Nothing is entering the over-ear headphone game—and it’s doing so in style. At its July 1 launch event in London, the company unveiled the Headphone (1), a transparent, feature-packed pair of wireless headphones priced at $299 (or ₹19,999 in India with early discounts). Launched alongside the Nothing Phone (3), this marks the company’s first foray into the full-sized audio space.
Co-developed with British audio specialist KEF, the Headphone (1) combines Nothing’s signature transparent design with a lightweight aluminum frame and squircle-shaped earcups that reveal some of the internals. At 329g, they’re a tad heavier than Sony’s WH-1000XM6, but the use of memory foam and oil-resistant PU leather should keep them comfortable—though early impressions suggest they might slide around a bit during movement.
On the audio front, the headphones are powered by 40mm dynamic drivers and support adaptive bass tuning, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and strong active noise cancellation (ANC). According to early reviews, ANC and transparency mode perform reliably, while battery life stretches up to 80 hours (or around 35 hours with ANC on). A quick 5-minute charge gets you about 2.4 hours of playback with ANC on and 5 hours of playback with ANC off.
Controls are also a standout. A tactile roller on the earcup adjusts volume and playback, while a separate button gives quick access to AI assistants via the Nothing X app. There’s also an 8-band EQ for tuning the sound to your liking. Early impressions suggest the headphones are bass-forward.
Pre-orders open July 4, with full sales starting July 15 through Flipkart and select retail stores in India.
With bold aesthetics, KEF-tuned audio, and a long-lasting battery, the Headphone (1) is clearly aiming to take on the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM6 and AirPods Max. Whether it can truly compete will depend on real-world performance, but there’s no denying that Nothing’s first over-ear effort makes a strong first impression.
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