Nothing Technologies Ltd., the consumer electronics startup known for its distinctive designs, introduced a high-end pair of wireless headphones priced at $399, its latest effort to peel market share away from Sony Group Corp., Apple Inc., Bose Corp. and other companies competing in the premium segment.
The Headphone (1) Pro will be available Sept. 29 via the company’s own site, Amazon.com Inc., and Best Buy Co. retail locations across North America. Available in white or black, these new headphones retain some of the London-based firm’s signature avant-garde design elements while adopting a scratch-resistant glass exterior and a structure made of titanium and aluminum.
Nothing has been on a bit of a productive run with audio this year, launching the reliable Headphone A and the surprisingly high-quality Ear 3A earbuds. The Headphone A released at $199, while the earbuds are under $100, leaving room for something fancier. That something is the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro, a new $399 flagship over-ear model that has impressed reviewers with its comprehensive feature set. They feature the standard expectations for flagship headphones, including multiple sound profiles, active noise cancellation (ANC), and intuitive controls. They also have a few things you might not: a triple-driver design, Auracast, and a Flat EQ switch that removes processing.
If anything, the recent trend has been to add EQ customization to headphones. Even Apple finally added a 3-band equalizer option for the AirPods with its recent iOS 27 update. However, the Headphone 1 Pro include a toggle within the Nothing X app to turn off spatial audio and EQ. This is intended to allow studio professionals to hear their mixes without the headphones adding coloration, a concept developed through a partnership with Metropolis Studios.
WinFuture has published renders of the upcoming headphones, while earlier leaks from Dealabs also appeared ahead of the official launch.
Nothing Headphone (1) Pro Launch Date and Price
The audio brand Nothing, known for its retro aesthetic, debuted its first over-ear headphones just over a year ago and has already returned with an upgraded version. The brand announced its latest flagship product, the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro, on Sept. 28. This marks Nothing’s second over-ear headphone release of the year, following the budget-friendly Nothing Headphone (a) in March, which was considered a better value and more well-rounded option than the first launch. The Headphone (1) Pro cost $399, which is $100 more than the original launch price of the Headphone (1).
The specs are as follows: Drivers include a bass dynamic driver, a precision dynamic driver, and an xMEMS driver. Active noise cancellation is adaptive, powered by 10 microphones. Battery life is rated at 30 hours with ANC on, and 68 hours with ANC off. Quick charge provides two hours of listening from a five-minute charge.
Nothing Headphone 1 Pro Driver Architecture and EQ
For the first time, Nothing has applied a “Pro” designation to its wireless headphones, and the company is backing it up. The $399 Nothing Headphone 1 Pro are what the company is calling its most advanced headphones
to date, a claim that centers mostly on two improvements: the driver architecture and EQ. Regarding the former, Nothing has implemented a three-driver architecture—a change from the single driver found in the Headphone 1—where each driver is dedicated to a specific part of the frequency range. According to Nothing, one driver focuses on precision bass, giving the Headphone 1 Pro more punch and sensitivity,
while another zeroes in on vocals and instruments. Lastly, there’s a treble-focused driver from xMems for handling higher frequencies.
Having dedicated drivers for all of those frequencies should greatly improve the sound from generation to generation. The second sound-focused improvement is EQ. Nothing is partnering with Metropolis Studios.
Nothing is not moving on to the Headphone (2) just yet. Instead, its first over-ear headphones received the Pro treatment, complete with a triple-driver system, 10 microphones and studio-tuned audio. The upgrades pushed the price up to $399.
Nothing Headphone (1) Specifications
The company entered the over-ear market with the Headphone (1), combining its transparent design language with physical elements. Nothing has consistently established itself as a specialist in audio products, and it has now debuted the Headphone (1) Pro, its most high-spec headphones to date.
At the heart of the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro is a new triple driver architecture. Each cup contains three drivers: a 40mm dynamic driver for bass, a precision driver for mids, and an xMEMS driver for highs and trebles. By pairing this with a focus on sharp vocal clarity, improved bass response, and reduced distortion, the Headphone (1) Pro aims to provide a spectacular sound.
The Headphone (1) Pro have an aluminum-and-titanium structure and scratch-resistant glass over the exterior.
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