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Nothing over-ear headphones have been quietly taking over the audio game since launching in 2025, with a unique industrial aesthetic, impressive battery life, and ANC that rivals top brands like JBL and Sony. Launched in 2026, the Nothing Headphone(a) are a more affordable alternative to the flagship Nothing Headphone(1)—and still retain many of the same premium features and overall vibe. Right now, a pair is 15% off, bringing the price down to a record-low $169 (originally $199).
These wireless ANC headphones, which earned a PCMag Editors’ Choice Award , feature class-leading battery life, excellent sound, and effective noise cancellation. They last up to 135 hours with ANC and AAC codec off, and 75 hours with ANC on. A quick five-minute charge gives you up to eight minutes of playback, and the headphones completely recharge in two hours. The app lets you switch listening modes, adjust how much high- and low-frequency noise gets filtered out, and enable Transparency mode.
PCMag describes the sound as “rich, bright, and bass-heavy.” The bass-boosted sound is courtesy of the More Bass EQ preset, and unlike some headphone brands, the bass is pronounced but doesn’t overpower the mids and highs, remaining fairly balanced. They have 40mm dynamic drivers and a 20-40kHz frequency response, earning them Hi-Res Audio certification.
The headphones use four HD mics to capture voices clearly, and do a good job of blocking out ambient noise. While this is a small step down from the six mics on the Headphone(1) , they’re not a stripped-down budget version. They share many of the same features, including ANC, spatial audio with head tracking, LDAC high-res codec support, and USB-C lossless audio. The main tradeoffs are in material, appearance, and subtle differences in sound tuning. While still plush and comfy, the earcups aren’t quite as supple as those on the flagship pair.
That said, you might actually prefer the Nothing(a) if you want a more low-key look. They also have better battery life, and the lighter materials make them more comfortable and compact. If you’re looking for a long-lasting, feature-rich pair of over-ear ANC headphones that back up the aesthetics with genuinely strong sound, the Nothing Headphone(a) is a solid option.
