Nothing has officially released its first over-ear headphones, the Headphone (1), in Malaysia for RM1099. These headphones feature a transparent design, active noise cancellation (ANC), spatial audio with head tracking, long battery life, and fast charging.

The Headphone (1) comes in black or white and introduces a bold, retro-inspired design. Instead of touch controls, it uses physical buttons and switches, including a volume roller, a paddle for track control, and a customisable action button. This setup aims to improve usability and reduce accidental touches.

Design and features

The headphones weigh 329 grams and are built with a mix of aluminium, polycarbonate, and memory foam for comfort and durability. The transparent ear cups and square-shaped arms make the design stand out.

Controls are fully tactile. The roller adjusts volume, toggles ANC and transparency mode, and handles play or pause functions.

The paddle is used to skip tracks or answer calls, while the action button can trigger voice assistants like ChatGPT or switch apps using a feature called Channel Hop.

As for the sound system, it's powered by 40 mm dynamic drivers tuned in partnership with KEF. The Headphone (1) supports LDAC, AAC, and SBC audio codecs and can be used wirelessly through Bluetooth 5.3. If you want to save battery, it can also be used wired via USB-C or a 3.5 mm jack.

The hybrid ANC system uses microphones to adaptively reduce external noise. There's also a transparency mode for users to hear their surroundings without removing the headphones.

The spatial audio feature with head tracking enhances movie and music experiences by adjusting sound direction based on head movement. Battery life is one of the key highlights. With ANC turned off, users can get up to 80 hours of playback.

With ANC on, battery life is around 35 hours. A quick 5-minute charge provides about 2.4 hours of playback time with ANC active.

Call quality is generally reliable in quiet environments. However, it may drop slightly in windy or noisy settings due to the noise cancellation tuning.

Nothing Headphone (1) specifications

• Drivers: 40 mm dynamic (co-tuned with KEF)
• Audio codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC
• Bluetooth version: 5.3
• ANC: Hybrid adaptive noise cancellation (up to 42 dB)
• Microphones: 4-mic array for ANC and calls
• Battery life: Up to 35 hours (ANC on), up to 80 hours (ANC off)
• Fast charging: 5 minutes charge = approx. 2.4 hours playback (ANC on)
• Wired connectivity: USB-C (lossless audio), 3.5 mm jack (powered)
• Controls: Volume roller, track paddle, customizable button
• Extra features: Spatial audio with head tracking, wear detection, gaming mode, Find My Device, LED indicators
• Build: Aluminium arms, polycarbonate body, memory-foam ear cushions
• Weight: 329 grams
• Water resistance: IP52 rating
• App support: Nothing X (for EQ, bass boost, and personal sound profiles)
• Available colours: Black, White

Looking for over-ear headphones with a standout design and long-lasting battery? The Nothing Headphone (1) might be the one for you at RM1099.

Will Malaysian users enjoy its transparent look and physical controls? Let us know what you think. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.