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Nothing Headphone 1 Now Shipping With Retro Design And KEF-Tuned Sound
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
By Prakhar Khanna
July 15, 2025, 12:10am EDT
The first pair of headphones from the London-based brand, Nothing, has finally begun shipping. The innovative design combines a retro aesthetic with KEF-tuned sound to take on flagship headphones from industry giants like Sony, Bose, and Apple.
Here’s what you need to know about the new audio product from Nothing.
Retro Vibes Bring A Fresh New Look
For those tired of the generic designs offered by mainstream brands, the Nothing Headphone 1 might be an attractive option. Instead of opting for round or oval designs, the headphones boast a unique squircle shape with an oval cassette tape-like translucent back. The headband extends easily and features an additional cushion for added comfort. They fold flat but don’t fold up and are stored in a Sonos Ace-like carrying case.
At 329 grams, the Nothing Headphone 1 aren’t the lightest pair of headphones. For context, the new Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra both weigh 254 grams, while AirPods Max are heavier at 385 grams. However, they should be comfortable to wear for most people.
Nothing has combined aluminum with high-tech plastic elements to design the earcups, which are said to be oil-resistant. The memory foam-equipped earcups provide good seal for passive noise cancellation and fit comfortably over the ears. Although, the ear pads may become sweaty in warm weather and cannot be replaced by users. Nothing suggests that you’ll need to visit their service center if you damage them.
Multiple Interaction Options
The Nothing Headphone 1 do not feature touch sensors like some competitors. Instead, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with three controls on the right earcup: a customizable button on the outer frame, which launches your smart assistant or Channel Hop when paired with a Nothing Phone 3; A roller that adjusts volume levels and, upon pressing, triggers play/pause, and a long press toggles between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. Paddle is another new type of button, which can be pushed left or right to skip tracks or long pressed forward and backward to fast-forward or rewind a song.
KEF-Tuned Sound
The Nothing Headphone 1 feature 40mm drivers with a nickel-plated diaphragm that includes rim and dome. According to the company, this enhancement in the highs and power in the bass helps clarity of sound. In practical use, they seem big in terms of their apparent size. They present balanced sound, but it’s not to say that the bass is weak. The sound lacks depth compared to Sennheiser or Bose headphones but offers well-defined low frequencies with clear and lively highs. They are neither bass-heavy nor do they struggle to deliver high-quality audio.
The Nothing Headphone 1 also work exceptionally well at suppressing ambient noise like public chatter or airplane engines, offering four out of six microphones dedicated for voice calls to minimize background noise during your phone conversations. Users can select from low, medium, and high levels for adaptive noise cancellation, as well as the ability to choose from customizable buttons.
Now available in the United Kingdom, the United States, and India, the Nothing Headphone 1 may be purchased online through Amazon and the company’s website or at retail stores such as Flipkart, Myntra, Vijay Sales, Croma, and other leading retailers starting today.
Source: www.forbes.com
