Nothing over-ear headphones Headphone (1)

If your listening usually happens in busy places, noise cancellation and a transparency mode may matter more than a bare-bones wireless setup. Nothing Headphone (1) combines hybrid active noise cancellation with over-ear listening, plus wired and wireless options for different setups. Its listed battery life ranges from up to 35 hours with ANC on to up to 80 hours with ANC off, so the right figure depends on how you use it.

What to know

These headphones are tuned with KEF and include personalised spatial audio, adaptive bass enhancement and head tracking. The product details also list LDAC, dual connection, USB-C audio and a 3.5 mm jack. That mix makes them worth considering if you want to switch between wireless listening and a wired connection, rather than relying on Bluetooth alone. The listing describes 24-bit/96 kHz playback and Hi-Res Wireless certification, it doesn’t spell out which connection or source is needed for every format, so check that against your listening setup.

There are several ways to manage outside sound: hybrid ANC, an adaptive mode and transparency mode. The controls are designed to be hands-on: turn the roller for volume, use the paddle to skip tracks, and set the button through the Nothing X app for shortcuts such as Spotify or podcasts. Ten en cuenta que battery life is not a single fixed figure: the stated maximum changes substantially depending on whether ANC is on.

How to use it

For a commute, ANC is the mode to try when you want to reduce surrounding noise, switch to transparency when you need to hear what’s happening around you. At a desk, dual connection may help if you want to use two devices, while USB-C audio or the 3.5 mm jack gives you a wired route. The controls could be handy when your phone is tucked away: a turn adjusts volume, a click pauses or plays, and the paddle handles track changes.

The listing says a five-minute charge can provide up to five hours of listening. Treat that as a stated maximum, not a guarantee for every listening mode. There’s no specific cleaning method given, but the memory-foam PU cushions are described as resisting oils and makeup, avoid assuming that means they need no care.

Practical tips

Think about how often you’ll actually use ANC before weighing up the battery claim. If you want long stretches between charges, the listed maximum applies with ANC off, if reducing noise is the priority, the stated figure is up to 35 hours with ANC on. For a quick listening session, the app-configurable button may save a few taps, but you’ll need the Nothing X app to customise its shortcut.

The over-ear design and memory-foam PU cushions are presented as comfort features, while the reinforced aluminium core is intended to add durability. There are no measurements or fit details in the supplied information, though, so headband fit and how the ear cups feel over a long session remain personal considerations. It may suit you if you want ANC, transparency and more than one way to connect. It may not be the right fit if your main priority is the longest stated battery life while keeping ANC active.

Three specific questions

Can you use them with a cable? The product information lists both USB-C audio and a 3.5 mm jack.

Can you hear outside sounds without taking them off? Transparency mode is included to let surrounding sound in.

How long is playback with ANC on? The stated maximum is up to 35 hours, with ANC off, it is up to 80 hours.

In your case

Choose Nothing Headphone (1) if you want over-ear headphones with ANC, a transparency option and flexible wired or wireless listening. They make more sense for someone who will use those features than for a buyer focused only on maximum battery life, since that 80-hour figure is listed with ANC off. Before choosing, consider whether the connection options suit your devices and whether you’re comfortable with an over-ear fit, the available product details don’t provide sizing or fit measurements.