Nothing has announced the launch of its latest audio flagship, the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro, as the successor to last year’s Headphone (1), while naming global music artist V as its new Global Brand Ambassador.
The announcement marks the company’s most advanced entry into the over-ear audio segment, introducing a multi-driver acoustic architecture, expanded connectivity options, and updated physical construction.
Triple-Driver Acoustic Architecture and High-Resolution Audio
The core of the Headphone (1) Pro is a triple-driver system designed to separate frequency bands across dedicated hardware:
- 40mm Bass Driver: Covers the 20 Hz to 10 kHz range to handle low-end impact.
- Precision Dynamic Driver: Tuned for the 5 kHz to 15 kHz band, handling mid-range frequencies, vocals, and instruments.
- xMEMS Tweeter: Dedicated to the 10 kHz to 40 kHz range, utilizing solid-state micro-speaker technology for high-frequency transient response.
- The headphones carry Hi-Res Audio certification for both wired and wireless operation. Supported playback formats include:
- Wireless: LDAC codec support at up to 24-bit/96 kHz.
- USB-C: Digital audio transmission up to 24-bit/192 kHz lossless.
- 3.5mm Aux: Analogue input supporting signals up to 24-bit/96 kHz.
Tuning Collaboration and Spatial Audio
Nothing collaborated with London-based Metropolis Studios to calibrate several acoustic parameters. The device features a dedicated “Flat EQ” mode for linear frequency response, alongside a spatial audio preset modeled directly after the studio’s flagship Studio B room.
The onboard spatial processing integrates dynamic head tracking across five profiles: Standard, Studio B, Club, Concert Hall, and Live House. Further user adjustments are handled through the Nothing X app, which includes five genre-based presets influenced by contemporary British music styles, alongside an Advanced EQ that permits parametric adjustments across individual drivers within the 20 Hz to 20 kHz spectrum.
Active Noise Cancellation and Voice Processing
Environmental noise reduction is managed by an array of 10 microphones—comprising three feed-forward and two feedback microphones per earcup. Real-time processing adjusts cancellation against acoustic leakage, yielding a 5 dB increase in noise suppression and a 40% broader cancellation bandwidth compared to the standard Headphone (1).
For voice calls, a dedicated 4-microphone beamforming array uses deep neural network (DNN) algorithms trained on over 30 million acoustic samples to mitigate wind and ambient background noise.
Hardware, Ergonomics, and Battery Performance
Weighing 327 grams, the chassis combines titanium and aluminum structural elements with an earcup pivot system offering up to 20 degrees of tilt. The headband has been widened by 2.0 mm, with foam padding increased by 1.0 mm and rated 50% softer than the previous iteration.
Nothing Headphone (1) Pro specifications
- 40mm bass dynamic driver, 13 × 8 mm precision dynamic driver, 3.2 × 6.0 × 1.15 mm, solid state treble xMEMS driver
- Bluetooth 6.1, AAC, SBC, LDAC (music playback), LC3 (broadcast audio only) compatible with Android 8.0 and later and iOS 13 and later, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, Dual Connection
- In-ear detection
- Low Lag Mode (Automatically enabled in Nothing Phones, can be enabled from app for others)
- Up to 46db Real-time Adaptive ANC, 5 mic hybrid ANC (single side), total 10 mics
- 8-band Advanced EQ
- Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation Transparency mode
- Clear Voice Technology for call noise cancellation with 4-mic ENC call architecture
- Roller, Paddle, and Button controls for play/pause, skip forward, skip back, answer/hang up calls, reject calls, switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode, launch assistant, control volume
- Dust and splash-resistant (IP52)
- Dimension: 190.2x78x174.4mm; Weight: 327g
- 1060mAh battery offers up to 68 hours (without ANC) / 30 hours (with ANC) music playback in AAC, up to 53 hours (without ANC) / 28 hours (with ANC) music playback in LDAC
- Fast charging– 5 mins for 4 hours (without ANC) / 2 hours (with ANC)
The unit ships with a TPU-lined hardshell carrying case fitted with an integrated accessory loop.
Pricing and Availability
The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro is available in black and white colourways through Nothing’s official web store and authorised retail partners, priced at USD 399 (Rs. 38,300 approx.) / 349 GBP / 349 Euros. No details about the India launch yet.