Headphone (1): Nothing unveils its very first audio headset with a... Particular design

Competitive price, good performance and daring design, that's how we could sum up the Headphone (1), the first audio headset from the Nothing brand.

Nothing fans know: the brand first made its mark in audio products before launching into the smartphone market. The Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear(1) headphones are still among the best in their price ranges, more than a year after their release. It is therefore not very surprising to see Nothing launch another audio product with the Headphone(1). It is, moreover, the very first audio headset entirely designed by the company in partnership with KEF.

One of Nothing's trademarks is the "all-transparent" design of its products. The company strikes again with the Headphone (1) since the headset has transparent elements that reveal some of the headset's internal components, the brand logo as well as that of KEF.

Additionally, the headset features a variety of materials, including aluminum and PU ear cushions for a soft feel and resistance to marks (including makeup and sweat). These ear cushions are fully interchangeable.

The Headphone (1) cannot be fully folded, but its ear cushions can be rotated inwards to be stored in the carrying pouch included with purchase.

On the button side, the Headphone (1) has three specific buttons (four if you count the power). The first is a "roller" that can control the volume by rolling your finger over it or by clicking to stop or start your music. By holding this roller, you also control the active noise reduction ANC or the transparency mode. Just below, you will find a "paddle" that allows you to change the current music or, by holding the button to the right or left, to go forward or backward in the current music.

Finally, and this is innovative enough to be mentioned, a last button is located on the Headphone case (1) and allows you to launch your smartphone's AI assistant. This can notably be Bixby on a Samsung, Gemini on a Google Pixel or ChatGPT on a Nothing Phone.

Finally, on the connectivity side, the Headphone (1) has Bluetooth 5.3 compatibility (up to 10 m range), dual connection, support for LDAC HD audio codecs, a USB-C port and a Jack port for "lossless" sound quality.

The Headphone (1) is attacking an already crowded market: high-end audio headphones. It therefore comes into direct confrontation with references like the Sony XM5 or Apple's AirPods Max.

To deliver good performance, Nothing has partnered with KEF, a brand renowned for its audio expertise. The Headphone (1) features 40mm dynamic drivers and spatial sound compatibility to give you the impression of being in the middle of a concert hall. This spatial sound relies on six axes of sensors to locate you in space.

Headphones often mean active noise reduction. The Headphone features three levels of ANC that can reduce noise by up to 42 dB, as well as a transparency mode so you can hear your surroundings while still enjoying your music.

In terms of battery life, Nothing claims 35 hours of continuous listening time on the Headphone (1) with noise reduction enabled. This score rises to 80 hours of battery life without ANC. The headphones also feature fast charging, with 2.5 hours of battery life gained in 5 minutes of charging.

What is the price of the Headphone (1)?

Although Nothing seems to be moving more and more towards the high-end of flagship smartphones, the Headphone (1) is rather competitively priced. The headset is available from 299 euros in France with pre-orders available on Fnac, Darty, Amazon, LDLC, Boulanger and SonVideo.com.

What is the release date for the Headphone (1)?

The Headphone (1) will soon be available in two colors: black or white. Officially released at the very beginning of July, Nothing's headphones will be available for pre-order from July 4th and available from July 15th.