New Delhi: Nothing has launched the Headphone (1) Pro, its new flagship over-ear wireless headphones, with a triple-driver audio system, 10 microphones for adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), dynamic spatial audio with head tracking and up to 68 hours of battery life.
The new headphones build on the distinctive design of the original Headphone (1), but bring several hardware and audio upgrades aimed at the premium headphone segment. Nothing has also partnered with London’s Metropolis Studios for audio tuning and introduced a dedicated Flat EQ switch designed for a more neutral listening profile.
The Headphone (1) Pro is priced at $399 in the US and goes on sale from September 29 through Nothing’s website, Amazon and Best Buy in North America. The company has listed the product on its India website, although the India price and availability details are separate from the US launch information.
Triple-driver system for bass, mids and treble
The biggest audio upgrade is the three-driver architecture, with each driver assigned a different portion of the frequency range.
The Headphone (1) Pro uses a 40mm dynamic driver for bass, a 13x8mm precision dynamic driver for mid-range frequencies and an xMEMS driver with a silicone diaphragm for treble. Nothing says the combination is designed to deliver stronger bass, more detailed vocals and clearer high-frequency instruments.
The headphones support a frequency range of 20Hz to 40,000Hz and carry Hi-Res Audio certification for wired and wireless listening. With USB-C, the headphones can deliver lossless audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz, while LDAC is supported for high-resolution wireless playback.
Nothing has also introduced a Flat EQ mode developed with Metropolis Studios. A physical Switch on the headphones lets users move between the neutral Flat EQ profile and their regular EQ settings.
The company has additionally created several custom EQ profiles and a Dynamic Spatial Audio mode with head tracking. The spatial audio system includes Standard, Studio B, Live House, Club and Concert Hall options.
10 microphones and up to 46dB ANC
Nothing has equipped the Headphone (1) Pro with 10 microphones in total. Five microphones on each side are used for the hybrid ANC system, with three feed-forward and two feedback microphones per earcup.
The real-time adaptive ANC can reduce external noise by up to 46dB, according to Nothing. The system continuously analyses the surrounding environment and the fit of the earcups to adjust noise cancellation. A Transparency mode is also available when users need to hear conversations or their surroundings.
For calls, the headphones use a separate four-microphone algorithm designed to improve voice clarity and reduce environmental noise.
Nothing has also added a new silicone sound seal and a two-layer cushion system around the earcups. The company says these changes help improve isolation in addition to the electronic noise cancellation.
Premium aluminium, titanium and glass design
The Headphone (1) Pro retains the transparent design language associated with Nothing’s products, but uses more premium materials.
The frame is made from aluminium, while titanium is used in the arms. The transparent sections on the outside of the earcups use scratch-resistant 9H Panda Glass. Nothing has also widened the headband by 10 per cent and increased its padding to improve comfort.
The ear cushions have been redesigned with softer padding and a more adaptive fit. The headphones weigh 327 grams and carry an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance.
Physical controls remain a key part of the design. The headphones feature a roller for volume and playback, a paddle for track and call controls, and a button that can be customised for functions such as a smart assistant or camera shutter. The Pro model also gets a dedicated Flat EQ switch.
A hard-shell carrying case is included in the box along with a 3.5mm audio cable, USB-C cable and quick-start guide.
Bluetooth 6.1 and dual-device connectivity
The Headphone (1) Pro supports Bluetooth 6.1 and can remain connected to two devices simultaneously. It also supports Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and one-tap setup on compatible Apple devices.
Supported codecs include AAC, SBC, LDAC and LC3 for broadcast audio. The headphones also support Auracast, allowing compatible audio broadcasts to be shared with multiple headphones.
A low-latency mode is available through Nothing’s software, while auto-wear detection can automatically pause playback when the headphones are removed.
For wired listening, users can connect through USB-C for lossless audio or use the 3.5mm connection included with the headphones.
Up to 68 hours of battery life
The Headphone (1) Pro packs a 1,060mAh battery. With ANC switched off and AAC playback, Nothing rates the headphones for up to 68 hours of listening time.
With ANC enabled, the claimed battery life falls to up to 30 hours. When using LDAC, the figures are up to 53 hours with ANC off and 28 hours with ANC on.
Fast charging is supported through USB-C. Nothing says a five-minute charge can provide up to four hours of playback with ANC switched off, or up to two hours with ANC enabled.
The company says a full charge takes around two hours under its stated laboratory conditions.
Nothing Headphone (1) Pro price and availability
The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro is priced at $399 in the US, making it $100 more expensive than the original Headphone (1)’s $299 launch price.
It is available in Black and White and goes on sale in North America from September 29 through Nothing’s website, Amazon and Best Buy.
Nothing has also listed the Headphone (1) Pro on its India website. However, the company’s India product page does not establish a separate India launch price in the information available at the time of writing.
With the Headphone (1) Pro, Nothing is moving further into the premium over-ear segment, combining its distinctive transparent design with a more elaborate audio system, stronger noise cancellation and studio-focused features.