I reviewed the Nothing Headphone (a) and my ears nonetheless have not recovered

What for those who don’t need boring-looking headphones, prioritize battery life, and in addition love loads of bass? The Nothing Headphone (a) will instantly present up in your search, however does actuality meet the spec sheet?

I’ve used the Nothing Headphone (a) since MWC 2026, and right here’s why you need to be contemplating them on your subsequent pair of over-ear headphones.

8/10

Battery Life

75 hours ANC / 135 hours with out ANC

Waterproof

IP52

Colours

White, Black, Pink, Yellow

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.4

The Nothing Headphone (a) brings you all of the type and distinctive aptitude that made the Headphone 1 so engaging, simply at a lower cost. Lively Noise Cancelation remains to be onboard, however the battery life is the standout characteristic right here.

Execs & Cons

• Distinctive type
• Lengthy battery life
• In depth audio customization
• Glorious bodily controls

• Sound could also be too bassy for some
• Some might discover them too heavy

Specs, value, and availability

The Nothing Headphone (a) prices $199 or £149 and can be found from Amazon within the US, and thru Nothing’s on-line retailer within the UK and elsewhere on the earth.

This makes them $100 cheaper than the flagship Headphone 1 over-ears launched in 2025. They’re additionally considerably cheaper than prime over-ear headphones, together with the Bose QuietComfort Extremely, Apple AirPods Max, and Sony WH-1000XM6. As an alternative, they’re pitched as options to the Sony WH-CH720 and Soundcore Area One Professional.

Nothing Headphone (a) design and luxury

Putting seems to be

It’ll come as no shock to anybody accustomed to Nothing’s design work that the Headphone (a) appear like only a few different headphones, except for Nothing’s personal Headphone 1.

By mixing a futuristic form with clear components, and a alternative of eye-catching colours, it makes the headphones far cooler and with a lot extra aptitude than most of its friends, and an actual assertion if you put on them. Regardless of being product of plastic, there aren’t any apparent creaks or squeaks from the parts, and there’s a superb quantity of adjustment within the hanger.

The cups have tender, reminiscence foam pads, and so they’re pretty. They supply sufficient area for my ears, which additionally by no means contact the mesh over the driving force, and I can put on them and not using a downside over my glasses. I don’t suppose they’re appropriate for heavy train, although, as even on a reasonably paced stroll, they do get fairly heat.

At 310 grams, they’re lighter than the AirPods Max, however greater than the Sony WH-1000XM6, and it’s fairly noticeable. I’ve additionally seen some feedback on the tightness of the hanger. They’ve a stable clamp to them, which, mixed with the load, signifies that, after prolonged durations of listening, it’s considerably of a aid to take them off.

In fact, that is going to range person-to-person, and regardless of these few notable factors, it has by no means stopped me eager to put on the Headphone (a). Plus, I actually love the distinctive type.

Nothing Headphone (a) sound and controls

Rockin’ and rollin’

The Nothing Headphone (a)’s controls are excellent. There’s a curler for quantity, which doubles as a button to play and pause music, plus a rocker to alter tracks. A single button on the suitable cup could be custom-made, however it’s best to change the noise cancellation. Not like touch-sensitive buttons, it makes the Headphone (a) straightforward, intuitive, and tactile to manage. They’re a prime cause to purchase.

Whereas Bluetooth goes to be the most typical connection methodology, the Headphone (a) additionally helps each 3.5mm wired audio and USB-C audio. This supplies flexibility for these not utilizing a smartphone to hear. Each Google Quick Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair can be found, and AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs are supported, plus they’re Hello-Res Audio licensed.

Every cup holds a 40mm titanium-coated driver, with some AI magic at work to spice up low frequencies, and can play 24-bit/96kHz audio over Bluetooth. The result’s some critical bass energy, which could be boosted once more contained in the Nothing X app. Listening to some check tracks with robust bass strains, with the Extra Bass equalizer setting lively, and the Bass Enhancement on its most stage two, the bass thump is true there between your eyes, and it will nearly make them water if you crank the amount.

This is not for me, however because of the app’s equalizer, the aggressiveness could be balanced out for a delightful, well-rounded sound. That is crucial factor to know concerning the Headphone (a)’s sound. The app makes it straightforward to get the sound correct, and in-line with the music you’re listening to. I’ve largely left it in Balanced mode, the place the bass kick remains to be substantial, however vocal and mids are by no means misplaced beneath it.

When listening to spoken phrase, it’s nearly acceptable, however the Voice mode stops the Headphone (a)’s naturally bass-heavy tone from ruining low voices. Versatile and enjoyable, the Headphone (a) are nice for on a regular basis listening, irrespective of your musical choice.

How do the Nothing Headphone (a) evaluate to different headphones?

A much-needed center floor

The Headphone (a) value $199, so how does the sound evaluate to each costlier and cheaper headphones out there? To seek out out, I examined them back-to-back with the $450 Bose QC Extremely over-ears and the $100 CMF by Nothing Headphone Professional.

I used numerous check tracks in the course of the comparability, however relied on CloZee’s Inside Peace and Boris Clean’s Electrified. The Bose QC Extremely, whereas being a lot lighter and even much less arduous to put on, have a wider soundstage, are much less reliant on heavy bass to make an impression, and are a subtler hear.

It’s important to actually push the amount up for them to make the identical influence because the Headphone (a), however if you do, they sound excellent. There’s noticeably extra management, leading to extra audible element.

You instantly discover the Headphone Professional’s lower cost if you put them on. They’re removed from uncomfortable, however they don’t have the identical reassuring heft because the Headphone (a), and the plastic doesn’t really feel as stable. It’s additionally tougher to seek out the consolation candy spot with the hanger.

All this implies the sound has much less presence, the bass is nowhere close to as robust, and numerous element will get misplaced. The Headphone Professional are a much less emotional, much less involving hear than the Headphone (a), and a world other than the fantastic Bose QC Extremely.

Nonetheless, listening to all three of those headphones confirmed the Headphone (a) are completely positioned. They’re a particular step up from $100 fashions just like the Headphone Professional, and the thrilling, volume-and-bass heavy profile will enchantment to individuals who don’t care concerning the refinement and superior match and luxury of the QC Extremely.

Nothing Headphone (a) noise cancellation

Good for normal use

The Headphone (a) are over-ear headphones, so they supply a level of noise isolation on their very own, however what concerning the Lively Noise Cancellation (ANC)? There are three completely different ranges out there— low, mid, and excessive — plus an Adaptive mode. There’s additionally a transparency mode to listen to the world round you.

The impact, even set on excessive, isn’t extremely robust, however is as a substitute good at dulling normal exterior noise. For instance, sitting in a café it doesn’t cull all voices, however it does take away the background hum and normal sound of the room. I may nonetheless hear the sound of typing on my keyboard.

This can swimsuit those that don’t like the whole isolation supplied by in-ear headphones with robust ANC, such because the Apple AirPods Professional 3. When you begin listening to music or spoken phrase, the Headphone (a)’s comfy ANC is greater than sufficient that will help you deal with it.

There’s some wind interference if you’re strolling exterior, although, and I’ve wanted to extend the amount to compensate for the frenzy of air. Relatively than working laborious to dampen all exterior sounds proper down, the Headphone (a)’s noise cancellation is on the much less aggressive facet. It makes them comfy and straightforward to put on in all environments.

Nothing Headphone (a)’s app

Slick design, numerous customization

The Nothing X app is required to customise the controls, set sound profiles, and replace the firmware. It’s out there for Android and iOS, and for those who personal a Nothing smartphone, the app is pre-installed.

Utilizing the Nothing X app with a Nothing telephone provides a characteristic referred to as Channel Hop, which helps you to actively change between music sources utilizing a button on the headphones. This isn’t out there within the iOS app. There’s additionally a twin connection mode, and this works reliably, with none points switching audio if you don’t need it.

Discovering the Bluetooth connection button on the headphones is a problem (it’s hidden on the within of the cup, proper on the prime), however as soon as linked it has been rock stable. Bluetooth vary can also be implausible, simply extending to 30 meters and past.

Performance is diverse with an equalizer, a three-stage bass enhancement setting, a low-latency mode, and a spatial audio mode with choices to copy a live performance or a cinema. You can even strive completely different Curated by Nothing audio profiles, and even create your individual to share with the neighborhood.

Nothing X is de facto well-designed, matching Nothing’s pixel-art aesthetic, and the big buttons and clear textual content make it easy to instantly perceive and use.

Nothing Headphone (a) battery life

Recharging is not one thing you may do usually

I solely have a sure period of time to make use of headphones, and to jot down my assessment, and the Headphone (a)’s wonderful battery life has been a little bit of an issue. During the last 4 days, I’ve used them for about 5 hours in complete, and from 100% exhibiting within the app, it’s now all the way down to 95%. I merely ran out of obtainable time to even get near working the battery out.

If that is correct, it’s excellent efficiency, as this was with ANC switched on. Nothing states battery life ought to be 75 hours with ANC, and 135 hours with out. It appears that is totally potential, given the efficiency I’ve seen up to now. The Headphone (a)’s potential to genuinely return 5 days of battery life is a robust promoting level.

The headphones assist 5W wired charging utilizing a USB-C cable, and sadly, there’s no quick cost characteristic so as to add a certain quantity of playback time in quarter-hour, which is widespread on many in-ear wi-fi earbuds.

Must you purchase the Nothing Headphone (a)?

Sure, you should purchase the Nothing Headphone (a). The design is exclusive with a trendy twist, they’re comfy to put on for lengthy durations of time, the sound is thrilling, there’s sufficient management over it, the buttons are wonderful, and the battery ought to genuinely final a whole week without having a cost.

The value is excellent, too, because the efficiency is a delightful center floor between low-cost and high-end client headphones, with an emphasis on bass response and quantity.

Downsides come for those who’re actually eager on getting an audiophile sound, count on to listen to any delicate particulars, or have had issues getting the suitable match on over-ear headphones up to now. Whereas I haven’t had any issues, others have, so take this into consideration when shopping for.

In any other case, these bass and battery monsters are a fantastic buy.

8/10

Battery Life

75 hours ANC / 135 hours with out ANC

Waterproof

IP52

Colours

White, Black, Pink, Yellow

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.4

The Nothing Headphone (a) make a robust impression. Whether or not it is by way of the distinctive type of the bass-heavy sound, they demand consideration. The great factor is, they do have the efficiency to again this up, and the lengthy battery life is a large profit everybody will need.