Nothing has released its first pair of over-the-ear headphones, fancifully named Headphone 1. Priced at $299, they can compete with flagship models, differing primarily in the characteristic Nothing design language, right down to the buttons.
Although the boxy outline is reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods Max, the translucent details on the outside of each ear cup are completely Nothing. So are the buttons, all of which are differently shaped, some of which you press, some of which you click, and some of which you toggle. They’re designed to be more intuitive to use by touch alone, so you don’t have to take off your headphones to remind yourself which button turns on the pairing.
With active noise cancellation, spatial sound, and lossless playback, these headphones fulfill most of the usual features of high-end headphones. The battery lasts for 35 hours with noise cancellation enabled, is IP52 waterproof, and the sound was developed in partnership with HiFi brand KEF using special 40mm drivers.
