Born from design, true to sound, brilliant with AI — Nothing's flagship Headphone (1) launches in China

On July 21 at 8 p.m., Nothing's first over-ear headphones, Headphone (1), officially went on sale at the NOTHING Tmall flagship store and JD.com self-operated flagship store. Earlier this month, the global tech consumer brand launched two flagship products — alongside Headphone (1), it also released its first true flagship smartphone, Phone (3).

Gaorong Ventures portfolio company Nothing was founded in London in 2020 with a mission to build a different kind of tech company — one that puts people first and returns design and imagination to the center of technology, inspiring human creativity.

From award-winning smartphones to audio products that deliver both visual and sonic impact, Nothing is redefining how technology should feel. Its products are built openly, co-created with a global community of more than 3 million people, making them more expressive, more personal, and more fun. In just four years, cumulative revenue has surpassed $1 billion.

The newly launched flagship smartphone Phone (3) represents a new evolution of Nothing's iconic design, combining a new Glyph matrix, bold geometric aesthetics, premium materials, and significant performance upgrades to reshape how people interact with their smartphones.

It introduces the full versions of Essential Search and Essential Space: two new tools designed to reduce friction, surface what matters, and give users unprecedented creative control. With a redesigned Glyph interface and the now fully launched Essential Space, Phone (3) helps users live and create with greater simplicity and clarity.

Headphone (1) brings the same "design-first, human-centered" philosophy to sound design, delivering precise audio quality, seamless integration, and tactile controls that set a new benchmark for over-ear audio devices.

Headphone (1) is built for audiophiles and everyday users alike. "When we set out to create Headphone (1), we didn't just want it to sound exceptional — we wanted people to feel something different the moment they picked it up," said Adam Bates, Nothing's Design Director. "From the touch experience to the transparent structure, every detail was carefully considered. This is a product that looks different and works differently, encouraging people to connect with sound in a more expressive way."

Design That Sounds as Good as It Feels

Headphone (1) features signature transparent elements and premium materials including formed aluminum, precision CNC components, and PU memory foam, combining comfort with visual impact. The lightweight earcups are crafted from a blend of aluminum and durable plastic for robustness, while the extendable headband offers smooth adjustment.

Headphone (1) abandons traditional touch controls in favor of physical operations integrated into the body structure. Through a dial, toggle, and buttons, users can more precisely and reliably adjust volume, control playback, and switch active noise cancellation modes — avoiding the accidental touches and lag common to capacitive controls. This intuitive, tactile interaction makes every listening session feel more natural and fluid.

Co-Tuned with KEF for Immersive Sound

Headphone (1) is Nothing's first product developed in collaboration with KEF, a pioneering audio brand with over 60 years of experience in high-fidelity audio. Leveraging KEF's advanced acoustic engineering and proprietary tuning tools, Nothing created a custom 40mm dynamic driver for Headphone (1), delivering natural, full-bodied sound across ANC, transparency mode, and spatial audio — with deep, powerful bass, nuanced mids, and clear highs across the frequency range.

Advanced Noise Cancellation and Crystal-Clear Calls

Headphone (1) features feedforward and feedback dual microphones, with active noise cancellation (ANC) that dynamically adjusts in real time based on environmental changes, while transparency mode keeps users aware of their surroundings without sacrificing clarity. Its industry-leading four-microphone ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) system is AI-powered, trained on over 28 million noise scenarios, ensuring exceptional call quality even in noisy environments.

All-Day Battery, Always Ready

Headphone (1) delivers up to 35 hours of listening time (with ANC on) and up to 80 hours of extended battery life (with ANC off), with a 5-minute charge supporting 2.4 hours of playback. Bluetooth 5.3, dual-device connectivity, fast pairing, and low latency make switching between devices quick and seamless.

AI-Powered Personalized Listening Experience

At the heart of the entire experience is "The Button" — a customizable control key located in the Nothing X app. A single press activates "Channel Hop," allowing quick switching between recently used audio apps and frequently used functions without endless scrolling or menu diving. Designed for efficiency and convenience, it lets users seamlessly move between music, podcasts, and voice notes during commutes, work, or workouts.

Users can also configure this button to launch a voice assistant, activate News Reporter, or open Essential Space — a "second memory" space built exclusively for Nothing users to quickly capture voice memos, reminders, and fleeting ideas without interrupting their current focus.

---