Nothing Headphones 1 Launched at ₹21,999

Nothing Headphones 1 – Key Highlights

🔹 Design & First Impressions

• Nothing is focusing on design in consumer electronics.

• They’ve launched phones and earbuds with design as a standout feature.

• The Headphones 1 are their first ₹21,999 over-ear, noise-canceling headphones.

• Competing with brands like Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser.

• Design is the major distinguishing factor — dark and light versions.

• Light version looks like cassette tapes on your head.

• Transparent aesthetic is continued, typical of Nothing.

🔹 Unique Aesthetics

• Bold and different look — love it or hate it.

• Some will love it for being unique, others won’t.

• Red dot on the right earcup helps identify the correct side.

• Design is more elegant than something like the Cybertruck.

• Even though internals (drivers, batteries) aren’t visually exciting, the look is still neat.

🔹 Performance Backing the Design

• The rest of the headphone experience is actually solid.

• Good comfort, build quality, and features.

🔹 Sound by KEF

• KEF is a high-end audio brand Nothing collaborated with.

• KEF has many expensive speakers but only one headphone model: Mu7.

• Nothing’s headphones are not just a rebrand — they feel like a different product.

🔹 Controls & Buttons

• Five main physical controls:

  • Scroll wheel for volume (press to play/pause, hold for ANC/transparency).

  • Track paddle to skip forward/backward, supports fast-forward/rewind.

  • Power switch, USB-C, and 3.5mm jack at the bottom.

  • Custom button (default: voice assistant, can be remapped in app).

  • Bluetooth pairing button inside earcup.

• No touch controls — all tactile physical buttons. Easy and practical.

🔹 Build Quality & Comfort

• Metal and plastic mix — durable but lightweight.

• Headband is flexible for different head sizes.

• Soft, thick earcups — comfortable for hours.

• Slightly heavier than full plastic ANC headphones but not too much.

• Not as heavy as AirPods Max.

🔹 Battery Life & Travel

• Rated at ~35 hours on a full charge.

• Used for 8 hours during flights — comfortable and long-lasting.

• Case is larger and zipper is annoying.

• Headphones do not fold, unlike Sony XM6s.

🔹 ANC & Transparency Mode

• Passive isolation is already great.

• ANC works well for room noise and white noise.

• Slightly behind Sony XM6 in airplane noise cancellation (B+ vs A+).

• Transparency mode is okay — can hear surroundings, but voice sounds booming and unnatural.

🔹 Sound Quality

• 40mm drivers tuned by KEF.

• Clear, balanced sound — bass, mids, highs all handled well.

• No distortion at high volume.

• Soundstage is not wide — more of a small-room feel.

• Passive isolation + ANC delivers a clean audio experience.

🔹 Nothing X App Features

• Remap custom button actions.

• Manage multiple Bluetooth device connections (supports two devices).

• Control ANC level: low, medium, high.

• Equalizer: pre-sets and full manual slider adjustment.

• Can tweak sound heavily or subtly based on preference.

🔹 Price vs Competitors

• Priced at ₹21,999 — competitive in 2025 standards.

• Sony, Bose, and Apple alternatives cost $350–$550.

• Good balance of value, performance, and design.

• May not beat Sony XM6 on every spec but offers good savings.

• Some users might prefer physical buttons, unique looks, or the lower price.

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