Nothing Headphone (a) review: The superior option for design and button enthusiasts

ZDNET's key takeaways

• Nothing's new Headphone (a) are available now for $199.
• They offer a unique design, long battery, great sound, and intuitive button controls.
• Although they're lighter than their predecessors, they still feel a little clunky after extended wear.

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These days, good sound isn't that hard to come by. So how do headphones differentiate themselves? If you're the London-based Nothing, you'll give your headphones great battery life, add some smart quality-of-life improvements, and a distinct visual style.

Also: Forget iPhone 17e: Nothing's Phone 4a Pro costs less and looks a whole lot better

But most importantly, you price them at $200 — significantly less than competitors. I'm talking about Nothing's Headphone (a), the brand's latest over-ear pair. I tested them over the course of a week, and found lots to love, but they aren't perfect. 

Nothing launched its Headphone (a) alongside its Phone 4a series on March 5th, with compatibility with the Phone 4a Series via ChatGPT to hear Nothing News or Essential Space, its information hub app.   

Nothing nailed the audio quality in its previous headphones, as I've written while testing its open-ear Nothing Open and the Nothing Ear (a). It's no different here, with neutral and clear sound fit for all-day listening. 

I loved working and commuting with these headphones on, and found the sound profile wonderful without in-app configuration. But if you want to customize the EQ, you can do so in the app. You can also access custom EQs created by Nothing community members. 

Also: These fashion-forward headphones have no business sounding this good for the price

Something I appreciate with Nothing's audio products is noise cancellation that doesn't completely alienate you from your environment. I find that stronger noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones tend to over-noise-cancel, that is, suck you into silence in a way that can be overstimulating after hours of use. 

I didn't get that with the noise cancellation in Headphone (a). It makes users less likely to suffer from headphone fatigue for extended use. Plus, with a battery life of 75 hours with ANC on, you technically could use these all day — for several days — before recharging. With ANC turned off, Nothing says the Headphone (a) has 135 hours of total power. 

The smallest part of Nothing's newest headphones made the biggest difference for me. I'm talking about the paddle control, its mechanical button, and the roller — physical buttons on the headphones that are so good, you don't have to touch your phone at all. 

Also: After weeks of listening to these Fender headphones, I'm still wondering who should buy them

The button can be assigned to certain actions in the Nothing X app, including the ability to capture photos hands-free. The paddle can skip tracks, and the roller increases and decreases volume. For every headphone user's sake, I hope other brands see these buttons and implements them into their own headsets; they were the easiest headphones to navigate without touching my phone – and that's saying a lot. 

What I'd like to see on Nothing's next headphones 

Nothing says it improved comfort by lightening the weight of the Headphone (a), but extended wear over the workday proves they're still a little clunky for my liking. They also hurt my earring-clad ears, despite its claims the headphones were made to accommodate ear piercings. 

Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the latest standard fixes audio problems we'd learned to live with

While Nothing nails most of its small touches, there was one beloved feature it skipped. I was hoping there would be an in-ear detection feature, for immediately pausing music when I take off the headphones, and resuming once put back on. 

ZDNET's buying advice 

The Nothing Headphone (a) have enough color configurations to please consumers who want something neutral, but there's also an expressive baby pink color, and an exclusive yellow that resembles an egg yolk. The headphone's distinct design is the initial draw, but after using them over the past few days, I've quickly grown to love their sound, massive battery, and thoughtful touch controls that major headphone brands lack. 

Plus, these headphones are value-rich. They cost $199, for crying out loud, and offer many of the same features that far more expensive, established headphone brands boast.