Nothing Technologies is making its most aggressive push yet into the premium headphone market. The London-based company today launched the Headphone (1) Pro, a $399 pair of wireless over-ears built from aluminum, titanium, and scratch-resistant glass — and aimed squarely at Apple’s AirPods Max, Sony’s WH-1000XM6, and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra.
The new model goes on sale September 29 through Nothing’s website, Amazon, and Best Buy stores in North America. It is offered in black or white.
That price undercuts Apple’s current AirPods Max and sits below several other flagship rivals, while still representing a $100 jump over last year’s Headphone (1). Nothing is betting that a more premium build, a new triple-driver audio system, and stronger noise cancellation will justify the step up.
Glass windows, metal frame
The Headphone (1) Pro keeps Nothing’s signature rectangular, cassette-inspired ear cups and see-through aesthetic. This time the transparent windows are 9H Panda glass rather than plastic, framed in aluminum, with titanium used in the arms. The company says the glass is shatter- and scratch-resistant and survived repeated drop tests from more than a meter. A plastic film behind the glass is designed to keep the internal chamber intact even if the panel cracks.
Despite the heavier-sounding materials, the Pro model is slightly lighter than its predecessor at 327 grams. The headband is wider and more padded, and the ear cushions are softer, with an 8mm silicone baffle intended to improve the seal and comfort on long sessions. The headphones carry an IP52 dust- and splash-resistance rating.
Three drivers and studio tuning
The biggest change is inside. Each ear cup now uses three drivers: a 40mm dynamic driver for bass, a smaller precision dynamic driver for mids and vocals, and an xMEMS solid-state tweeter for high frequencies. The system was tuned with Metropolis Studios, the London facility known for work with major recording artists.
A physical Flat EQ switch lets users drop into a more neutral profile for mixing or critical listening. There is also a “Studio B” spatial mode meant to approximate a mixing-room acoustic, plus other spatial presets with optional head tracking. Wired USB-C playback supports lossless audio up to 24-bit/192kHz; wireless options include LDAC, AAC, and Bluetooth 6.1 with multipoint and Auracast.
Active noise cancellation is rated at up to 46dB using a 10-microphone array, an increase from the previous model. Nothing says the improvement should be most noticeable in wind and traffic. Battery life is listed at up to 30 hours with ANC on and 68 hours with it off on AAC; LDAC figures are lower. A five-minute charge is said to add several hours of playback.
Competing on look and price
Nothing has built its brand on distinctive industrial design rather than matching Sony or Bose feature-for-feature. The Headphone (1) Pro is the company’s most expensive headphones to date and its clearest attempt to convert that design identity into a serious premium product.
Whether glass-and-metal styling and a triple-driver array can pull buyers away from AirPods Max or Sony’s latest flagship will depend on how the sound and ANC hold up in daily use. Early impressions have generally praised the audio and the more refined build, while noting the rectangular cups remain polarizing and the battery claim with ANC on is not class-leading.
MacDailyNews Take: For now, Nothing has put a $399 alternative on the shelf that looks unlike anything else in the category — and that is exactly the point. More info and images via Amazon here.
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