Design: Retro Statement Over Universal Crowd-Pleaser
Nothing leans hard into its retro headphone design philosophy with the Headphone (a), and that alone will divide buyers. Visually, they echo the brand’s first model: chunky, throwback earcups and a minimalist industrial frame that nods to vintage home audio gear. Compared with the more premium Headphone (1), the (a) model uses more plastic and a lighter build, which actually benefits comfort. The looser clamp and reduced weight make long listening sessions friendlier, even if they look less “luxury” at a glance. This is a design that prioritizes personality over broad appeal. If you prefer low‑profile, commuter‑friendly cans, the bold silhouette and see‑through cues may feel loud. But for listeners who want their headphones to double as a fashion accessory, the Headphone (a) preserve Nothing’s unconventional aesthetic while quietly fixing some ergonomic missteps from the first generation.
Controls and Everyday Usability: The Best Kind of Déjà Vu
Where it matters most in daily use, the Nothing Headphone (a) inherit the smartest ideas from the original. The control layout is identical to the Headphone (1), and that is a major win. Nothing’s roller-based system on the right earcup remains a standout: you scroll for volume, click to manage playback, and use an adjacent paddle for calls and track skipping. An assignable action button lets you jump quickly into noise modes or other shortcuts. This unified control scheme is intuitive enough that you rarely need to reach for your phone once you learn it. Pairing is painless and managed through the same polished companion app, which offers firmware updates and an eight‑band equalizer. In practice, the Headphone (a) feel like a refined remix of the first model’s interface, trimming away cost while preserving what made the original controls genuinely enjoyable.
Real-Time Noise Cancellation: Practical, Not Perfect
Nothing’s real-time noise cancellation is the Headphone (a)’s most compelling everyday feature. On paper, they block up to 40 decibels of external sound, just shy of the Headphone (1)’s 42 decibels. In real-world use, that difference is nearly invisible. Adaptive ANC responds to your surroundings, and you can fine‑tune it manually via the app, shifting between levels depending on whether you’re in a café, on public transport, or at home. While they don’t rival the most elite ANC specialists on the market, they get close enough for typical daily scenarios. In a busy coffee shop, they deliver a substantial cut in chatter and clatter—maybe not complete isolation, but enough that your music or podcasts sit comfortably on top of the noise. Considering their price positioning, this balance of performance and practicality makes the Headphone (a)’s real-time noise cancellation feel like the star of the show.
Sound Quality and Battery Life: Stripped Back, Still Strong
The Nothing Headphone (a) are tuned around 40 mm RF drivers and an eight‑band EQ, delivering a sound that leans slightly bass‑forward yet remains broadly satisfying. They skip the KEF co‑tuning and personal sound profile system of the Headphone (1), so audiophiles won’t find the same level of refinement or customization. However, once you tweak the EQ, the (a) model offers punchy lows, clear vocals, and enough top‑end detail to keep most genres engaging. Battery life is where these cans become genuinely impressive. With ANC active, they promise up to 75 hours of playback, and up to 135 hours with noise cancellation off—numbers that outperform many competitors by a wide margin. A quick charge nets hours of listening from just minutes on the cable. For forgetful chargers or frequent travelers, this endurance alone can outweigh the modest compromises in sonic polish.
Verdict: The Best Expression of Nothing’s Headphone Vision Yet
As a complete package, the Nothing Headphone (a) represent the brand’s most coherent take on over‑ear audio to date. They refine a polarizing retro look into something more comfortable and practical, while preserving the bold design language that set Nothing apart in the first place. Real-time noise cancellation, though not class‑leading, is consistently useful in everyday environments and easily adjustable through a clean, well‑designed app. The audio profile is a step down in sophistication from the KEF‑tuned Headphone (1), but the gap isn’t as dramatic as the branding suggests—especially once you consider the lighter build and significantly longer battery life. For most listeners, that trade‑off makes the Headphone (a) the smarter buy and the more enjoyable daily companion. They may not convert every skeptic of the retro aesthetic, but they finally align Nothing’s design ambition with practical, real‑world performance.