Nothing’s third pair of over-ear headphones bring powerful sound, excellent noise cancellation and a clever Flat Mode. After spending time with them, here’s how they look, feel and perform.

Since launching its first pair of over-ear headphones last year, British tech company Nothing has continued to expand its range with the Headphone (a) and now the Headphone (1) Pro. We reviewed the original Headphone (1) last year, and the Pro builds on that distinctive design with a new triple-driver sound system, improved noise cancellation and a dedicated Flat Mode.

I’ve been using the Headphone (1) Pro as my daily pair of headphones for the past week, and here’s how they stack up.

Unboxing

Nothing has delivered another nicely presented package. A thin cardboard sleeve featuring an image of the headphones slides off to reveal a silver box. Unlike the original Headphone (1), there’s no embossed headphone design on the front this time around.

Inside, you’ll find the headphones in their new carry case, alongside a small white box containing the quick start guide, a 3.5mm audio cable, a USB-C to USB-C cable and strap loops.

Design and comfort

I’m a big fan of Nothing’s unique approach to product design, and the Headphone (1) Pro is no exception. The translucent earscups contrast with the aluminium frame and titanium arms, giving the headphones a distinctive, industrial look that feels premium.

Available in black or white, I’ve been testing the black version. It looks sleek without losing the unconventional design that makes Nothing’s products stand out. The words ‘Nothing Headphone (1) Pro’ are printed on the small translucent window on each earcup, adding to the overall aesthetic.

Comfort is generally excellent, too. The headband and ear cushions are very soft, and despite weighing 327g, the headphones don’t feel noticeably heavy when worn.

As someone who wears glasses, I’m always a little wary of over-ear headphones. The Headphone (1) Pro felt comfortable for a good while, although the pressure around the arms of my glasses eventually became noticeable during longer listening sessions. So, while they’re comfortable overall, they’re not completely free of the usual glasses-related issues.

One of the biggest changes is the redesigned carry case. Unlike the original Headphone (1), which came with a larger case and spaces for its cables, the Pro’s case only covers the earcups. This leaves the headband and frame exposed, with no room to store the cables or charge the headphones through the case.

The headphones still rotate rather than fold inwards, making them less convenient to pack away. They were just about manageable in my work bag, but took up more space than I’d have liked.

Together, these things aren’t deal breakers. The earcups are protected, I can carry the cables separately if I need to, and the exposed headband gives me something to grab when carrying the headphones around. Still, the case feels like an odd compromise for a premium pair of headphones.

Controls

The physical controls are another highlight. Rather than relying on touch-sensitive gestures, the headphones feature six physical controls. They’re tactile and intuitive, giving the headphones a satisfying, throwback feel that feels very on-brand for Nothing.

The right earcup houses most of the controls. A roller adjusts the volume, pauses or resumes playback when pressed, and can be held down to switch noise cancellation modes. Just below it, a paddle lets you skip tracks, rewind or fast-forward, and answer or end calls. There’s also a customisable button that can be assigned to functions such as activating your voice assistant, muting the microphone or controlling your phone’s camera.

A Bluetooth pairing button sits on the inner side of the right earcup, while the new Flat Mode switch is on the inner side of the left earcup. There are quite a few controls to get used to, but after a day or so, they became a natural way to manage playback without reaching for a phone.

My only minor gripe is with the power switch. It’s ever-so-slightly more fiddly and inconvenient than a simple button would be. It’s a small complaint, but I’d still take these physical controls over touch gestures any day.

The headphones also feature wear detection, automatically pausing playback when you take them off and resuming when you put them back on.

Connectivity

I connected the headphones to my iPhone 16 and used them with Apple Music, and the controls worked exactly as expected. 

I also tested the multipoint connection between my iPhone and Mac, which lets the headphones stay connected to both devices. Switching between them was seamless, making it easy to move from listening to music on my phone to audio on my Mac.

You’re not limited to wireless listening either, with the headphones also supporting USB-C and a traditional 3.5mm connection. 

Sound and active noise cancellation

The Headphone (1) Pro really delivers where it matters most. These headphones sound impressive, with plenty of bass, clear vocals and detail that brings familiar tracks to life.

The bass gives tracks plenty of weight without being overwhelming. I also found the headphones handled higher volumes much better than the original Headphone (1). I rarely felt the need to push them to their limit, and with ANC enabled in the gym, they were more than loud enough to drown out any music playing over the speakers.

That’s where the active noise cancellation comes into its own. The ear cushions already help keep some outside noise at bay, but switching ANC on takes things considerably further. I was able to block out most of the surrounding noise on both overground and underground trains, and focus on my own music at the gym.

You can adjust the ANC strength through the Nothing X app, choosing between low, mid, high and adaptive modes. I switched between adaptive and high ANC depending on where I was listening. There’s also a transparency mode and an option to turn noise cancellation off entirely. When switching to transparency mode, the headphones retain the “disturbing” breath sound effect from the Nothing Headphone (1).

Overall, the combination of strong sound and effective noise cancellation made a noticeable difference to my everyday listening.

Flat Mode

One of the key additions to the Pro is Flat Mode. Activated by a physical switch on the headphones featured earlier, it bypasses the usual sound profile in favour of a more neutral tuning developed with London’s Metropolis Studios. 

It’s an interesting option for anyone who wants to hear music without the extra frequency boosts applied by the standard EQ. As someone who usually listens through AirPods, I found Flat Mode brought the sound closer to the more neutral presentation I’m accustomed to. 

I found Flat Mode particularly useful for podcasts, TV and videos, where I preferred a more natural sound without any extra sound enhancements. 

For producers, musicians and DJs, this neutral option could be particularly appealing when checking mixes or listening critically.

Flat Mode is a genuinely useful and effective tool, but it’s not a feature I’d leave switched on all the time.

Nothing X app

The Nothing X app gives you plenty of room to customise the sound of your Headphone (1) Pro, and it’s easy to use too. 

There are preset EQ profiles, an Advanced EQ for more precise control over different frequencies, and a Personal Sound Profile option which tailors playback to your hearing profile. The latter was easy to set up, and the difference between the various EQ settings was noticeable enough to make experimenting worthwhile.

The app also includes five spatial audio modes, including Standard, Studio B, Club, Concert Hall and Live House. Each gives the sound a different character, and I mainly switched between Standard and Studio B during my listening.

Together, these customisable options give you plenty of ways to tailor the headphones to your preferences, whether you want a more neutral presentation or a more immersive listening experience. 

Battery life

Battery life is another strong point. Nothing rates the Headphone (1) Pro for up to 30 hours with ANC enabled, rising to 68 hours with noise cancellation switched off.

In my day-to-day use, the battery hasn’t been something I’ve had to worry about. I’ve charged the headphones once in the space of a week, despite having ANC on most of the time. 

This does make the lack of cable storage in the case a little easier to forgive, as I’m unlikely to be caught short by low battery.

Pricing and availability

Nothing continues to bring something distinctive to a market full of familiar-looking alternatives, and the Headphone (1) Pro are another strong example of that approach. Yes, the travel case makes the headphones less convenient to travel with than they should be, but it doesn’t overshadow an otherwise enjoyable experience.

The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro are an impressive pair of over-ear headphones. Their distinctive design, tactile controls, powerful sound and effective noise cancellation make them enjoyable to use, while the extensive EQ options and dedicated Flat Mode give them more flexibility than many premium headphones.

The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro are available now on Amazon for $399.

The Headphone (1) Pro were sent to us by Nothing for review. No money has exchanged hands for our opinions. The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission for any sales generated.