Nothing Headphone (1) launched in India for Rs. 21,999

Nothing has launched its first over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone 1, in India, priced at ₹21,999 with sales starting July 15. Co-developed with UK audio brand KEF, the Headphone 1 is acoustically tuned in KEF’s labs for a sound profile that aims to reproduce music “as the artist intended.”

True to the brand’s signature style, the Headphone 1 features transparent earcups that showcase its internal components and acoustic chambers. The build uses formed aluminium for durability and PU memory foam cushions for all-day comfort.

According to Nothing, the Headphone 1 is built around a specially engineered 40mm dynamic driver that allows greater air flow, helping to produce richer bass with low distortion. Its nickel-coated diaphragm helps maintain audio clarity across all frequencies. Nothing also claims the entire audio setup—drivers, acoustic chambers, and tuning algorithms—was meticulously refined at KEF’s UK labs to deliver a more lifelike and spacious soundstage.

When it comes to noise cancellation, the Headphone 1 relies on a dual-mic hybrid ANC system that reacts to changing surroundings by analysing ambient noise every 600 milliseconds. To further improve sound isolation and clarity, a real-time wear detection feature checks for earcup-to-ear canal sound leakage every 1,875 milliseconds, automatically fine-tuning performance as needed.

The Nothing Headphone 1 also brings spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, ensuring sound stays fixed in place even as you move your head. For gamers, there’s a low-latency mode to reduce audio lag during gameplay.

On the connectivity front, the headphones support LDAC for high-res Bluetooth streaming, along with USB-C and 3.5mm wired options. A dedicated button called “Channel Hop” lets you quickly toggle between your most recent audio apps. If paired with a Nothing phone, this button becomes customisable, allowing you to launch AI-driven features like News Reporter or Essential Space.

In terms of battery life, you can expect up to 35 hours with ANC on and 80 hours with ANC off. Plus, a five-minute quick charge delivers around 2.4 hours of playback with ANC enabled.