Nothing Beats Nothing Headphones (EXCLUSIVE)
Nothing’s tech is radically transparent — literally. Its phones are typically translucent on the rear, exposing screws and charging coils , its earbuds' inner workings are visible inside a plastic case, and you can see exactly what powers its headphones’ speaker system.
It's objectively cool design. Hardware normally hidden for the sake of sleekness is instead highlighted, generating intrigue similar to that of bowellist architecture, like the Lloyd’s building in London and Paris’ Centre Pompidou, where pipes and lifts and metal structural beams are placed on the outside of a building. And like bowelist buildings, Nothing’s technology can often appear brutalist, industrial, and stark. The Nothing Headphone (a) is a redirection. And nothing else can compare.
The second headphone design from the six-year-old tech company is a notable shift from its predecessor. Whereas the first Nothing headphones were offered in only silver and black with prominent see-through casing, the Headphone (a) isn’t quite so revealing.
A glossy new cover replaces the translucent case, which is quite colorful for Nothing. Besides the familiar white and black options, the Headphone (a) is available in pastel pink and sunflower yellow.
Panels of translucent plastic offer more minute behind-the-scenes looks but it’s nowhere near as pronounced as the original. As a result, the finished product feels softer and more playful.
But the real selling point isn't cosmetic. These new headphones boast serious tech upgrades, including a whopping 135 hours of listening time, which equates to five straight days of blasting tunes from a single charge, providing the active noise cancelling is turned off. There’s also a 40mm titanium-coated driver and a focus on tactile physical buttons that do everything from changing the noise-cancelling settings to taking a hands-free photo on a paired smartphone.
The headphones, available on Nothing's website for $199, are an indication of where this young disruptor is going. Nothing, which recently hired LOEWE’s former marketing head as chief brand officer, unveiled the Headphone (a) alongside two new phones, the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro.
The latter is its slimmest smartphone yet and the first to have a metal back that isn’t see-through. And like its headphones, Nothing's new phones are also offered in soft pink while the (4a) is also available in light blue.
Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.
