London-based consumer technology brand Nothing has released its first over-ear headphones, the "Headphone (1)." The design is instantly recognizable as a Nothing product, with a high degree of synergy with the brand's existing lineup.

Nothing was founded in London in 2020 and has surpassed $1 billion in cumulative sales within four years. With a global community of over 3 million members, the brand emphasizes user dialogue in its product development.

In 2021, they released the wireless earbuds "Nothing ear (1)," followed by the smartphone "Phone (1)" in 2022. Both garnered attention for their unique and stylish designs featuring transparent bodies. The smartphone line has since evolved, with the "Phone (3)" debuting in August 2025, further enhancing its appeal.

A common thread across all Nothing products is their distinct design philosophy, centered on the core theme of "transparency." By making the back of the products transparent to reveal the internal structure, Nothing embodies its brand message: "Nothing to Hide."

Another distinctive feature is the unique "Glyph Interface," an LED lighting system. Positioned on the back of the product, these LED lights express notifications and charging status through patterns, combining functionality with aesthetic appeal.

Now, the Headphone (1) arrives as Nothing's first foray into headphones. Naturally, this product fully reflects Nothing's signature style.

The acoustic design of the Headphone (1) was a collaboration with KEF, a venerable British Hi-Fi audio brand with over 60 years of history. Leveraging KEF's advanced acoustic development technology and proprietary tools, the headphones were developed for a wide range of users, from audiophiles to casual listeners.

Adam Bates, Nothing's Design Lead, shared his vision: "With the Headphone (1), we aimed for something that not only sounds good but also feels different the moment you pick it up. From the tactile controls to the see-through design, every detail has intention."

The exterior of the product features Nothing's signature see-through design. Processed aluminum, precision components manufactured by computer numerical control, and memory foam polyurethane materials are used, achieving a balance between comfort and visual impact.

For operation, tactile controls using physical rollers, paddles, and buttons are employed instead of touch controls. This design allows for intuitive adjustment of volume, music navigation, and switching active noise cancellation modes without the risk of accidental input.

Acoustically, the headphones are equipped with 40mm custom dynamic drivers featuring a polyurethane suspension system. A precision damping system minimizes distortion, reproducing sound faithfully from powerful bass to clear treble across various modes, including active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and spatial audio.

Furthermore, the built-in spatializer and head-tracking functions convert stereo audio sources into a 360° soundscape, delivering an immersive audio experience akin to a cinema. Support for Hi-Res Audio, LDAC, USB-C lossless playback, and a 3.5mm jack ensures high-quality music reproduction, whether wired or wireless.

The Headphone (1) features hybrid active noise cancellation, combining feedforward and feedback microphones. The environmental noise cancellation, powered by four microphones and AI Clear Voice technology trained on over 28 million noise environments, ensures clear calls even in noisy surroundings.

In terms of battery performance, up to 35 hours of continuous playback is possible with active noise cancellation enabled. A 5-minute quick charge provides up to 5 hours of playback time. Support for Bluetooth 5.3, dual-device connection, Fast Pair, and low-latency mode ensures compatibility with modern wireless environments.

The dedicated Nothing X app allows for detailed customization of button settings. The Channel Hop feature enables switching between multiple media sources using only button operations. An 8-band EQ for sound customization also allows users to adjust the audio to their preferences.

Available in white and black, the Headphone (1) is an ambitious creation merging Nothing's unique design philosophy with KEF's acoustic expertise. In a competitive high-end audio market, it offers a stimulating new value proposition through its innovative design.