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Nothing Headphone (a)White
Nothing

Headphone (a)

Nothing's Headphone (a) cut 83% of outside noise in one test and costs $129 at Nothing's US store.

Over-ear
8.0/10What the pros sayExcellentExpert consensus · Verified Oct 8, 2026See score breakdown ↓
Finish · White
Buying call

Buy the Nothing Headphone (a) at Nothing's $129 (Oct 8, 2026; list $199) if you want ANC headphones with huge battery life for little money. Nothing claims 135 hours with ANC off from a 1,050 mAh battery, one lab measured about 83% average noise reduction with a good seal, and you get LDAC, physical controls, USB-C audio and a 3.5mm jack. Skip them if you wear glasses, because reviewers found the fit finicky and the seal, and so the ANC, suffers with glasses. They weigh 310 g, the stock tuning is bass-heavy and hard to EQ, and there's no true multipoint.

Full verdict ↓
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Editor testedHands-on testing and real-world use
Real-world useBased on everyday testing, not a spec sheet
Unbiased reviewIndependent and objective, sources shown
Headphone (a)Check current priceBuy on eBay
Key specs
Connection
Bluetooth, USB-C audio and 3.5 mm wired
Driver size
1.57 in (40 mm)
Controls
Power switch · Roller · Paddle
Highlights

Specs that matter

Audio
Type
Headphones
Wear
Over-ear
ANC
Yes
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.4
Battery
135 h
Driver
40 mm
Body
Weight
10.9 oz (310 g)
Dimensions
177.0 × 78.0 × 190.4 mm
IP rating
IP52
Colors
White
At a glance

Product highlights

Verified attributes, grouped for quick scanning.

AudioHeadphones · Over-ear · ANCBT Bluetooth 5.4 · 135 h
Weight10.9 oz (310 g)177.0 × 78.0 × 190.4 mm · IP52
47 attributes · See all specifications
Price & availability

Where to buy

Prices from trusted US retailers, updated daily.

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2 price points tracked.
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Buying decision

Should you buy it?

Buy the Nothing Headphone (a) at Nothing's $129 (Oct 8, 2026; list $199) if you want ANC headphones with huge battery life for little money. Nothing claims 135 hours with ANC off from a 1,050 mAh battery, one lab measured about 83% average noise reduction with a good seal, and you get LDAC, physical controls, USB-C audio and a 3.5mm jack. Skip them if you wear glasses, because reviewers found the fit finicky and the seal, and so the ANC, suffers with glasses. They weigh 310 g, the stock tuning is bass-heavy and hard to EQ, and there's no true multipoint.

Best for

Budget buyers who want ANC over-ears with LDAC and huge battery life.

Not for

Glasses wearers and anyone who wants good sound without EQ work.

Main strengthUp to 135 hours with ANC off from a 1,050 mAh battery (Nothing claim)
Main weaknessStock tuning is odd and hard to fix with the EQ
Reasons to buy
Up to 135 hours with ANC off from a 1,050 mAh battery (Nothing claim)
About 83% average noise reduction with a good seal
LDAC, USB-C audio and a 3.5mm jack
Physical controls that reviewers found intuitive
Reasons to avoid
Stock tuning is odd and hard to fix with the EQ
One review found the bass muddy and the ANC mediocre
ANC struggles with wind outdoors
Finicky fit in lab testing
Measured view8.0/10What the pros say · verified oct 8, 2026.
ScoreVerified Oct 8, 2026
Independent coverage

What other reviewers say

Reviews from other sites and creators. They don't change the Gadget Clash score.

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Tom's Guide3.5/5
Article · Full reviewNothing Headphone (a) review: Another sci-fi slam-dunk, but a few sound-related issuesErin Bashford · Mar 2026

Bold design, with a few sound-tuning issues.

Read on Tom's Guide ↗
SoundGuys8.1/10
Article · Full reviewBudget big-battery bass cannons: Nothing Headphone (a) reviewChristian Thomas · Mar 2026

Cheaper Nothing over-ears with long battery life and heavy bass.

Read on SoundGuys ↗
The Verge7/10
Article · Full reviewNothing Headphone A review: something worth consideringJohn Higgins · Mar 2026

Similar style to Headphone (1) for $100 less; worth a look.

Read on The Verge ↗
Aaron X Loud and Wireless · May 2026Better than Expected! 🔥 Nothing Headphone (a) ReviewWatch on YouTube ↗
SoundGuys · Apr 2026The Nothing Headphone (a) has one big drawback...Watch on YouTube ↗
Head to head

How it stacks up

Open a comparison for the full side-by-side view.

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Nothing Headphone (a)
This deviceHeadphone (a)
VS
Nothing Headphone (1) Pro
AlternativeNothing Headphone (1) Pro
Score
88.3
Full comparison
Same category

Alternatives worth a look

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Headphone (1) Pro8.3
NothingHeadphone (1) ProThree drivers per cup and EQ you'll actually use.
Product data

Full specifications

47 attributes, grouped for quick scanning. Verified Oct 8, 2026. Spot a wrong value? Hit the next to it.

Sound

Speaker config
Closed, dynamic
Driver type
Dynamic, titanium-coated PEN+PU diaphragm
Driver size
1.57 in (40 mm)
Frequency response
20 Hz-40,000 Hz
Freq. min
20
Freq. max
40000
Hi-Res wireless
1
Gaming low-latency
1

Noise Control

Adaptive ANC
1
Ambient / transparency
1

Battery

Battery (ANC on)
75
Talk time
72
Earbud battery
1060
Charging port
USB-C
Recharge time
2
Quick charge
5
Quick-charge playtime
8

Connectivity

Connection
Bluetooth, USB-C audio and 3.5 mm wired
Codecs
AAC, SBC, LDAC
Multipoint
✓
Google Fast Pair
1
Swift Pair
1
Wireless range
10
USB audio
1

Microphone

Microphone
Four microphones; three-microphone call algorithm
Mic count
4
Call noise reduction
1

Controls & Software

Controls
  • Power switch
  • Roller
  • Paddle
  • Custom button
Physical buttons
1
Companion app
Nothing X
App platforms
Android 5.1 and later, iOS 13 and later

Comfort & Build

Dimensions
6.97 in (17.7 cm)
Water resistance
IP52 dust and water resistance
Colors
  • White

Launch

In the box
  • Headphone
  • Carry pouch
  • 1.2 m 3.5 mm audio cable
  • 1.2 m USB-C cable for charging and USB audio
  • Quick start guide
Vote & discuss

Community says

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Headphone (a)Check the store for today’s price · eBayCheck price