Nothing’s new, eye-grabbing headphones are spectacular, however not within the methods you anticipate

Desk of Contents

Hardly ever does a headphone launch generate huge buzz off its design alone. The Nothing Headphone (1) did simply that.

Combining old-school aesthetics with trendy performance, these wi-fi cans at present have the undivided consideration of audiophiles and hypebeasts with an affinity for stylishly crafted audio merchandise. Nicely, I strongly advocate tempering expectations.

The Headphone (1) reward you with sturdy lively noise cancellation, battery life, and sound. Nothing’s see-through design isn’t for everybody, and those that discover it intriguing will both be blissful or upset when unboxed. These headphones are additionally tough across the edges in sure methods.

Come see what I’m speaking about.

Nothing Headphone (1) wi-fi headphones specs and setup

The Headphone (1) have a formidable spec sheet. See for your self.

• Speaker Driver Unit: 40mm

• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40,000 Hz

• Adaptive Energetic Noise Cancellation

• 4-mic AI-backed environmental noise cancellation

• KEF acoustic engineering

• Bluetooth 5.3 with Hello-Res Audio, LDAC, and USB-C lossless playback

• IP52 mud and water resistance

• 35 hours of battery with ANC on / 80 hours with ANC off

• 5-minute fast charging equals 5 hours of listening time (ANC off)

• Colours: Black and white

Pairing is each easy and distinctive. These headphones have one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than — a Bluetooth button discreetly hidden inside the underside proper of the suitable earcup. Powering on the headphones will allow pairing mode to connect with iOS/macOS or Android gadgets; the latter takes benefit of one-tap Google Quick Pair. 

The Nothing app (iOS/Android) grants entry to a wide range of personalised options, and it helps firmware updates.

Nothing developed a singular management scheme for seamless operation. All controls are positioned on the suitable earcup. There’s an motion button on the entrance to assign superior capabilities (e.g., digital help, EQ preset, mic mute). The true attraction is the curler that adjusts quantity by scrolling left or proper. It even serves as a multifunctional button to activate listening modes and playback. Beneath the curler is a paddle for name administration and quick ahead/rewind. All the pieces works exceptionally effectively.

A meticulous, but polarizing design

This design isn’t for everybody. On high of that, the headphones don’t look as cool as they do in press photographs. That doesn’t imply you may’t respect Nothing’s suave ingenuity.

The retro look won’t be everybody’s cup of tea.
Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Particulars are every part, and the Headphone (1) don’t run in need of them. The clear white field on the within has an embossed imprint of the headphones that exudes minimalist artwork vibes. The oval cassette tape housings evoke Sony Walkman reminiscences, whereas the oblong earcups are a pleasant callback to classic dwelling audio headphones. Small touches just like the angular arms and dot imprints showcase the model’s stylish craftsmanship. IP54 certification protects the headphones from mud, sweat, and water splashing.

Sadly, the Headphone (1) are clunky and heavy (11.6 ounces). They clank collectively when the earcups are swiveled, which chips the metallic paint job over time.

Nice sound and even larger noise cancellation

The Headphone (1) aren’t going to win any audiophile awards. Nonetheless, KEF tuned the soundstage to supply a satisfying mixture of lows, mids, and highs. 

Sound was largely nice proper out of the field. Enjoying with the EQ improved it. There was the choice to create a sound profile by manually adjusting frequencies or choose from 4 presets: Balanced (default), Extra Bass, Extra Treble, and Voice. Extra Treble supplied essentially the most steady sound. 

You may need to modify the EQ.
Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The electrical guitar riff and placing drums on Inexperienced Day’s “Walking Contradiction” had been impactful and put me in headbanger mode. Run the Jewels’ “ooh la la” had great reverberation, highlighted by monstrous bass that prolonged and decayed easily with every sporadic snare strike. Mids and highs had been first rate. Ballads like Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” delivered shiny and crisp vocals that had been accentuated when the singer exercised her pitch vary within the outro.

Android gadgets supplied the very best listening expertise through LDAC. The audio codec streams music at a excessive bitrate and maintains the nuance from unique recordings. Spotify songs sounded compressed on my MacBook Professional, however they acquired a hi-res increase on my OnePlus 11 and Nothing Cellphone (3) smartphones. The identical went for all different content material. Enabling the low lag mode reduces latency when watching movies. 

It’s additionally unbelievable that the headphones assist lossless playback by means of USB-C connection. I observed an enormous distinction in readability on Apple Music tracks when plugged into my MacBook Professional. Nothing’s spatial audio mode gained’t wow you want Apple’s or Bose’s 3D audio format, nevertheless it’s acceptable if you would like theater-like acoustics. 

Nothing’s real-time adaptive ANC carried out higher than I anticipated. The know-how suppressed numerous sounds throughout the frequency spectrum. Widespread distractions like chatty pedestrians and family home equipment went unnoticed. Excessive-pitched sounds (e.g., crying infants, sirens, whistles) had been minimized. I used Transparency mode religiously at dwelling, particularly when cooking. The mics picked up vocals clearly and made it simple to speak with the missus from throughout the room. This characteristic was most helpful outdoor; I might hear folks strolling behind me and vehicles coming from a block away.

ANC playtime is affordable (35 hours), although you will get greater than double the battery life when turning it off (as much as 80 hours). Quick charging maximizes utilization: a five-minute cost generates 5 hours of listening time (ANC off).

Unpolished areas and different considerations

The Headphone (1) demonstrated many flaws. Connectivity was wonky in multipoint mode (audio stuttered when a number of ft away from my major gadget). The brief 3.5mm and USB-C cables weren’t sensible for desktop/laptop computer use. Put on detection barely labored, and when it did, there was at all times a three-second delay. 

One other challenge that should be addressed is that the headphones aren’t foldable. This makes them much less handy to hold and exposes sure components to break.

Are the Nothing Headphone (1) value it?

For those who’re a model fanatic or a fan of retro-looking headphones who needs enough ANC and sound at an attainable worth, then the Nothing Headphone (1) will suffice. Everybody else will need to contemplate different premium choices. 

KEF’s soundstage brings depth and richness to most tracks. Enjoying with the EQ will get you higher outcomes, and lossless playback boosts audio efficiency. I’m shocked by how efficient ANC is on these headphones. The know-how neutralizes undesirable noise at a excessive stage and raises ambient consciousness when in transparency mode. The additional-long playtimes additionally come in useful when touring. 

My controversial take is that the Headphone (1) look higher as an idea than an precise launch. Their look is nostalgically interesting, and a few parts are engaging, however they don’t have the identical attraction in particular person as they do in commercials. Issue of their shortcomings and we’re speaking a couple of questionable funding.