I tried cheap headphones so good that Sony and | Tech News

All you actually need to grasp concerning the Nothing Headphone (a) is that for £149, they’re one of the best offers in audio proper now – and that’s not even a discounted price.

Nothing, the UK tech startup, has adopted up its £299 Nothing Headphone (1) from 2025 with a new set that prices half as a lot however is an all-round higher product.

That’s as a result of for half the price you get a daring design, glorious sound high quality and unimaginable 135 hour battery life – that’s more than 5 days. Even with ANC on, they’ll keep going for 75 hours. With their tactile bodily controls, strong lively noise cancellation (ANC) and Hi-Res compatibility, I nonetheless can’t consider the Headphone (a) solely prices £149.

Before I wax lyrical, what don’t I like about these headphones? Firstly, they lack hinges so don’t fold down as compactly as different widespread, pricier fashions such because the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2 or Beats Studio Pro.

And presumably to save lots of on prices, Nothing contains an odd drawstring bag as an alternative of a arduous case, which feels more like a wash bag than important protecting storage.

But other than these niggles, I have discovered it arduous to search out actual fault with these headphones contemplating their price.

Nothing has ditched the clear design of the Headphone (1) in favour of opaque shiny plastic on the surface. I reviewed the all-white pair, which additionally are available pink and yellow variations, when you’re courageous. An all black option appears slick.

They are a tight match on my fairly giant head, however I discovered them more comfy to put on for hours in comparison with the aforementioned Beats, however Bose nonetheless makes probably the most cosy cans on the market.

The excellent factor about Headphone (a) is that they sound as good, if not higher, than the more costly Headphone (1). The (1) have been tuned in partnership with audio firm KEF, however this time round, Swedish firm Audiodo has lent a hand. Here, Audiodo’s Audiosphere technology is used to tune spatial processing and the perceived soundstage. Whatever it does, it’s undoubtedly working effectively.

Comparing the Headphone (a) to final 12 months’s Headphone (1), the newer, cheaper pair sound, if something, more expansive. When utilizing the Nothing X app to set the EQ to Balanced, they ship a shiny, stage sound with a dollop of bass that you may tune down if you want.

Testing with the Nothing Phone (4a) and streaming with Hi-Res streaming service Qobuz, the guitars on Suede’s ‘Animal Nitrate’ have the jagged angular high quality you’d hope for, whereas GZA’s ‘Liquid Swords’ could have you strutting down the road, such is the competence of the Headphone (a)’s low finish. All genres sound good, and with a little tweaking of the EQ within the glorious Nothing X app for Android or iPhone, it is best to discover the proper stability in your own tastes.

Dua Lipa’s ‘Houdini’ leaps out with glorious separation and a a lot wider soundscape than I anticipated contemplating the decidedly mid-range price. As with its very good Nothing Ear (a) earbuds, Nothing is exhibiting that spending much less on personal audio is feasible with out really compromising on high quality.

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 sound higher, however solely marginally. Considering these headphones value £399, Nothing’s audio high quality right here is a very close second for £250 much less. Likewise, the ANC just isn’t as good as Sony, however I missed more than one home supply testing these whereas working, and they blocked out noisy neighbours on commuter practice into London with no points.

If you need to go wired for the best attainable sound high quality, you may, because of the three.5mm jack with included cable, or through USB-C. Along with assist for the LDAC Hi-Res codec (with suitable Android telephones and streaming providers), you’re getting premium playback choices right here.

The aforementioned Nothing X app is great, and makes these headphones straightforward to set up and control. Dual reference to my laptop computer was a doddle and labored seamlessly, and on Android the app’s widgets are great, letting you faucet to change modes and view battery life.

The bodily controls are additionally preferable to fiddly contact panels and sensors, and are the identical as on the costly Headphone (1), with a rolling dial for quantity that you push for play/pause or maintain for mode adjustments, with a paddle to skip back and forth.

There’s even a customisable button that you may set up to do issues corresponding to open the digicam and snap a selfie, if that’s your factor.

In all, the Headphone (a) is the quintessential Nothing product: a standout design with efficiency that shoots effectively above its price, and scores. If you need to spend as little as attainable on great headphones, these ought to instantly be proper on the high of your listing.

You can spend more than double to get the best of Sony and Bose – and get higher ANC and marginally higher audio – however Nothing has confirmed that you don’t should pay high greenback to get great over-ear headphones in 2026.

The Nothing Headphone (a) value £149 and are obtainable now from Nothing.