Design: Retro Statement Piece That Puts Comfort First
Nothing’s design language is instantly recognisable, and the Headphone (a) leans hard into that retro headphone design. Visually, they echo the flagship Headphone (1): transparent accents, vintage home-audio cues, and the kind of old-school silhouette that sparks nostalgia. The key difference is material choice. There is noticeably more plastic on the Headphone (a), which might look less premium at first glance, but it pays dividends in everyday comfort. The lighter frame clamps less aggressively on the head, avoiding the clunky, heavy feel that some users reported with the Headphone (1). Crucially, the iconic on-ear control layout is unchanged. You still get the smart roller and buttons on the right earcup, preserving the brand’s most intuitive hardware feature. The result is a design that may divide opinions aesthetically, yet avoids compromise where it matters: fit, usability, and practical durability.
Real-Time Noise Cancellation: The Feature That Steals the Show
Nothing positions the Headphone (a) as a mid-tier model, but its real-time noise cancellation feels anything but mid-range. On paper, they block up to 40 decibels of external sound, just shy of the Headphone (1)’s 42 decibels. In real use, the difference is practically negligible. Adaptive ANC continuously responds to your surroundings, while manual adjustment lets you fine-tune isolation from a quiet office to a noisy café. You will not get the near-silence of top-tier ANC specialists, yet the balance of suppression and naturalness is impressive for this category. Voices are softened effectively, mechanical hums are comfortably dialled down, and the transparency between modes feels seamless. Combined with strong passive isolation from the earcups, the Headphone (a) delivers a reliable cocoon for music, calls, and long listening sessions without the pressure or hiss that often plagues cheaper ANC implementations.
Sound Quality and Performance: Leaner Package, Smarter Trade-Offs
The Headphone (a) takes a pragmatic approach to sound: strip away headline-grabbing extras, keep what actually improves listening. You still get 40 mm drivers, support for high-quality codecs like LDAC, spatial audio with cinema and concert modes, and an eight-band equalizer via the Nothing app. Compared with the KEF-tuned Headphone (1), the (a) skews slightly more bass-heavy and lacks the personal sound profile test, so audiophiles craving ultimate refinement may prefer the flagship. Yet the performance gap is smaller than expected. Once EQ is dialled in, the Headphone (a) produces a lively, engaging sound with satisfying low-end punch, clear vocals, and enough treble detail for most genres. The identical app experience across both models is a huge win, giving you the same clean interface, firmware updates, and control customisation without forcing you into the pricier tier just for software polish.
Battery Life, Controls, and Everyday Use: The Best Nothing Headphones Yet
Where the Headphone (a) truly separates itself is endurance and day-to-day practicality. Battery life is astonishing: up to 75 hours with ANC on and 135 hours with ANC off, plus a quick-charge that delivers around eight hours of playback from just five minutes on the charger. For forgetful users, this is transformative—charging anxiety essentially disappears. The control scheme, lifted wholesale from the Headphone (1), remains a standout: the tactile roller for volume and mode switching, the versatile action button, and well-placed call controls make these cans feel smarter than many rivals. Factor in Bluetooth 5.4, IP52 dust and water resistance, and multi-day comfort, and it becomes clear why this Nothing Headphone (a) review crowns them the best Nothing headphones so far. They refine the brand’s vision into something genuinely easy to live with.
Is the Retro Aesthetic Worth It?
Nothing’s retro-inspired design will never be universally loved, and that is part of its appeal. The clear housings, angular arms, and vintage cassette-tape cues invite comparison to the more sculpted Headphone (1), which some found clunky and overly heavy. The Headphone (a) softens those edges with lighter materials and friendlier ergonomics, while retaining the bold, nostalgic identity that initially made the brand stand out. The crucial point is that style does not undermine substance: ANC remains strong, sound quality is competitive, and usability is top-tier for the segment. If you are drawn to minimalist, transparent hardware with a throwback twist, the Headphone (a) offers that aesthetic without the usual comfort or feature penalties. Even if you are on the fence about the look, their real-time noise cancellation, battery life, and value make a compelling argument to overlook the divisive design and focus on performance.