. Hopefully a firmware update will fix it soon. Thirdly, the battery lasts a few days, which is great, except now I'm getting out of the habit of charging my headphones every night, which can be a pain since you need to then open the app to see how much juice is left! One thing which can be a positive or negative depending on the user - they do turn some heads. I had quite a few people compliment or ask about them when I went out with them on. If you want to wear your headphones to hide and isolate from society - these may not be for you! :) Overall, 95% happy with the purchase.

ZUnited States

Wow (Edited after 2 months use)

Below is my original review and I stand by everything I wrote. However, with some fiddling, I have improved the sound a bit to my liking. The first thing I did was enable the LDAC codec. I was unaware when I purchased these that I could do so. It provides a better baseline for the music to begin tinkering with EQ settings. I also bumped up the streaming quality of the music to its highest level before "lossless". And the third thing I did was install the app (sorry....I HATE apps), and refined the curve to my hearing limitations. I get that these are not audiophile level headphones, but I didn't pay for that. I paid for solid and enjoyable and I received that in spades. I love the physical controls... the vol wheel (LOVE it) and the paddle selector (LOVE it). The range of the bluetooth connection is truly impressive. I can be on the other side of our house from the phone and it's still connected without cutting in/out. Are they a bit heavy? Yep. Are they a tad tight? Yep. Noted. But again, I have worn these for a couple of hours straight without any issue. The ear pads comfortably cover my ears and do not cause them to heat up from pressure or friction. Now.....I did get these at the $239 price when they were being promoted, so understand that that is where my price/value perspective is from. I do not use them when working outside or during work outs. I know they have the whole sweat/water resistance thing going on, but they are too heavy for me compared to a $50 pair I own and that I don't mind getting dirty and nasty. Besides, when I'm mowing or edging or cutting etc...I'm not in "fine sound delivery" mode. I use these when I want to kick back and enjoy what I'm listening to and am able to pick out the little detailed nuances that make the music ......... mmmmmmm..... more of a treat. So, that's my update after owning these for a couple of months and using them quite a bit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Simply....wow. I haven't done anything except pair them and put them on. No equalizer fiddling, no anything. The pairing was flawless and as quick as any device I've ever paired. The fit is extremely comfortable. I've had them on for over an hour and they are not causing any discomfort with the ears or the head. I took a phone call while listening to music on my phone and the clarity is pretty good. Switching from music to phone to music again was no issue. The noise cancelling was pretty cool. I could not hear myself talking at normal volume. There is a little bit of "stepping on" each other if trying to talk at the same time. The musical sound is great for a pair of headphones at this price point. Clear, not tinny or muddy. Bass is not obnoxious nor is it a background feature. It's crisp, if you can call bass crisp. The sound stage is not totally enveloping, but it's encompassing enough to fill itself. Not sure that makes sense, but it's the only way I know to describe it. Will I fiddle with the settings? You bet. But at first listen, these are definite keepers. Never heard of the company before, but I am impressed.

Juan F.Spain

Geniales en todo menos en el ajuste de la diadema

Respecto a los cascos y con todo el dolor de mi corazón le voy a dar 4 estrellas, y paso a relatar mi experiencia a modo de desahogo y para animar/advertir al resto de posibles compradores, y por favor si alguien más le pasa que lo diga porque no encuentro referencias por ningún lado. A modo resumen, a priori los cascos parecian perfectos, esteticamente para mi gusto preciosos, comodos como pocos, lo que me sorprendio por su peso, pense que al pesar más que la media serían más incomodos, el sonido para mi esta muy bien, pero tengo que reconocer que no soy ningún experto, la cancelaciónd de ruido a la altura de los xm4 o sony ult, que son los que he tenido, frente a xm5 y 6 no puedo opinar. Botones super comodos, mucho mejor que el control por gestos en mi opinión y para mi gusto, la app es una autentica maravilla, la forma de concetarlos al estilo apple de 10, entonces donde esta la pega? El ajuste de la diadema, se baja solo cuando lo recoges!!! al principio no daba crédito y pensaba que era cosa mia. Compro los cascos y ve que ocurre especialmente en el izquierdo, donde parece no ajustarse, como si tuviese mucho tiempo y estuviera dado de si, mientras que el derecho también pasa pero menos como menos de medio centimewtro. No se si he sido capaz de trasladarlo con palabras, pero en definitiva, si los sostienes desde el centro de la diadema al peso, y recoges por completo el auricular izquierdo, llega arriba e inmediatamente se baja como un centimetro por el simple peso del auricular. Pido una sustitución y me mandan otros, lo mismo... si bien se desplaza menos y el derecho esta perfecto. Vuelvo a cambiarlos, lo mismo... pero otra vez menos en el izquierdo y no siempre, aunque se sigue notando que no se sujeta bien y el derecho recoge perfectamente y se queda en su sitio. En fin, me ha sorprendido muchísimo como el control de calidad en todo lo demas es top, y se nota sensación premium en cada parte de los auriculares, y sin embargo esto, que es de lo más importante y que no se si podrá ir a peor con el tiempo es como si nadie lo hubiese probado antes de sacarlo al mercado. Me los he quedado porque simplemente me encantan y porque confio absulutamente en el servicio post venta de amazon, pero muy mal por parte de nothing. Edito reseña: Gracias al excelente servicio post venta de amazon y tras volver adquirirlos devolviendo los anteriores, las diademas se quedan en su sitio aun estando completamente recogidas, por lo que vuelven a tener 5 estrellas para mi, tanto el producto como amazon, aunque con amazon es lo habitual, solo puedo estar agradwcufo.