Nothing probably isn’t a company you’ve heard much about – the British tech brand only started making products in 2021, after all. The relatively new competitor is out to challenge the big names like Samsung, Google and Apple, and its releases all share distinctive transparent designs with a bit of a sci-fi flair.
That's definitely the case for Nothing’s first-ever over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone (1). They’re unlike anything else I’ve tried in my years of reviewing audio gear. And, even if the unique designs aren’t to your taste, we’re sure you’ll know someone they'll appeal to.
I’ve been testing them out to see if they live up to expectations as a follow-up to the great wireless earbuds – the Ear and Ear (a) – launched by Nothing in 2024. This is my hands-on verdict.
Nothing Headphone (1): At a glance
Pros
- Impressive noise control
- Great app and extra features
- Intuitive physical controls
Cons
- Divisive design
- Default sound needs adjustments
- Lots of rivals at this price
Key specifications
| Noise cancellation | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery life | Up to 35 hours with ANC on |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Weight | 329g |
What I like about the Nothing Headphone (1)
It’s worth saying that, for a debut product in a category with a lot of options, the Headphone (1) are a decent option. They’re good at noise control, well-built and full of features. But the design will be divisive.
I think it makes you look a bit like a Cyberman from Doctor Who, Lobot from Star Wars or, less charitably, like you’ve attached two cassette players to either side of your head. But, it’s not only my opinion that counts. They do feel futuristic and, even just sourcing opinions around the office, I’d say they’re quite Marmite. They’re not for me, but some of my colleagues love them.
My favourite thing about these cans is their control system. Nothing has broken it down into three distinct physical keys, rather than a touch interface. You’ve got the Roller (which you slide over to control volume, or push in for play/pause and noise control modes), the Paddle (for skipping backwards and forwards in playlists) and the Button (which can control your voice assistant, spatial audio, or whatever you choose, via the app). There's also an on/off switch, something the Apple AirPods Max lack, for some reason.
I like the Nothing X app. I’d already enjoyed how simple it is to use when testing the brand’s wireless earbuds, and I'm still a fan. You have to use it because some features are off by default, but it’s easy to turn on dual connections, a low-lag mode for gamers, and on-ear detection to automatically pause your music. There are also a lot of options to customise how the audio experience sounds, which you access in the app.
I’ve been impressed by the high-quality active noise cancellation (ANC), which is good enough to dull down London Underground trains and office conversations. Its only downfall is wind noise, which interferes with the microphones. The transparency mode is also good for natural awareness, they’ve got great connectivity options (both a headphone jack and USB-C audio) and a competitive battery life of 35 hours, with ANC on!
What I don’t like about the Nothing Headphone (1)
You’ve probably guessed this already, but the highly unusual transparent design doesn’t work for me. They’re headphones that are made to turn heads, and I’d rather have a pair that’s sleek and discreet. They also aren’t the most portable, as they only fold slightly and while the protective case is slim, it’s quite large to fit into my bag.
My last critique of the design is that they’re not only heavier than several rivals, they’re also lacking in padding and don’t necessarily distribute weight as well as other designs. They’re okay for a short time, but I found that after wearing them for two hours, I started to find them uncomfortable.
The sound quality is enjoyable, but not remarkable. I find that the default audio signature feels a little too compressed and doesn’t have the widest soundstage. There’s still a lot of detail, but I’ve heard much more natural-sounding wireless headphones.
You can adjust and “fix” elements of the sound with the customisable equaliser in the app, but I don’t think most users will tweak these settings. It’s also worth saying that the “spatial audio” modes don’t sound pleasant, and aren’t worth it, either for films or music.
Verdict: Nothing Headphone (1)
While they’re a great pick for those who want to stand out (and they have a good set of features to compete against models from Apple, Bose and Sony), the Nothing Headphone (1) is not as comfortable or convenient as some of the best on the market, and the flagship pricing could make them hard to justify.
I am highly impressed by the noise-cancelling, battery life, intuitive controls and app-based features, though. The sound lacks a bit of the dynamism I’d hoped for, but it’s overall a solid effort from Nothing, especially for a debut product. These do feel just a little “style over substance” but if you love the unique design, there’s nothing else quite like them on the market.
Other options to consider
At £299, I’d argue that there are several rivals that are better value for money, as long as you’re not set on this style!
I’d consider the much less expensive Final UX3000, a great value pick for excellent sound, but you can also pick up the terrific Sony WH-1000XM5 (only recently replaced by the WH-1000XM6) for under £300, or you should look at the Bose QuietComfort or QuietComfort Ultra if you can afford to spend a little more. The classic rock-inspired Marshall Monitor II ANC is also a better choice for style, too.
Simon Cocks is Good Housekeeping UK’s Technology Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy for the title. He previously also worked across other titles including Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, e-book readers and smartphones. He's reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and money-saving advice guides and edited thousands of in-depth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram, on Bluesky, on LinkedIn and on Threads.
