Nothing Headphone 1 Review: Bold Design Meets KEF Sound at $299
Nothing Headphone 1 Review: Bold Design Meets KEF Sound at $299
The Nothing Headphone 1 combines KEF‑tuned audio, transparent design, tactile controls, and 80 hr battery for $299—stylish, feature‑rich ANC headphones with trade‑offs.
Nothing Headphone 1 Review: Bold Design Meets KEF Sound at $299
Nothing breaks into over‑ear territory with the Headphone 1—a bold, transparent design crafted with KEF, offering 40 mm drivers, intuitive tactile controls, adaptive ANC, spatial audio, and up to 80 hours battery life—all for US $299. Reviews glow, citing style and feature‑rich experience, though call quality and audio nuance draw mixed opinions.
Nothing Headphone 1: A Clear Statement in Premium ANC
London-based Nothing, Carl Pei’s design-forward offspring, has just unveiled its first over-ear audio offering: the Headphone 1. Skirting convention with its transparent ear‑cup shells reminiscent of 1980s cassette-era aesthetics, Nothing partners with British audio stalwart KEF to deliver a headphone that looks—and sounds—different from the crowd.
Design That Demands Attention
Nothing has always treated design as a feature, not an accessory, and the Headphone 1 is their clearest statement yet. The half-plastic, half-aluminum ear cups showcase internal components beneath translucent façades—an homage to nostalgia and tech transparency. Accentuated by red highlights and clean lines, they’re unapologetically bold.
Weighing in around 329 g, the Headphone 1 doesn’t try to hide its heft, yet users report it sits securely and comfortably through extended use . Materials feel durable and refined: aluminum, memory foam, vegan-leather earpads—all contributing to a build that reviewers describe as “extremely well‑built” .
Tactile Controls & Intuitive Interaction
A differentiator from the swipe-and-touch norm, Nothing equips the Headphone 1 with physical controls: a rubberized roller for volume (press for play/pause, hold to toggle ANC modes) and a paddle to skip tracks or scrub audio. A third button is customizable—launch assistant, switch apps, toggle spatial audio—configurable via the Nothing X app.
This anti-touch philosophy has resonated. Reviews call the roller “maybe my favorite button on a pair of headphones ever” with tactile precision akin to Apple’s Digital Crown. Not everyone will agree, but among enthusiasts and tech purists, it stands out.
Sound Profile and KEF Partnership
Behind the visuals is serious audio engineering. Nothing collaborated with KEF to develop custom 40 mm dynamic drivers featuring nickel-plated diaphragms. KEF’s pedigree shows in the sound delivery—strong bass, detailed mids, and crisp highs.
Playback performance is solid, though tempered: reviewers note that after some EQ tuning via the Nothing X app, the headphones deliver immersive sound, but on default settings, audio may seem slightly compressed compared to Sony WH‑1000XM5 or Sennheiser Accentum Plus.
ANC is competitive, with up to 42 dB of noise cancellation—enough to silence subway rumble or office chatter. It ranks near Sony and Bose’s premium models, though true audiophiles might hear Sony pulling ahead in clarity.
Spatial Audio is present, head‑tracked, and optional. Reviews are mixed—some enjoy the immersive theater effect, others consider it gimmicky .
Battery Life & Connectivity
Typical of modern audiophiles’ expectations, the Headphone 1 delivers exceptional stamina. Users can expect up to 35 hours with ANC on (AAC codec) and 80 hours with ANC off. Impressively, just 5 minutes of charging yields about 5 hours of playback. Specs reflect around 55 hours on LDAC and talk time just shy of 57 hours.
Connectivity is robust: Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint pairing, LDAC, USB‑C lossless audio, 3.5 mm analog input, and Fast Pair on Android/Windows—though Apple users may lose multipoint benefits.
Real-World Performance & Downsides
Game-changing aesthetics and solid sound:
Audio critics and early users agree that, for those willing to tweak equalizers, the Headphone 1 offers balanced, powerful sound and a uniquely stylish package .
Call quality caveat:
Despite touting AI‑driven Clear Voice tech and four‑mic ENC, real-world tests reveal underwhelming voice isolation in loud environments—train stations or crowded spaces can still muffle speech. So if high‑quality call audio matters, buyers should be cautious.
Soundstage vs detail:
Audio purists compared the sound stage unfavorably to Sony or Sennheiser, noting a compressed dynamic range and less openness. EQ helps, but the tonal ceiling under full tweaking remains a matter of subjective preference.
Weight and look aren’t for everyone:
At 329 g, these cans feel solid but can tire over marathon sessions. And their cyborg-esque transparency can look awkward, even alien—some reviewers admit to self-consciousness while wearing them in public.
One‑Step Ahead of the Pack?
At US $299 / €299, Nothing positions the Headphone 1 directly as an alternative to Sony WH‑1000XM5 ($300) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($350+). Compared to Apple AirPods Max ($549), it stands out in favor of price and distinctive style.
Nothing’s pioneering design, tactile UI, and KEF‑powered sound prove they can play at the high-end table—and, in some aspects, offer a fresh take on headphone interaction and aesthetics. Another advantage: early adopters can expect a price drop over time, mirroring Nothing earbuds’ trajectories .
Verdict: Bold, Stylish, Slightly Imperfect
The Nothing Headphone 1 is not just a pair of headphones—it’s a statement. It’s for users who cherish uniqueness, crave tactile control, want long battery life, and appreciate a nod to audio fidelity, all wrapped in a transparent shell. It won’t please audio-edge purists or heavy call-users, and the sound requires a bit of setup to truly shine.
But what it brings—the design bravado, physical control delight, app-tweakable performance, and killer battery—makes it a compelling choice at its price. For $299, Nothing has audaciously staked a claim in the premium headphone market and delivered something that feels undeniably… different.
Key Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Striking transparent design | Call quality in noisy scenarios lagging |
| Tactile, intuitive controls | Default sound may feel compressed |
| KEF-tuned drivers with customizable EQ | Heavier than some rivals |
| Strong ANC (~42 dB) | Polarizing aesthetics |
| Up to 80-hour battery and fast-charging |
Specs at a Glance
Drivers: 40 mm dynamic (KEF‑tuned)
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz–40 kHz
- Noise Cancellation: Up to 42 dB (ANC + Transparency + Off)
- Battery: 35 hr (ANC on, AAC), 80 hr (ANC off); 5 min charge = ~5 hr playback
- Weight: 329 g
- Bluetooth: 5.3, AAC, SBC, LDAC, multipoint
- Phys. Controls: Roller, paddle, customizable button
- Ports: USB‑C, 3.5 mm jack (USB/analog), no analog when off
- Water/Dust: IP52 rated.
If you’re shopping for a bold, design-led over‑ear headphone under the flagship price threshold and enjoy tuning your sound, the Nothing Headphone 1 delivers exceptional value and experience. Just don’t expect perfect call quality or studio-grade sound out of the box. For those, Sony or Sennheiser still lead— but Nothing brings personality and panache to the table. Dare to stand out? The Headphone 1 awaits.
Also read: Infosys Urges Employees to Avoid Overtime
Last Updated on: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 4:17 pm by Admin | Published by: The Statesman India Team on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 4:16 pm | News Categories: Technology
About Us: The Statesman India covers the latest News on Current News, Business, Sports, Tech, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Automobiles, and more, led by Editor-in-Chief Ankur Srivastava. Stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Google News, and Whatsapp Channel.
Disclaimer: At The Statesman India, we are committed to providing accurate, reliable, and thoroughly verified information, sourced from trusted media outlets. For more details, please visit our About, Disclaimer, Terms & Conditions, and Privacy Policy. If you have any questions, feedback, or concerns, feel free to contact us through email.
Contact Us: newssites1234@gmail.com
About The Author
