90
Parker Hall
Wired
“If you want something good-looking with good performance, and you don't want to spend Bose, Sony, or Apple money, these are probably the best near-premium headphones you can buy.”
Critical Assessment
What Critics Praise
- Retro-inspired design
- Transparent cassette‑like ovals
- Vegan leather earcups
- Snug balanced fit
- Strong bass and mids
- Excellent battery life
Points of Contention
- Finnicky touch‑control buttons
- Low‑key gray white variant
- Noise canceling slightly below best in class
- Plastic glossy parts show blemishes quickly
- Cheaper feel
- Finicky zipper
Professional Reviews
9 reviews from 8 critics86
Alex Bracetti
Mashable
“Factor in their shortcomings and we’re talking about a questionable investment.”
80 James Pero 2 reviews · avg Gizmodo “I love how they look and how they feel.”
James Pero 2 reviews · avg
Gizmodo
“I love how they look and how they feel.”
All 2 James Pero reviews, aggregated above
80
Nothing Headphone 1
“I love how they look and how they feel.”
70
Nothing Headphone 1 vs. AirPods Max: Which Over-Ear ANC Headphones Win?
“Nothing’s Headphone 1, on the other hand, still excel in those key metrics, and while they fall slightly short in major categories like sound quality and ANC, they also make up for those shortcomings with a cool design, lots of features, and a heck of a lot of buttons.”
80
Mark Knapp
IGN
“Nothing has gone heavy on style for its first foray into over-ear headphones.”
70
Nirave Gondhia
Digital Trends
The Nothing Headphone 1 delivers a striking design, excellent battery life, and effective ANC, but its default sound profile is flat and the build shows early wear. It is a solid first-generation product that appeals to those seeking unique aesthetics over premium sound or durability.
70
Andru Marino
The Verge
The Nothing Headphone 1 offers a distinctive retro-transparent design and solid noise cancellation at a competitive price. However, its cheaper build quality, awkward folding mechanism, and lack of multipoint pairing prevent it from matching premium rivals.
70
Christian de Looper
PCMag
“The Nothing Headphone (1) stands out in a crowded market with a distinctive design, customizable controls, and good noise cancellation, but getting the best sound quality requires some work on your part.”
70
Matt Bolton
TechRadar
“If it weren't for the sound, I'd love them. As it is, I like them – but I think most people should stick with Sony.”
