Nothing has steadily built a reputation for blending distinctive design with practical features. Now the Headphone (a) continues that philosophy by bringing many of the flagship features of the company’s earlier over-ear models to a more affordable price point. Positioned as a streamlined alternative to the Nothing Headphone (1), the new budget headphones aim to deliver strong battery life, customizable sound, and tactile controls while costing significantly less at $199.
The Headphone (a) maintains Nothing’s recognizable industrial design language while introducing more expressive color choices for new-age buyers. Available in black, white, pink, and yellow, the headphones feature a boxy ear-cup structure and semi-transparent elements that align with the brand’s aesthetic identity. Despite being over-ear headphones, they weigh about 310 grams and include memory foam ear cushions designed for comfort during extended listening sessions.
Designer: Nothing
The model carries an IP52 rating, offering protection against dust and light splashes, which makes it suitable for everyday commuting or casual outdoor use. Audio performance is driven by 40mm dynamic drivers with titanium-coated diaphragms, engineered to deliver clean and controlled sound with reduced distortion. The headphones support Hi-Resolution Audio Wireless and the LDAC codec, allowing compatible devices to stream higher-quality audio over Bluetooth. Through the Nothing X companion app, users can further refine the listening experience with an eight-band equalizer and additional sound adjustments. This level of customization is uncommon at this price tier, giving listeners more control over their preferred sound profile.
Noise management is handled through adaptive active noise cancellation capable of reducing external sound by up to 40 decibels. Users can choose between multiple noise-cancellation levels depending on their surroundings, while a transparency mode lets ambient sounds pass through when awareness is needed. For voice calls, the headphones employ multiple microphones and AI-assisted noise reduction to isolate speech from background noise, improving clarity during conversations.
One standout feature of the Headphone (a) is its physical control system. Instead of relying on touch gestures, Nothing integrates tactile inputs directly into the ear cups through a Roller, Paddle, and Button interface. These controls allow users to adjust volume, skip tracks, answer calls, or change noise-cancellation modes without needing to look at their phone. The customizable button also supports a feature called Channel Hop, which enables quick switching between apps or functions. In addition, it can act as a remote camera shutter when paired with compatible smartphones, expanding the headphones’ functionality beyond audio playback.
Battery life is where the Headphone (a) stands out most clearly. Nothing claims up to 135 hours of playback without active noise cancellation and around 75 hours with ANC enabled. Even with the high-bandwidth LDAC codec, the headphones can deliver roughly 50 hours of listening. A quick five-minute charge provides several hours of playback, while a full charge takes about two hours via USB-C. This endurance significantly exceeds that of many competitors in the same category.
Compared with the earlier Nothing Headphone (1), the Headphone (a) offers a similar design and control scheme but removes some premium tuning elements and advanced features to reach a lower price. However, it retains most of the everyday functionality users expect, including ANC, customizable sound, and multipoint connectivity. When viewed against higher-end models like the Apple AirPods Max, the differences become clearer. Apple’s headphones deliver more advanced spatial audio and premium materials but cost considerably more, typically around $549. The Headphone (a), while less luxurious, focuses on practicality by offering dramatically longer battery life and simpler physical controls at a fraction of the price.
