Nothing has launched the Headphone (a) globally at $199, its first over-ear headphone, with pre-orders opening March 5 and general sale starting March 13.
Full confirmed specifications:
- 40mm titanium-coated diaphragm drivers, 20Hz to 40,000Hz frequency response
- Hi-Res Audio and LDAC certified
- Adaptive ANC with up to 40dB noise reduction, plus Transparency mode
- Four microphones with a dedicated 3-mic call processing algorithm
- Bluetooth 5.4 with dual device connection; AAC, SBC, and LDAC codec support
- Up to 135 hours of playback with ANC off; up to 75 hours with ANC active
- Fast charge: 5 minutes delivers up to 8 hours of playback (ANC off)
- 1,060mAh battery, USB-C wired charging, full charge in approximately 2 hours
- Custom tactile control layout featuring a roller, paddle, and button inputs
- Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and low-latency mode are supported
- Nothing X app is compatible with Android and iOS
- IP52 water resistance rating
- Dimensions: 177 x 78 x 190.4mm, weight: 310g
Pricing and availability:
- $199 / £149 / €159
- Colours: White, Black, Pink, and Yellow (Limited Edition from April 6)
- Pre-orders via Nothing and partner retailers from March 5
The 135-hour battery claim with ANC off is the headline endurance figure — substantially above most headphones in this price range. The fast charge rate of 8 hours from a 5-minute top-up also reduces the practical impact of running the battery low.
The tactile control interface — roller, paddle, and button — is a hardware differentiator from the standard touch panel used on most competing models, giving physical feedback for volume and playback adjustments.
What to watch:
- The Yellow Limited Edition ships later than the standard colours, available from April 6
- Nothing X app functionality specifics have not been fully detailed beyond general compatibility confirmation
With ANC switched off, Nothing rates the Headphone (a) at up to 135 hours of playback. With ANC active, that drops to 75 hours. A 5-minute fast charge delivers up to 8 hours of use with ANC off, and a full charge takes approximately 2 hours via USB-C.
The Headphone (a) is LDAC certified, which supports high-resolution wireless audio at up to 990kbps — the highest quality codec available over Bluetooth. It also carries Hi-Res Audio certification and supports AAC and SBC as additional codec options.
Instead of touch-sensitive panels, Nothing uses a physical control system comprising a roller, a paddle, and a button. This gives tactile confirmation for inputs like volume adjustment and playback control — something standard touch panels on competing models do not provide.
The White, Black, and Pink variants go on general sale from March 13. The Yellow Limited Edition releases separately from April 6 through Nothing and partner retailers.