Nothing Headphone (a)
Before you buy, compare it with 2 recommended alternatives
Beside them, a model of the same type that scores about the same for at least 25% less, and one that scores clearly higher for at most 20% more, where we find them on sale today.
Green is the best of these 3, also when they share the lead.
| This model Nothing Headphone (a) | Nearly as good, 54% cheaper Soundcore Life Q30 Best on 1 fact | Much better, not dearer Philips Fidelio L4 Best on 1 fact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most important facts | |||
| The lowest price today at a shop that delivers to you, delivery included. A price with an asterisk comes from a shop abroad, and its delivery cost is our own estimate. Lowest price | € 148Coolblue | € 68bol.com best | € 119bol.com |
| Our own score out of 10: 60% the maker’s facts and 40% shop ratings. Price does not count. Score | best | ||
| The average of the stars buyers give at the shops, with the number of reviews behind it. We only compare it from 20 reviews. Customer rating | ★ 4.7 · 4 reviews | – | – |
| How the headphones cancel outside noise with microphones. Hybrid uses microphones outside and inside the cup, adaptive also adjusts to the sound around you. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| Adaptive | Hybrid | Adaptive |
| How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 75 h | 40 h | 40 h |
| What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 310 g | 260 g | 330 g |
| The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too. In this comparisonSource
| 5.4 | 5 | 5.3 |
| How well they resist water and dust, as the IP code states. IPX4 survives sweat and rain, IPX7 a short dip in water. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| IP52 | – | – |
| How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| yes | yes | yes |
Facts as the maker states them. A dash means the maker does not name it. Each model’s page gives the source of every fact. Noise is the maker’s own figure, so we do not judge it, and a customer rating only counts from 20 reviews.
Prices per shop
On 1 November 2026 the lowest price for the Nothing Headphone (a) is € 148 at Coolblue, delivery to the Netherlands included. In our ranking it is rank 28 of 35 with an over-ear fit, with a score of 8.2 out of 10.
All prices include VAT and delivery to the Netherlands. We may earn a commission when you buy through these links. It never changes our ranking.
At the same price, a shop in your own country comes first, then a shop selling its own stock before a marketplace seller, then the shorter delivery time, then free returns and the longer return window. Commission never counts.
* Shop abroad: delivery and VAT are our estimate. Returns are the shop's own terms, a marketplace seller sets its own. Tap a return term to read the shop's policy. Let your browser translate it.
Price history
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Nothing Headphone (a) specifications
The numbers that matter first, then every fact by group. As published by the maker or the shop we read it from.
Nothing · on the market since March 2026
Build and fit 11 facts
- Form factor
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
How the headphones sit: over the ear, on the ear, in the ear canal, in the outer ear, beside the ear or on the cheekbone.
- Over-ear
- True wireless
96 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
Two separate earbuds with no wire between them, charged in a case.
- no
- Wireless
153 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
They play over Bluetooth, without a cable to the phone.
- yes
- Wired connection
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
The plug for a cable, so you can also listen wired, for instance on a plane or with a battery that has run out.
- 3.5 mm jack
- Audio over USB-C
22 of the 22 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
They play sound over a USB-C cable, straight from a phone or a laptop.
- yes
- Driver size
Among the models we track
40 mm on this model
Lowest
4.7 mm Highest
56 mm Middle
12 mmHigher than 63 of the 107 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
The diameter of the speaker inside. A bigger driver does not by itself mean better sound.
- 40 mm
- Foldable
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
They fold up to take less room in a bag. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- Weight
Among the models we track
310 g on this model
Lowest
3.1 g Highest
451 g Middle
8.6 gHigher than 148 of the 168 models we track.
When it matters
- Wearing them for hours at a desk or on a flight.
- Running or the gym, where a heavy earbud works loose.
When it matters less
- Short listens, where comfort hardly has time to matter.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time.
- 310 g
- Water and dust resistance
When it matters
- Running and the gym, where sweat gets in.
- Cycling or walking in the rain.
When it matters less
- Listening indoors only.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How well they resist water and dust, as the IP code states. IPX4 survives sweat and rain, IPX7 a short dip in water.
- IP52
- Controls
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How you play, pause and change the volume on the headphones themselves.
- Buttons, Dial
- Microphones
Among the models we track
4 on this model
Lowest
0 Highest
10 Middle
6Lower than 52 of the 90 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How many microphones the maker counts, for calls and noise cancelling together.
- 4
Sound 6 facts
- Lowest frequency
Among the models we track
20 Hz on this model
Lowest
4 Hz Highest
50 Hz Middle
20 HzHigher than 51 of the 104 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
The lowest tone the maker says they play. It says little about how the bass actually sounds.
- 20 Hz
- Highest frequency
Among the models we track
40,000 Hz on this model
Lowest
16,000 Hz Highest
80,000 Hz Middle
29,000 HzHigher than 60 of the 104 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
The highest tone the maker says they play. Adult hearing stops well below most figures.
- 40,000 Hz
- Hi-Res Audio certified
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
Certified by the Japan Audio Society for high-resolution sound, wired or, with Hi-Res Audio Wireless, over Bluetooth.
- Hi-Res Audio Wireless
- Equaliser in the app
105 of the 106 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
You can adjust bass and treble in the maker’s app.
- yes
- Equaliser bands
Among the models we track
8 on this model
Lowest
2 Highest
12 Middle
5Higher than 19 of the 32 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How many frequency bands the app’s equaliser lets you adjust.
- 8
- Spatial audio
83 of the 88 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
Sound that seems to come from around you rather than from inside your head.
- yes
Noise cancelling 3 facts
- Active noise cancelling
When it matters
- Flights, trains and open-plan offices.
- A daily commute in traffic.
When it matters less
- Listening at home in a quiet room.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How the headphones cancel outside noise with microphones. Hybrid uses microphones outside and inside the cup, adaptive also adjusts to the sound around you.
- Adaptive
- Transparency mode
109 of the 119 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
Lets outside sound through on purpose, so you hear traffic or a colleague without taking them off.
- yes
- Hearing aid function
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
Can work as a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss, where the maker has it approved. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
Wireless 8 facts
- Bluetooth version
Among the models we track
5.4 on this model
Lowest
5 Highest
6.1 Middle
5.3Higher than 98 of the 141 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too.
- 5.4
- Bluetooth codecs
When it matters
- Lossless or high-resolution music from an Android phone that supports aptX or LDAC.
- An iPhone, where AAC is the codec that counts.
When it matters less
- Podcasts, calls and streaming at normal quality.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them.
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint
115 of the 117 models we track have this.
When it matters
- Switching between a laptop for calls and a phone for music.
- Working from home with two devices on the desk.
When it matters less
- Using them with one phone only.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays.
- yes
- LE Audio
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
The newer Bluetooth standard for sound, with the LC3 codec: better sound on less power, with phones that support it. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- Auracast
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
Can listen to a Bluetooth broadcast, such as a TV, an airport announcement or a friend sharing music. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- Google Fast Pair
54 of the 55 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
Pairs in one tap with an Android phone.
- yes
- Made for
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
Whose phones the headphones are made for. Some features, such as one-tap pairing or spatial audio, work only with that maker’s phones.
- Any phone
- Wireless range
Among the models we track
10 m on this model
Lowest
9 m Highest
40 m Middle
10 mLower than 11 of the 68 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How far from the phone the maker says the connection holds, without walls in between.
- 10 m
Battery 7 facts
- Battery life with noise cancelling
Among the models we track
75 h on this model
Lowest
4 h Highest
75 h Middle
8 hHigher than 107 of the 108 models we track.
When it matters
- Long flights or a full working day.
- Travelling where you cannot charge.
When it matters less
- An hour of listening a day, which any model manages for a week.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it.
- 75 h
- Battery life without noise cancelling
Among the models we track
135 h on this model
Lowest
5 h Highest
135 h Middle
10 hHigher than 122 of the 123 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How long they play on one charge with noise cancelling off.
- 135 h
- Fast charge time
Among the models we track
5 min on this model
Lowest
3 min Highest
20 min Middle
10 minLower than 84 of the 132 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How many minutes of charging give the playback below.
- 5 min
- Playback from a fast charge
Among the models we track
8 h on this model
Lowest
1 h Highest
15 h Middle
3 hHigher than 120 of the 132 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How many hours of playback a short fast charge gives.
- 8 h
- Full charge time
Among the models we track
120 min on this model
Lowest
40 min Highest
210 min Middle
120 minHigher than 42 of the 95 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
How long a full charge takes.
- 120 min
- Wireless charging
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
The case or the headphones charge on a Qi pad, without a cable. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- Charging port
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
The plug the headphones or their case charge through.
- USB-C
In use 2 facts
- Wear detection
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
The music pauses when you take them off and plays on when you put them back. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- App
Source: nothing.tech · checked on 1 Nov
The name of the maker’s app.
- Nothing X
Warranty and support 1 fact
- Launched
Source: nothing.community · checked on 1 Nov
The month the model came out, as far as the maker or a register shows.
- 2026-03-05
Sources: nothing.tech · nothing.community
Our score
Confidence: medium. Fewer than 300 owners’ ratings at the shops. The highest score today is 8.8.
-
Owners’ ratings 40%7.1
4 ratings, 4.7 stars on average, at Coolblue.
-
Features 60%9.0
72 of 80 points for the maker’s facts, the other 20 counted at the market’s average share of 89%.
- Price never countsA sale can’t lift a model. Today’s lowest price sits beside the score, checked every morning.
- Too few facts, no rankOnly headphones whose type and enough of whose facts are known are ranked. The rest get a provisional score.
- Reviewers beside, not insideReviewers’ picks are shown next to the score and do not count in it.
Frequently asked questions about the Nothing Headphone (a)
How do buyers rate the Nothing Headphone (a)?
Buyers rate the Nothing Headphone (a) 4.7 out of 5, from 4 reviews at Coolblue (NL). We read the ratings on 1 November 2026.
How long does the battery of the Nothing Headphone (a) last?
The maker states up to 75 hours of play with noise cancelling on, and 135 hours with it off. A 5-minute charge gives 8 hours of play.
Does the Nothing Headphone (a) have noise cancelling?
Yes, adaptive noise cancelling, which adjusts its strength to the sound around you. It also has a transparency mode that lets the sound around you in when you want to hear it.
Can the Nothing Headphone (a) connect to two devices at once?
Yes, it can stay connected to more than one device at a time, such as a phone and a laptop.
Which Bluetooth codecs does the Nothing Headphone (a) support?
It supports SBC, AAC and LDAC. With a phone that also supports LDAC, it can play in more detail than over AAC or SBC.
Is the Nothing Headphone (a) water resistant?
It is rated IP52. That protects it against dripping water, not against a downpour or a rinse.
The maker
Nothing
- Reviews on Trustpilot
- Headquarters: United Kingdom
- Founded in 2020
Nothing is the brand of Nothing Technology Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with its offices in London. The company was incorporated in October 2020, according to the UK register at Companies House. It sells mobile phones and accessories, including headphones and earbuds such as the Headphone (1) and the Ear (3). Its lower-priced range is sold as CMF by Nothing.




