Nothing Headphone (1) — Review

Every company goes through firsts, and for UK-based consumer electronics manufacturer Nothing, the aptly named Nothing Headphone (1) – yes, that’s its name – marks its first foray into the headset audio space after six iterations of earbuds alongside smartphones and watches from both Nothing itself and sister company CMF.

With the arrival of the Nothing Headphone (1), the company brings its signature aesthetic that’s focused on transparency and minimalism in a fresh new light for audio enthusiasts. From first looks alone, the headset certainly makes an impact, decked out in that industrial design that fans have come to know and love and sporting unique square-shaped earcups not commonly seen, if ever, on a headset.

Weighing in at 329g, which is around 50g lighter than the Apple AirPods Max, the headset is designed to be form-fitting, and although its initial clamping force might cause discomfort during prolonged usage at first, it does gradually get more comfortable once broken in. Sound quality-wise, it’s built in collaboration with audio powerhouse KEF, boasting 40mm drivers, a 6-mic setup and real-time adaptive active noise cancelling (ANC).

The Nothing Headphone (1)’s biggest downside, however, lies in its build quality, as we had to swap out the units twice due to crackling and rumbling issues at certain frequencies during testing. While the issues faced might just be sheer bad luck and not representative of the experiences of a wider audience, it can still be quite a tough ask considering its relatively steep S$399 price, at least for Nothing’s standards.

Check out our full review and impressions in the video above.

Zinho De Costa

Abandon Reason Know Only War! Zinho is a shooter fanatic still waiting for direct sequels to Black (2006) and Star Wars: Republic Commandos. He also truly believes that the Warhammer 40K universe can take on any franchise and destroy them. To think any different is heresy and punishable by Exterminatus.