Nothing Headphone (a) review: The superior option for design and button enthusiasts

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Nothing’s new Headphone (a) can be found now for $199.
• They provide a singular design, lengthy battery, nice sound, and intuitive button controls.
• Though they’re lighter than their predecessors, they nonetheless really feel somewhat clunky after prolonged put on.

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As of late, good sound is not that arduous to come back by. So how do headphones differentiate themselves? In the event you’re the London-based Nothing, you will give your headphones nice battery life, add some sensible quality-of-life enhancements, and a definite visible type.

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However most significantly, you value them at $200 — considerably lower than opponents. I am speaking about Nothing’s Headphone (a), the model’s newest over-ear pair. I examined them over the course of every week, and located tons to like, however they are not excellent. 

Nothing launched its Headphone (a) alongside its Cellphone 4a collection on March fifth, with compatibility with the Cellphone 4a Collection by way of ChatGPT to listen to Nothing Information or Important Area, its data hub app.   

Nothing nailed the audio high quality in its earlier headphones, as I’ve written whereas testing its open-ear Nothing Open and the Nothing Ear (a). It is no totally different right here, with impartial and clear sound match for all-day listening. 

I liked working and commuting with these headphones on, and located the sound profile great with out in-app configuration. However if you wish to customise the EQ, you are able to do so within the app. You too can entry customized EQs created by Nothing neighborhood members. 

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One thing I admire with Nothing’s audio merchandise is noise cancellation that does not utterly alienate you out of your atmosphere. I discover that stronger noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones are inclined to over-noise-cancel, that’s, suck you into silence in a method that may be overstimulating after hours of use. 

I did not get that with the noise cancellation in Headphone (a). It makes customers much less prone to endure from headphone fatigue for prolonged use. Plus, with a battery lifetime of 75 hours with ANC on, you technically might use these all day — for a number of days — earlier than recharging. With ANC turned off, Nothing says the Headphone (a) has 135 hours of whole energy. 

The smallest a part of Nothing’s latest headphones made the largest distinction for me. I am speaking concerning the paddle management, its mechanical button, and the curler — bodily buttons on the headphones which might be so good, you do not have to the touch your telephone in any respect. 

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The button will be assigned to sure actions within the Nothing X app, together with the flexibility to seize images hands-free. The paddle can skip tracks, and the curler will increase and reduces quantity. For each headphone consumer’s sake, I hope different manufacturers see these buttons and implements them into their very own headsets; they had been the best headphones to navigate with out touching my telephone – and that is saying rather a lot. 

What I might wish to see on Nothing’s subsequent headphones 

Nothing says it improved consolation by lightening the load of the Headphone (a), however prolonged put on over the workday proves they’re nonetheless somewhat clunky for my liking. Additionally they harm my earring-clad ears, regardless of its claims the headphones had been made to accommodate ear piercings. 

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Whereas Nothing nails most of its small touches, there was one beloved function it skipped. I hoped there can be an in-ear detection function, for instantly pausing music once I take off the headphones, and resuming as soon as put again on. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation 

The Nothing Headphone (a) have sufficient coloration configurations to please shoppers who need one thing impartial, however there’s additionally an expressive child pink coloration, and an unique yellow that resembles an egg yolk. The headphone’s distinct design is the preliminary draw, however after utilizing them over the previous few days, I’ve rapidly grown to like their sound, large battery, and considerate contact controls that main headphone manufacturers lack. 

Plus, these headphones are value-rich. They price $199, for crying out loud, and supply lots of the similar options that far costlier, established headphone manufacturers boast.