Nothing officially launched the Nothing Headphone (1) in Malaysia a few weeks ago. As their first foray into the over-ear headphone category, the Nothing Headphone (1) has been making headlines since its announcement. It brings Nothing's iconic transparent design and includes staple audio headphone features, such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and long-lasting battery life. Moreover, the audio tuning was done in collaboration with KEF, so its audio quality promises to impress.

Besides the partially transparent body, the Nothing Headphone (1) brings a different vibe with its 80s-style design. It feels like playing with an old-fashioned device, except one that's crazy hipster. The first time we put it on, people immediately started asking, "What are you wearing?" It certainly turned some heads because of how unique it looks. Although it's a little heavy at 329g, the clamp force is just nice.

The whole package

Volume roller and song skip paddle

The PU memory foam ear pads are quite soft and feel secure on the head. However, when the weather is hot or you wear it for more than 45 minutes at room temperature, your ears quickly feel warm. Apart from that, we love the ear cups and headband since they provide a stable grip. As mentioned, the Headphone (1) is a little on the heavier side. Additionally, the headband feels quite thin, so some people may feel tired after wearing it for long sessions.

In short, the Nothing Headphone (1) provides much-needed comfort for daily use. However, they're not ideal if you plan on wearing them all day long without a break. As for the controls, Nothing offers a tactile experience that's rarely seen in the market today. It comes with a roller for volume and ANC, a paddle to skip tracks, and a button for voice assistant or other functions.

Right side

Left side

Memory foam is quite soft

Same for the ear pads

It's like playing a retro controller; it's nice and fast, making it feel much more satisfying than the sometimes annoying touch features. For the audio experience, the collaboration with KEF seems to have paid off. The bass is solid with some punch but doesn't drown out the vocals. It's fun to listen to pop or electropop songs because the sound feels alive and energetic.

However, if ANC is activated, the audio becomes quite muffled and needs to be amplified, which eventually makes your ears a little sore after long periods of use. For usage and battery life, a word we'd use to describe it is "great". We only charged it twice during our two weeks of use. This is based on normal daily usage while working and listening to music.

Button for voice assistance

On/off switch, USB-C port and 3.5mm audio

The Headphone (1) lasts around 42 hours with ANC enabled and around 80 hours without ANC, which is an impressive feat. A quick five-minute charge gives you several hours of listening time again. The Nothing X app is also fun to use, with detailed EQ settings (8-band), spatial audio toggles, OTA firmware, and the ability to share presets via QR.

For the spatial audio feature, it's more suitable for use when watching movies or gaming. When playing music, it felt more like a gimmick. For call quality, it's okay in a quiet room since voices are clear. However, if you're outside in noisy or windy conditions, the microphone struggles a bit. For those who make a lot of calls while outdoors, it may not be suitable because the mic is a bit inconsistent.

Nothing X app - Clean interface with useful features

Advanced EQ is available for audiophiles

The Nothing Headphone (1) is priced at RM1099 and comes in two colours: black and white. Compared to other options in Malaysia, the Nothing Headphone (1) is clearly trying to compete with premium models in a different way. It stands out a lot because of its iconic transparent design, long-lasting battery and fun physical controls.

If you want alternatives, the RM1299-priced Bose Headphones 700 offers better ANC and a better microphone for calls, but has a much shorter battery life. Meanwhile, there's also the Sony WH-1000XM4 that's priced at RM1199. This older but still relevant model offers a combination of excellent ANC, balanced audio and premium comfort for long listening sessions.

Amazing sound

During our two weeks of testing it, the Nothing Headphone (1) felt like a fresh experience. It deserves props for the retro-futuristic style, satisfying physical controls, long-lasting battery, complete connectivity, X Nothing app and energetic sound for everyday music. Want a unique, portable, customisable headphone that will make people look twice? The Nothing Headphone (1) is the answer.

But what do you think? Is the Nothing Headphone (1) the headphone for you? Let us know if this review was helpful to you, and stay tuned to TechNave for more reviews like this.

Tech specs and features

• Bluetooth 5.3 with Multipoint support
• Frequency range 20Hz – 40kHz
• 40mm dynamic driver (KEF tuning)
• Up to 80 hours of playback without ANC, 35 hours with ANC on
• 5 minutes of charging can last up to 5 hours of playback, full charge takes about 120 minutes
• Battery capacity 1040mAh
• Weight 329 grams
• Dimensions 189 × 173.9 × 78 mm
• LDAC, AAC, SBC audio support
• USB-C connection and 3.5mm audio jack
• IP52 (splash-proof and light dust-proof)
• Adaptive ANC with Transparency mode, 4 microphones with ENC technology, Spatial Audio with head tracking, Google Fast Pair & Microsoft Swift Pair support, Wear detection function
• Nothing X app with 8-band EQ, button controls and OTA updates
• Available colours: Black, White
• Estimated price: RM1099

Strange but interesting, retro style in modern times

Pros and Cons

Pros: Iconic design with physical controls, very long battery life, balanced sound quality with solid bass, complete connectivity and smart apps.

Cons: A little heavy, ANC and Transparency mode could be improved to be more natural and comfortable, less comfortable if worn for a long time.

Summary: Worth it for those who want stylish headphones with long battery life and a different experience, but not the best choice if you're looking for the best ANC or all-day comfort.