The Nothing Headphone 1 Black is the darker of the two finishes Nothing sells for its first over-ear headphone, officially styled Headphone (1). The transparent earcup shells and formed aluminium frame are the same on both colours, but in black the internal parts read as a graphite outline rather than a bright showcase, so the design looks technical without shouting. Sound is tuned with KEF, noise cancelling adapts in real time, and the battery is rated by Nothing at up to 35 hours with ANC on. This page covers what it does well, who should skip it, and why black is the finish we suggest for daily commuting and flying.
Table of Contents
Why the Nothing Headphone 1 Black suits commuting and flights
Black is the practical choice for headphones that live in a backpack or get pulled out on a plane. The matte black parts do not show grey scuffs from zips or the tint that hair products leave on a headband, and the look fits a dark laptop, a work bag or a suit without drawing attention.
The travel case in the box is a softshell case, and a 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable is included, so you can plug the Nothing Headphone 1 Black into a seat-back entertainment screen and still keep noise cancelling on. On a long flight, Nothing rates up to 35 hours of AAC playback with ANC on, which covers a Dubai to New York return trip before you need a charger.
When the battery does run out, a 5-minute charge gives up to 2.4 hours with ANC on or up to 5 hours with ANC off, according to Nothing. A full charge over USB-C takes about 120 minutes.
Noise cancelling and calls on the Nothing Headphone 1 Black
Nothing uses real-time adaptive ANC that it rates at up to 42 dB. Nothing itself notes this is the theoretical maximum measured in its laboratory, so real reduction depends on the noise around you. Engine hum and air-conditioning drone are where active cancelling works best; sudden sharp sounds get through more.
The Nothing Headphone 1 Black has six microphones in total, three on each side. For calls, a four-mic environmental noise cancellation setup is used to separate your voice. Transparency mode lets outside sound in when you need to hear a gate announcement or a colleague without taking the headphones off, and on-head detection pauses music when you lift one off.
Dual connection is supported, so the Nothing Headphone 1 Black can stay paired to a laptop and a phone at the same time and switch when a call comes in.
Sound: KEF tuning, LDAC and wired Hi-Res
Each earcup of the Nothing Headphone 1 Black uses a custom 40 mm dynamic driver (16 ohms) with a PU surround and a nickel-plated diaphragm. Nothing lists a frequency range of 20 Hz to 40 kHz and says the tuning was audited in KEF listening rooms across ANC, transparency and spatial modes.
Over Bluetooth 5.3 the Nothing Headphone 1 Black supports LDAC, AAC and SBC. LDAC carries the Hi-Res Wireless certification at up to 24-bit/96 kHz, but it needs an Android phone that sends LDAC; iPhones connect over AAC. For wired listening, both USB-C audio and the 3.5 mm input work, according to Nothing support.
Spatial audio uses built-in head tracking, so the soundstage stays centred as you turn your head. On the Nothing Headphone 1 Black, a Personal Sound profile can be created from a short hearing test in the Nothing X app.
Controls, app and phone support
Instead of touch panels, the Nothing Headphone 1 Black uses physical controls, including a Paddle and a customisable Button. The Button can open a podcast, Spotify or news in one press; the Channel Hop function is available only with Nothing phones.
The Nothing X app is available on Android and iOS. Nothing lists support for iOS 13 and later and Android 5.1 and later, plus Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. A Low Lag mode brings latency down to as low as 110 ms, but Nothing states that figure is with Nothing phones in Game Mode.
Who This Is Not For
At 329 g, the Nothing Headphone 1 Black is heavier than many travel headphones, so light-weight fans who wear headphones for eight hours straight may prefer something lighter. The IP52 rating covers light splashes and dust, not sweat-soaked gym sessions or rain. iPhone users do not get LDAC, and some features such as Channel Hop and the lowest latency figure are tied to Nothing phones. And the 80-hour figure only applies with ANC off; with ANC on, plan for up to 35 hours.
Buying the Nothing Headphone 1 Black in the UAE
Delivery reaches every emirate in up to three business days and is free on orders from AED 300; the current rate for smaller orders shows at checkout. If the unit is defective or not as described, you can return it within 14 days, and any shipping damage should be reported to us within 48 hours of delivery. Every Nothing Headphone 1 Black order carries a 1-year warranty from Totot.
Want the lighter look? The same headphone is also sold in White, with the same specifications.
Technical Specifications
- Model: Nothing Headphone (1)
- Colour: Black
- Tuning: Sound by KEF
- Drivers: 40 mm dynamic, 16 Ω, PU surround
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Noise cancelling: Real-time adaptive ANC, up to 42 dB (Nothing lab, theoretical maximum); Transparency mode
- Microphones: 6 in total (3 per side); 4-mic ENC for calls
- Codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC; Hi-Res Wireless certified (LDAC, up to 24-bit/96 kHz)
- Wired audio: USB-C audio and 3.5 mm input
- Bluetooth: 5.3, dual connection, 10 m range
- Playback (AAC): Up to 35 h ANC on / up to 80 h ANC off (50% volume, 25 °C lab)
- Playback (LDAC): Up to 30 h ANC on / up to 54 h ANC off
- Talk time: Up to 37 h ANC on / 53 h ANC off
- Fast charge: 5 min = up to 5 h (ANC off, AAC) or 2.4 h (ANC on)
- Full charge: About 120 min via USB-C (5 V ⎓ 1 A adapter or higher)
- Battery: 1040 mAh lithium-ion
- Water and dust: IP52
- Weight: 329 g (headphones)
- Dimensions: 189.25 × 78.0 × 173.85 mm
- Compatibility: iOS 13+, Android 5.1+; Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair
- In the box: Headphone (1), softshell case, USB-C cable, 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm audio cable, user guide, safety and warranty information
- Warranty: 1-year warranty from Totot
Specifications are taken from Nothing’s official Headphone (1) product page and the Nothing support centre; battery and ANC figures carry Nothing’s own test conditions. Full details are published on the Nothing official website.
FAQ
Is the Nothing Headphone 1 Black a CMF product?
No. Headphone (1) is sold under the Nothing brand itself, not the lower-priced CMF by Nothing line.
Does the black finish show scratches or marks?
No finish is scratch-proof, but the matte black parts hide scuffs and headband tint better than the white version, which is why we suggest it for daily bag use.
Can I use it with in-flight entertainment?
Yes. A 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable is in the box, and wired audio through the 3.5 mm input is supported.
How long does the battery last with ANC on?
Up to 35 hours with AAC at 50% volume, or up to 30 hours with LDAC, according to Nothing.
Does LDAC work with an iPhone?
No. iPhones connect over AAC; LDAC needs a compatible Android phone.
Is it waterproof?
No. It is rated IP52, which covers light splashes and dust only.
Browse more in our Headphones range. Every order from Totot carries a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, with our 14-day return policy for defective or non-compliant items, and nationwide UAE delivery.
No products in the cart.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet