Nothing’s first over-ear headphones are bold, distinct, and built with tech enthusiasts in mind. We expected nothing less from Nothing. At $299, they’re stepping into crowded territory alongside Sony, Bose, and Apple, but they bring a strong point of view.
Between their retro-futuristic design, physical controls, and a companion app that unlocks deep customization, they offer something that feels both fresh and functional. Add in strong noise cancellation and long battery life, and they’re launching with more than enough to make people look twice.
Design
Visually, these are some of the most striking headphones you’ll find, though they may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Clear elements, visible components, and industrial finishes give them a personality most competitors shy away from. It’s a look that feels intentional and tech-forward, without relying on gimmicks like the Glyph lights you’ll find on the Nothing Phone.
At 329 grams, they sit between the featherweight Sony WH-1000XM5 (252g) and the hefty AirPods Max (384g). That middle ground feels about right: sturdy without being burdensome. Comfort is good, but not class-leading.
The headband isn’t fully padded, the ear cups have a squarish design, and the clamp is on the firmer side. It creates a fit that’s more mechanical than plush. That said, they stay secure during movement and don’t feel loose or floppy—something that makes them surprisingly solid for workouts. The IP52 rating adds to their ability to work out with you.
The ear cups swivel outward to lay flat, but they don’t fold for added portability. On the bright side, they come with a nice fabric-lined soft-shell case with a pouch for cable storage. It’s bulky, but protective.
Features
Nothing’s hardware DNA shines here. There are no touch buttons and annoying multi-taps and press-and-holds for common functions. Instead, you get tactile, well-placed buttons: a scroll wheel for volume, a paddle to skip tracks, and a hard on/off switch that’s refreshingly straightforward. There’s even a bonus button on the face of the right ear cup, and nearly all controls are customizable in the app.
Active Noise Cancellation is surprisingly strong. It uses real-time adaptive suppression, up to 42dB, which puts it in the same range as Sony. In practice, it blocks out most train noise and nearly everything else on walk over the highway. Transparency mode might be best-in-class. It sounds so natural you can leave it on full-time and forget it’s on.
The app is simple and powerful. It’s easy to navigate but packed with features and value. The equalizer deserves special mention: there are clean presets like “Voice” and “Balanced,” simple bass/treble sliders, and a full parametric-style custom EQ if you want total control. There’s also a separate bass booster toggle for when you want extra thump.
Bluetooth 5.3 keeps things fast and stable, and dual-device support means you can hop between phone and laptop without a mess. It also supports Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and a low-lag mode for gaming. On-head detection works reliably and adds a layer of polish you don’t always find at this price.
Battery and Charging
The battery life is so good we’ve barely had to think about it. With ANC off, you’ll get up to 80 hours; with ANC on, around 35. A quick 5-minute charge gives you hours of additional playback, and they top off in about two hours. There’s no wireless charging, but that’s a rarity on over-ear headphones.
Audio Quality
Out of the box, the “Balanced” tuning is lively and detailed. Bass is present but not overbearing, and mids come through clearly. Treble is crisp without being harsh. These are powered by 40mm dynamic drivers, tuned by KEF, which adds some credibility to the sonic profile right away.
The sound here is genuinely solid, especially once you dial in the EQ, but there’s still a little something that separates them from the very best. Compared to Sony’s latest, you lose a bit of that dynamic spark: the detail, energy, and richness that make music feel alive. These can occasionally come across as a bit flat or restrained, depending on the track. Still, for most listening, they hold their own and feel more than satisfying.
There’s room to tweak everything, and the app gives you the tools to do it without fuss. Spatial Audio is on par with Apple’s — it gives music a more open, airy, and 3-dimensional feel that’s less pinpointed. It’s not a must-use feature, but it doesn’t hurt to have. For extra immersion, you can enable head-tracking on your Spatial Audio, also like Apple.
Calls are handled by a six-mic array, and mic quality is better than average. It does a good job reducing background noise, isolating your voice, and keeping speech sounding natural.
Final Thoughts
These headphones are a strong first entry for Nothing, and like the company’s phones, their aesthetics and design can be a major reason to buy them. They’re not the most comfortable, and the sound doesn’t quite reach Sony’s level, but nearly everything else is very well-executed. The physical controls are top-tier, the app is one of the best in its class, and the sound is very good, especially with the level of customization available.
We appreciate practical touches like dual Bluetooth connections, on-head detection, intuitive and customizable controls, and even a full-size 3.5mm input. They also attract attention in a good way. If you like tech with personality, you’ll probably enjoy wearing these.
At $299, they land squarely in premium noise-canceling territory and hold their own thanks to the feature set and distinct design. For comfort and pure audio fidelity, Sony still has the edge. But if you want something that looks different, sounds great with tuning, and feels thoughtfully built, these are absolutely worth considering.
Nothing enters the over-ear headphone market with a design that’s anything but subtle—and features that back it up. You get strong ANC, long battery life, intuitive physical controls, and an app that blows past most of the competition. They may not lead in comfort or raw sound quality, but they offer a rare mix of style, usability, and depth that’s hard to find elsewhere.
