Nothing Headphone (1)
Verdict
Nothing Headphone (1) deliver striking design, strong ANC, a great app and huge battery life at a much lower price than AirPods Max, but their very dark default tuning and fit quirks mean you need to be willing to dive into EQ and live with some comfort compromises.
Pros
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Design and Aesthetics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.8Striking transparent aesthetic with a cassette inspired motif and refined plastic metal mix stands out in this class as one of the most eye catching designs.
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Button control usability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5Physical dials and buttons feel great and offer intuitive, reliable control, though the many multi press functions can be confusing and feedback sounds are a bit intrusive.
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Price value ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5Delivers standout design, modern features and long battery life at a notably lower price than rivals like AirPods Max, making it appealing for buyers prioritizing value over perfect sound.
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App ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5The Nothing X companion app presents features clearly on both Android and iOS, making it easy to adjust ANC, EQ and other settings without digging through complex menus.
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Battery ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5With up to 80 hours claimed with ANC off and around 35 hours with ANC on, battery life is a standout strength that easily outlasts many premium ANC competitors.
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Equalizer customization ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5Extensive in app EQ controls are a key part of the experience, allowing owners to brighten the dark stock tuning and tailor the sound more closely to their preferences.
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LDAC) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
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Water/sweat resistance rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
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Active noise cancellation effectiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3ANC performs well for the price, with a strong natural seal helping hush office and transit noise and everyday performance that is solid even if not class leading.
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Build quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3Solid mixed metal and plastic construction with tactile physical controls delivers a premium feel at the price.
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Carry case quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0Thin, flat case is compact and reassuringly protective with cable storage, though the outer material feels a little cheap despite being easy to slip into a bag.
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Codec support (AAC ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
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Transparency mode quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
Cons
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Comfort during long use ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.0Comfort is decent with evenly distributed padding, but the thin headband, firmer pads and above average weight can create pressure points for glasses or piercings in longer sessions.
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Weight comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.0
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Sound quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 2.5Out of the box the tuning is quite dark and closed in, leaving music less dynamic and engaging, but the app EQ can reshape it into a cleaner, more enjoyable listen.
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Clamping force comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.5Clamp force and pad design can press on ears, glasses and piercings, creating noticeable pressure points that make longer listening less comfortable despite an initially good fit.
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Spatial audio ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 1.5Lacks true spatial audio features in practice, and its own mode tends to thin out the music, so most listeners will prefer standard stereo over the gimmicky spatial effect.
