My New Favorite New Headphones For Work Look Like Nothing I've Worn Before

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Nothing's caller Headphone (a) are disposable now for $199.
• They connection a unsocial design, agelong battery, awesome sound, and intuitive fastener controls.
• Although they're lighter than their predecessors, they still consciousness a small clunky aft extended wear.

These days, bully sound isn't that difficult to travel by. So really do headphones differentiate themselves? If you're nan London-based Nothing, you'll springiness your headphones awesome artillery life, adhd immoderate smart quality-of-life improvements, and a chopped ocular style.

Also: Forget iPhone 17e: Nothing's Phone 4a Pro costs little and looks a full batch better

But astir importantly, you value them astatine $200 -- importantly little than competitors. I'm talking astir Nothing's Headphone (a), nan brand's latest over-ear pair. I tested them complete nan people of a week, and recovered tons to love, but they aren't perfect. 

Nothing launched its Headphone (a) alongside its Phone 4a series connected March 5th, pinch compatibility pinch nan Phone 4a Series via ChatGPT to perceive Nothing News aliases Essential Space, its accusation hub app.   

Nothing nailed nan audio value successful its erstwhile headphones, arsenic I've written while testing its open-ear Nothing Open and nan Nothing Ear (a). It's nary different here, pinch neutral and clear sound fresh for all-day listening. 

I loved moving and commuting pinch these headphones on, and recovered nan sound floor plan awesome without in-app configuration. But if you want to customize nan EQ, you tin do truthful successful nan app. You tin besides entree civilization EQs created by Nothing organization members. 

Also: These fashion-forward headphones person nary business sounding this bully for nan price

Something I admit pinch Nothing's audio products is sound cancellation that doesn't wholly alienate you from your environment. I find that stronger noise-cancelling earbuds aliases headphones thin to over-noise-cancel, that is, suck you into soundlessness successful a measurement that tin beryllium overstimulating aft hours of use. 

I didn't get that pinch nan sound cancellation successful Headphone (a). It makes users little apt to suffer from headphone fatigue for extended use. Plus, pinch a artillery life of 75 hours pinch ANC on, you technically could usage these each time -- for respective days -- earlier recharging. With ANC turned off, Nothing says nan Headphone (a) has 135 hours of full power. 

Nothing includes a scroller and paddle for measurement and playback controls. 

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

The smallest portion of Nothing's newest headphones made nan biggest quality for me. I'm talking astir nan paddle control, its mechanical button, and nan roller -- beingness buttons connected nan headphones that are truthful good, you don't person to touch your telephone astatine all. 

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

The fastener tin beryllium assigned to definite actions successful nan Nothing X app, including nan expertise to seizure photos hands-free. The paddle tin skip tracks, and nan roller increases and decreases volume. For each headphone user's sake, I dream different brands spot these buttons and implements them into their ain headsets; they were nan easiest headphones to navigate without rubbing my telephone - and that's saying a lot. 

This fastener tin activate a big of features if you configure it done nan Nothing X app. 

Nina Raemont/ZDNET

What I'd for illustration to spot connected Nothing's adjacent headphones 

Nothing says it improved comfortableness by lightening nan weight of nan Headphone (a), but extended deterioration complete nan workday proves they're still a small clunky for my liking. They besides wounded my earring-clad ears, contempt its claims nan headphones were made to accommodate receptor piercings. 

Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How nan latest modular fixes audio problems we'd learned to unrecorded with

While Nothing nails astir of its mini touches, location was 1 beloved characteristic it skipped. I was hoping location would beryllium an in-ear discovery feature, for instantly pausing euphony erstwhile I return disconnected nan headphones, and resuming erstwhile put backmost on. 

ZDNET's buying advice 

The Nothing Headphone (a) person capable colour configurations to please consumers who want thing neutral, but there's besides an expressive babe pinkish color, and an exclusive yellowish that resembles an ovum yolk. The headphone's chopped creation is nan first draw, but aft utilizing them complete nan past fewer days, I've quickly grown to emotion their sound, monolithic battery, and thoughtful touch controls that awesome headphone brands lack. 

Plus, these headphones are value-rich. They costs $199, for crying retired loud, and connection galore of nan aforesaid features that acold much expensive, established headphone brands boast.