Nothing has finally made a pair of over-ear headphones, following its success in the TWS and OWS segments, and they look wild. You’ve probably seen the renders and gone, “Wait… what are those?”, but in-person? It’s a whole different look that is part retro, part stripped-down cyberpunk.
But the Nothing Headphone 1 isn’t just a head-turner. It’s surprisingly grown-up. With a transparent, cassette-like design for the earcups, tactile controls, and audio tuning by KEF, it aims to offer a more refined listening experience. But does this debut deliver more than just transparent aesthetic appeal?
Design and Comfort
True to the brand’s identity, the design of the Nothing Headphone 1 is unmistakably bold and distinct. The transparent elements and visible internals make a statement, and in the hand, the design is even more impressive. The overall profile breaks away from the standard dome-shaped design that has become a standard for over-ear headphones. Most major players, from Sony to Sennheiser, follow this dome aesthetic. Sure, there are exceptions like the V-Moda Crossfade, but Nothing has deliberately veered off the conventional path. The headband and earcups resemble a stylised cassette tape, giving it a nostalgic yet futuristic appeal. But while the visual design is striking, the real question is whether these choices were made for function or simply for flair.
In terms of build, the headphone feels solid thanks to the combination of aluminium and high-quality plastic. It isn’t luxury-tier, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. It weighs 329 grams which is lighter than the Airpods Max. The memory foam padding is comfortable for short to moderate listening sessions, and the sliding telescopic arms adjust smoothly to different head sizes. However, in a temperature-controlled room, wearing the headphones for an hour resulted in noticeable sweat buildup around the ears. The PU cushions are soft to touch and feel premium, but they do trap heat, which may affect long-term comfort, especially in warmer environments. These are also not user-replaceable, and in case of wear and tear, you will have to visit the service centre to get them changed.
I found the clamping force good, they isolate the ambient sounds quite well, but after about an hour or so, I did start noticing some fatigue. Not painful, just enough to remind you they exist. They’re not as cloud-like as the Bose QC series or the XM5s, but your neck won’t feel bogged down either. They’re IP52-rated, went through 50 durability tests, and feel like they could survive both your bag and your bad moods.
The Nothing Headphone 1 is also IP52-rated for protection from dust ingress and splashes of water and come with a fold-flat hard case that’s made from felt material. It looks cool and feels nice but one area of improvement I feel is the case’s zipper quality which feels subpar compared to the rest of the product.
Controls and App Experience
Unlike many modern headphones that rely on touch gestures, Nothing takes a different approach for the Headphone 1. There are four physical controls on the right earcup: a roller for volume and media control, a paddle for track skipping and scrubbing, a customisable multifunction button, and a power switch toggle. Everything’s tactile, deliberate, and feels very analogue in a good way. There’s a 3.5 mm audio out as well, and you can even use the USB-C cable to playback tracks in AAC/SBC codec, since LDAC is only supported over wireless.
Nothing also lets you customise all of it in the app, which, thankfully, is as clean as their hardware. You can remap buttons, toggle ANC modes, enable head tracking, and most importantly, access an advanced 8-band parametric EQ that even allows entering specific frequencies. The EQ is responsive and precise, adding real value for users who want to fine-tune their sound.
Audio Performance
The Nothing Headphone 1 features 40mm dynamic drivers tuned in collaboration with KEF, a respected name with over six decades of expertise in high-fidelity sound. The result is a mature, well-balanced sound signature that performs consistently across genres.
In detailed listening tests using a barrage of reference tracks, not just the usual suspects, but also the kind of layered, genre-jumping music that tests audio separation, spatial accuracy, and tonal balance, the headphones performed impressively.
Out of the box, the Headphone 1 offers a Balanced tuning that leans slightly warm without losing clarity. Tracks like Boom by Tiësto and The Plan by Travis Scott showcase tight, controlled bass with enough weight to feel engaging, though it avoids the deep, room-shaking rumble that bassheads might seek. In more layered compositions like Selkies, Strobe, and Giorgio by Moroder, the headphones maintain good separation, allowing individual elements to breathe without sounding congested. On Seedhe Maut’s Nayaab and Shakti Aur Kshama, the headphones impress with their soundstage, spatial depth, vocals, ad-libs, and instrumentation are cleanly placed, resulting in a well-shaped stereo image.
Highs are handled with restraint, present but never sharp or fatiguing. This helps avoid sibilance on brighter tracks like Centuries or 101, but at times it can slightly dull the sparkle in songs that rely on upper treble energy. Vocals, particularly in mid-heavy or emotional pieces like Hothon Se Chhu Lo Tum by Jagjit Singh or Hello by Adele, are clear and natural, though they lack a certain depth or fullness in the lower midrange. This slightly reserved mid tuning may leave some vocal-centric tracks feeling less intimate or expressive than they could be.
Still, clarity remains strong across genres. RED and 101 demonstrate the headphone’s ability to balance grit and precision, delivering punchy low-end without masking details. Acoustic tracks like Choti Si Asha and Around the World retain their warmth and timbre, and on Billie Jean, each element remains tight and cohesive, proof that the tuning favours balance and cleanliness over showy colouration.
ANC, Transparency and Mic Quality
Nothing’s ANC isn’t Bose or Sony level, but it’s no slouch either. On High, it blocks out most urban noise like AC hums or traffic without making your ears feel like they’re stuck in a vacuum. There are Mid, Low, and Adaptive modes too, though the latter is a bit hit-or-miss. Transparency Mode, on the other hand, is very natural. You can hold a conversation without taking them off.
Microphone performance is bolstered by six mics and Clear Voice Technology, which uses AI trained on millions of real-world scenarios. Call clarity remained strong across a variety of environments, including cafés and moderately windy conditions.
And yes, head-tracking and spatial audio are baked in. Spatialiser makes stereo sound a bit more roomy, and the head-tracking keeps that 360 feel in check. Not as immersive as AirPods Max, but good enough for movies and casual gaming.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the standout features of the Headphone 1. On AAC with ANC off, it delivers up to 60 hours of continuous playback and 32 hours with ANC enabled. You can switch to LDAC from the app for more resolution, but that drops battery to about 45 hours. With ANC and LDAC on, it goes to around 26 hour,s which is not bad at all. A quick 5-minute charge provides roughly 2.4 hours of playback with ANC on, making it easy to top up on the go.
Connectivity and Smart Features
Bluetooth 5.3 ensures stable connectivity, and the headphone supports dual-device pairing, allowing seamless switching between devices. It also supports wired connections via USB-C and a 3.5mm jack, although only volume and ANC controls function in wired mode. Playback or skip controls are not available when plugged in, which limits usability in certain setups.
Additional smart features include on-head detection, low-latency mode for gaming, LDAC support for high-res audio, and deep integration with Nothing OS devices for features like voice note capture and Essential Space. These integrations are limited to Nothing’s ecosystem for now, but may expand in future updates.
Nothing Headphone 1 Verdict
At Rs 21,999, the Nothing Headphone 1 is not trying to be everyone’s headphones, and that’s exactly why they work. The design will divide opinion. The sound, however, doesn’t. Audiophile purists may still scoff, but for most people this is a damn good offering, and the battery life alone puts it ahead of many rivals.
If you’re bored of black plastic blobs that all look the same, the Nothing Headphone 1 will appeal to both design-conscious users and discerning listeners. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does reimagine it in a way that’s useful and enjoyable.
Nothing Headphone 1 Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
| Release Date: | |
| Market Status: | Launched |
Key Specifications
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Siddharth Chauhan
Siddharth reports on gadgets, technology and you will occasionally find him testing the latest smartphones at Digit. However, his love affair with tech and futurism extends way beyond, at the intersection of technology and culture. View Full Profile
