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TL;DR
- Nothing just unveiled its $399 Headphone 1 Pro with a new triple-driver setup, 10-microphone ANC system, and studio-inspired audio features developed with Metropolis Studios.
- The headphones sport a more premium design with aluminum, titanium, and scratch-resistant glass, alongside softer ear cushions and a wider headband.
- Nothing promises up to 68 hours of battery life with ANC off and 30 hours with it on, alongside Auracast support and Bluetooth 6.1.
UK-based Nothing entered the over-ear headphone market in the summer of 2025 with the $299 Nothing Headphone 1. A little over a year later, the company is now bringing a more premium version of the device to the market.
Nothing just unveiled the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro, which offers better audio, improved noise cancellation, studio-level tuning, and a more premium aluminum frame than its predecessor. Unsurprisingly, all of those upgrades come along with a higher price tag.
The Nothing Headphone 1 Pro sports 10 microphones, compared to six on its predecessor. This should allow the headphones to gain more information about the noise around you and more effectively filter all of it out. Nothing says it has made changes to the microphones’ placement, alongside improvements to the ear cushion, which should help improve noise cancellation.
According to the company, the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro offers 5dB stronger average noise reduction than the Headphone 1 and 40% broader noise cancellation coverage across the frequency range. That, however, is only part of the story.
Nothing is going all-in on audio, too. The new device features a triple-driver architecture, which should be a major upgrade from its predecessors’ single 40mm dynamic driver setup. The new implementation means that the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro boasts an individual bass dynamic driver, a precision/mids dynamic driver, and a treble xMEMS driver. According to the company, the bass driver should improve distortion-free performance at high volume, while the precision driver should help eliminate unwanted resonances. Finally, the xMEMS driver, should help instruments sound more detailed and closer to how they’re perceived in real life.
The new headphones feature a 1,060mAh battery which delivers up to 30 hours of listening with ANC enabled, and 68 hours with ANC disabled. In our testing over at SoundGuys, the Nothing Headphone 1 lasted 42 hours and 53 minutes with ANC on, and 80 hours with ANC off. This is one area where the Pro falls short of what its predecessor offered; on the bright side, Nothing promises up to four hours of playback with ANC disabled or two hours with ANC enabled from just a five-minute charge.
Beyond the hardware
In addition to the hardware, the company is also bringing upgrades on the software side. The company partnered with London’s Metropolis Studios to bring new audio features to the device. This includes a pro-level Flat EQ Switch (on the left earcup), a new Dynamic Spatial Audio mode, and Custom EQs.
The former, as evident from the name, lets you instantly switch to a neutral sound profile. Dynamic Spatial Audio, on the other hand, offers five distinct sound profiles with head tracking.
Beyond the modes, the new headphones support Bluetooth 6.1, Auracast, dual-device pairing, Google Fast Pair, and support for LDAC and Hi-Res Audio over wired and wireless connections.
A familiar design with a fresh coat
All the software and hardware upgrades don’t mean much if potential users aren’t inclined to buy. Nothing knows that, and it’s retaining the distinctive design that helped its first over-ear headphones stand out and giving it a premium coat.
The Nothing Headphone 1 Pro is made of aluminum, titanium, and glass. Aluminum makes up the device’s frame, which the company says should enhance the hand-feel of the headphones. The arms are made of titanium, which ensures durability while keeping the headphones light. Nothing is also using scratch-resistant 9H Panda Glass on the transparent windows on the outside of the earcups, which offer a look into some of the device’s inner workings.
The company says the headband is now wider and thicker, while the ear cushions are now softer. This should result in a more comfortable fit, though we’d only be able to say that for certain after we’ve tested the Headphone 1 Pro.
The Nothing Headphone 1 Pro comes in black and white and costs $399. It will be available starting Tuesday, September 29, at nothing.tech, Amazon, and at Best Buy stores.
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