What Worked Well and What Was Disappointing in the Nothing Headphone (1) Review
Nothing has built its image around value for money audio products since the beginning. When the Nothing Ear series made its mark in the market, the brand became known for delivering quality. This time the company launched its first over-ear headphones called Nothing Headphone (1). After using it for hours some things impressed me immediately but the sound experience gave a mixed feeling.
Design Looks Stylish and Feels Comfortable for Long Use
Nothing Headphone (1) has a different kind of design. It is not a regular round shape and not sharp-cornered either. It gives a look like a cassette tape. At first it feels unusual but slowly you start liking it. The white version looks bold and stands out. The black version looks simple and classy. The glossy finish is made from plastic and the frame is metal, but it does not feel too heavy.
Comfort level is high. Whether it is for daily work or a long international flight, it does not feel like you are wearing something. After about seven hours on a flight I had to take a short break, and after that I could wear it again without pressure or pain. The memory foam ear cups and top headband help balance the pressure, and it does not cause ear fatigue. It can cause a bit of sweat if the temperature is high, but comfort stays the same.
Control Setup Is Different but Easy to Use
Nothing Headphone (1) has a different button layout compared to regular headphones. All controls are on the right earcup. At the bottom there is a USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack and a power switch. On the back there is a paddle and a roller. The roller is used to control volume and change tracks. Pressing it plays or pauses music and holding it turns ANC on or off.
There is a button on top that activates the voice assistant. You can also use it to open the music app. The app allows customization of these buttons. A hidden button on the inside of the earcup is used for pairing. It is hard to see but works once you find it. This setup may seem confusing at first but gets easier with time.
Nothing X App Makes Sound and Mode Control Better
The Nothing X app works smoothly and gives full access to functions. You can switch between ANC and transparency modes easily. The app has multiple sound preset options and allows you to change EQ settings. The default ANC mode is adaptive. It changes based on your environment.
On a flight the adaptive mode felt weak so I had to switch to high mode manually. The high mode worked okay but did not block noise as deeply as top models from other brands. The company says ANC can handle up to 42db which is enough for average use.
Sound Quality Feels Different from What the Brand Gave Before
The default sound is decent but the bass is a bit too strong and mids feel lighter. It does not give the clear and balanced output that the Nothing Ear series gave. This may be because of the new audio tuning partnership with KEF. Their tuning feels different from what the brand gave earlier.
In the app you can use shared EQ presets through QR codes. A preset recommended by Max Weinbach improved the sound for me. After using that custom preset the audio felt better. But still if you are used to the old Nothing audio sound this headphone feels a bit different.
Battery Life Is the Most Impressive Part
Nothing Headphone (1) gives great battery performance. With ANC turned on the company promises 35 hours of playtime and during testing even a 9-hour flight did not reduce the battery much. When ANC is off it gives up to 80 hours of backup. This is better than most other headphones in this price range. Fast charging also works well. A 15-minute charge gave enough power for hours of use.
Price and Overall Performance Offer Good Value
Nothing Headphone (1) is priced at $299 or ₹24,900. At this price it is much cheaper than AirPods Max or Sony WH-1000XM6. The sound quality is slightly mixed but design battery and comfort make the product worth it.
This is the brand’s first over-ear headphone and looking at their track record future versions will have more improvements. For now Nothing Headphone (1) is a good start to expand the audio lineup.
If you are looking for headphones that have a modern look are comfortable and offer long battery life under $300 or ₹25,000 then Nothing Headphone (1) is worth trying. You may have to adjust the sound settings to match your taste. This is just the start for this category and future versions are likely to improve more.
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