PROS:
- Distinctive Transparent Design & Premium Build
- Exceptional Audio Quality with KEF Partnership
- Innovative Tactile Control System
- Strong Sustainability Focus
CONS:
- Average Phone Call Performance
- Long Two-Hour Full Charging Time
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
The Nothing Headphone (1) proves that distinctive design and audiophile engineering can coexist beautifully.
Nothing’s debut into over-ear audio territory arrives with all the hallmarks we’ve come to expect from the London-based company. Transparent design elements reveal internal components while premium materials create a visual statement that feels both futuristic and familiar. The collaboration with KEF brings serious audiophile credentials to a brand known primarily for smartphones and earbuds.
This first venture into the competitive over-ear market represents more than just product expansion for Nothing. The Headphone (1) embodies the company’s design philosophy while addressing real-world listening needs through innovative tactile controls and advanced acoustic engineering. After extensive testing, these headphones prove that transparent aesthetics can coexist with substantial performance gains.
Designer: Nothing
Aesthetics
The transparent construction immediately sets these headphones apart from anything currently available in the premium audio space. Strategic cutouts reveal acoustic chambers and internal components without compromising structural integrity or acoustic performance. The translucent elements catch light beautifully, creating visual depth that changes depending on the viewing angle and ambient lighting conditions around your workspace or listening environment.
Material selection demonstrates thoughtful consideration for both durability and visual appeal. Formed aluminum strengthens key structural points while maintaining the sleek profile that Nothing has perfected across its product lineup. Precision CNC components add tactile richness to areas where fingers naturally rest, creating subtle texture variations that enhance the overall sensory experience beyond pure visual impact.
The color palette remains deliberately restrained, with black and white variants that allow the transparent elements to take center stage. This approach avoids the flashy aesthetics that often plague gaming-focused headphones, instead creating something that feels appropriate for professional environments while maintaining enough personality to spark conversations about design choices and material innovation.
PU memory foam elements provide visual contrast through their matte finish against the glossy transparent sections. These soft-touch areas break up what could otherwise feel like an overly clinical aesthetic, adding warmth and approachability to the overall design language. The interplay between hard and soft materials creates a visual rhythm that guides the eye naturally around the headphone’s form.
The telescopic arms integrate seamlessly into the overall aesthetic rather than appearing as afterthoughts. Their silent adjustment mechanism eliminates the mechanical clicks and squeaks that plague many competitors, while the clean lines maintain the minimalist approach that defines Nothing’s design philosophy. Every visible component feels intentional rather than merely functional.
Internal component visibility through the transparent sections creates an almost architectural quality to the overall design. The acoustic chambers become part of the visual story, showing rather than hiding the engineering complexity that drives audio performance. This transparency builds trust by demonstrating the substantial hardware investment that justifies the premium pricing positioning.
Ergonomics
Comfort during extended listening sessions exceeds expectations for headphones in this price category. The memory foam ear cushions mold naturally to different head shapes while maintaining consistent seal quality for optimal acoustic performance. Weight distribution feels balanced across the headband, preventing the front-heavy sensation that sometimes accompanies driver-heavy designs in this segment.
The 329-gram total weight strikes an optimal balance between substantial feel and extended comfort during long listening sessions. The headband padding distributes pressure evenly across the crown, while the ear cup design accommodates different ear sizes without creating uncomfortable pressure points. This attention to anthropometric considerations becomes particularly noticeable during multi-hour creative work sessions.
The tactile control system represents a bold departure from industry trends toward touch-sensitive interfaces. The Roller provides precise volume adjustment with satisfying mechanical feedback that eliminates guesswork during blind operation. Its dual-function design allows quick access to play/pause controls while long-press actions toggle between noise cancellation modes without fumbling through smartphone apps.
Paddle controls for track navigation feel intuitive after the minimal adjustment period. The left-right push mechanism for previous/next tracks becomes second nature, while the hold-to-scrub functionality offers precise seeking through longer audio content. This physical approach eliminates the frustration of accidental touch inputs that plague many contemporary headphone designs, especially during physical activity or movement.
The Button’s customizable functionality adapts to different user workflows through the companion app. Default smart assistant activation works reliably across platforms, while Nothing device owners gain access to Channel Hop and other ecosystem-specific features. The physical click provides clear feedback that confirms command registration, reducing the uncertainty that often accompanies voice-activated controls in noisy environments.
Oil-resistant ear cushions maintain their texture and appearance despite extended contact with skin and makeup. The telescopic adjustment mechanism operates smoothly without loosening over time, maintaining the precise fit that supports both comfort and acoustic seal integrity. These durability considerations matter significantly for headphones intended for daily professional use or extended creative sessions.
The silent adjustment mechanism deserves particular recognition for eliminating the audible clicks that interrupt listening experiences during fit adjustments. This seemingly minor detail demonstrates the comprehensive approach to user experience design that extends beyond obvious features into subtle interaction refinements that improve daily usability.
Performance
The collaboration with KEF brings immediately audible improvements to sound reproduction across all frequency ranges. Vocal reproduction stands out as particularly impressive, with the precision tuning bringing out vocal elements exactly as intended by recording engineers. The midrange delivers clean and crisp performance, allowing voices in music, podcasts, and calls to cut through with remarkable clarity and natural presence. There’s warmth without sacrificing detail, and every vocal inflection remains discernible without sibilance or muddiness affecting the listening experience.
Bass response demonstrates both strength and exceptional control throughout various musical genres. The custom 40mm dynamic driver, combined with adaptive bass enhancement technology, delivers deep and immersive low frequencies that provide power without overwhelming other frequency ranges. The bass remains articulate across different musical styles, with fine-tuning capabilities through the Nothing X app ensuring personalized impact without sacrificing overall tonal balance.
Treble frequencies reproduce with remarkable finesse, offering sparkle and airiness that highlights subtle instrument nuances like cymbal crashes and string harmonics. The nickel-plated diaphragm ensures high frequencies remain both clear and extended while maintaining smoothness that never becomes harsh during extended listening sessions. This approach enables fatigue-free enjoyment over long periods without the ear strain that affects many competing designs.
Soundstage and imaging performance exceeds expectations for closed-back headphones in this category. The integrated spatializer and built-in head tracking create an expansive audio field with precise instrument placement around the listener. This results in three-dimensional soundscapes that enhance everything from orchestral compositions to immersive movie soundtracks, with the head tracking maintaining stable positioning as you move naturally during use.
Dynamic range captures both quiet micro-details and powerful crescendos with equal precision and control. Advanced hybrid Active Noise Cancellation effectively eliminates environmental distractions while maintaining audio purity, and Transparency Mode seamlessly integrates ambient sounds when situational awareness becomes necessary. The impressively low noise floor allows pure, uncolored audio reproduction across all volume levels and listening conditions.
The real-time adaptive noise cancellation scans environmental conditions every 600ms, automatically adjusting cancellation strength to match changing acoustic environments. This intelligent approach eliminates the need for manual mode switching while maintaining optimal noise reduction effectiveness. The wear detection system monitors seal quality every 1875ms, ensuring consistent cancellation performance regardless of individual head shape variations.
Phone call performance delivers clear voice transmission without particularly standing out from the overall experience. The four-microphone array with AI-powered processing handles background noise adequately, though the magic really happens during music and movie playback where the KEF tuning truly shines. Call quality meets professional standards without reaching the exceptional levels achieved during multimedia consumption.
Battery performance supports extended use with an advertised 35 hours of playback time with noise cancellation enabled, extending to 80 hours with ANC disabled. Fast charging provides over two hours of listening time from just five minutes of charging, ensuring minimal downtime during busy schedules. Full charging does take around two hours, though. Connectivity options include high-resolution LDAC wireless, USB-C wired, and traditional 3.5mm jack compatibility for maximum versatility across different source devices.
Sustainability
Unlike most other brands, Nothing takes its environmental responsibility quite seriously. Material choices prioritize longevity over cost reduction, with formed aluminum and precision CNC components providing structural integrity that supports years of daily use. The memory foam maintains its shape and comfort properties despite repeated compression cycles, while oil-resistant surfaces resist degradation from skin contact and environmental exposure. These design decisions support extended product lifecycles that reduce electronic waste generation.
Plastic-free packaging eliminates unnecessary waste while protecting the product during shipping and retail display. This approach demonstrates that premium unboxing experiences don’t require excessive packaging materials that end up in landfills after brief use. The included soft-shell case provides long-term protection without relying on single-use protective films or excessive padding materials.
Durability testing exceeds industry standards with over 50 rigorous reliability assessments including drop tests, twist evaluations, sweat resistance, and extreme temperature exposure. This comprehensive approach ensures long-term performance that reduces the likelihood of premature replacement due to component failure. The nickel-plated diaphragm and reinforced internal structures support consistent performance over extended use periods.
The IP52 rating provides dust and water resistance that protects against common environmental hazards during daily use. This protection extends component lifespan by preventing moisture ingress and particle contamination that often cause premature failure in consumer electronics. The rating demonstrates a commitment to practical durability rather than just laboratory testing achievements.
And it’s not just the product itself that’s green. Environmental considerations permeate multiple aspects of the Headphone (1) design and manufacturing process. The 14.84 kg CO2e carbon footprint represents a conscious effort to minimize environmental impact during production, while 100% renewable energy powers final assembly operations. Amazon Climate Pledge-friendly certification provides third-party validation of the company’s sustainability commitments throughout the supply chain.
Value
At $299, the Headphone (1) positions itself strategically within the premium audio market without reaching flagship pricing territory. The KEF collaboration alone justifies significant portions of the asking price, bringing acoustic engineering expertise that typically costs considerably more in dedicated audiophile products. The transparent design adds visual appeal that commands attention while providing conversation-starting aesthetics for design-conscious users.
Bucking industry trends, the Headphone (1)’s tactile control system provides a differentiated user experience that sets these headphones apart from touch-heavy competitors, while ecosystem integration offers additional value for Nothing device owners. Advanced noise cancellation, spatial audio, and high-resolution codec support match or exceed offerings from established audio brands. Battery life, with or without ANC enabled, easily outperforms its competitors, while fast-charging capabilities ensure you rarely have an extended downtime.
Build quality and material selection suggest these headphones will maintain performance and appearance standards throughout extended use periods. The combination of durability testing, premium materials, and thoughtful design details supports the asking price while providing confidence in long-term satisfaction. For design enthusiasts and audio quality seekers, the value proposition remains compelling within this competitive price segment.
Customization options through the Nothing X app provide ongoing value that extends beyond initial purchase satisfaction. The eight-band EQ enables precise audio tuning for different musical preferences, while custom preset sharing creates community engagement opportunities. The ability to remap physical controls adapts the headphones to different workflows and usage patterns over time. All in all, it’s clear that the Nothing Headphone (1) wasn’t just made with superior audio performance in mind but with excellent user experience as well.
Verdict
Nothing’s entry into over-ear audio succeeds through thoughtful design integration and meaningful performance advantages rather than relying solely on aesthetic novelty. The KEF collaboration delivers legitimate audiophile credentials while the tactile control system provides a genuinely improved user experience over prevalent touch interfaces. Battery life, build quality, and a plethora of notable features justify the asking price within an increasingly competitive market segment.
The Nothing Headphone (1) represents a successful product category expansion that maintains Nothing’s design philosophy while addressing real audio performance needs. For users seeking distinctive aesthetics combined with serious acoustic engineering, these headphones deliver compelling value that extends beyond mere visual appeal. The transparent design will continue attracting attention, but the KEF-tuned sound quality ensures lasting satisfaction beyond initial impressions.
