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Gizmodo
31-07-2025
- Gizmodo
Nothing Headphone 1 vs. AirPods Max: Which Over-Ear ANC Headphones Win?
Sometimes, picking a pair of headphones feels like an impossible choice. There are lots to choose from, and the barrier to entry is enough to send haptic chills down one's spine. If there's one thing that most can agree on, it's that Apple's AirPods Max are probably the standard for people considering headphones in the U.S., especially if you already own an iPhone. But AirPods Max are so damn expensive, right? Is it worth shelling out $550 for a pair of headphones when competitors like Nothing's $300 Headphone 1 exist and offer good-looking AirPods alternatives for a price that undercuts Apple by $250? There's a lot to unpack in that question, but luckily, I've tested both for you (and a lot of other audio products) and can offer my sage guidance on where to throw hundreds of dollars if you need to save yourself from the scourge of subway sounds or your neighbor's incessant singing. First, let's start with the looks. See AirPods Max at Amazon See Nothing Headphone 1 at Amazon At the risk of pointing out the obvious: AirPods Max and Nothing's Headphone 1 look very different. While Apple's super-popular headphones opt for a minimalist design, Nothing's Headphone 1 have a retro-inspired look that riffs on cassette tapes of yore. Undoubtedly, you'll have your own thoughts on which looks better—these things are subjective after all—but from a more objective standpoint, they also use different materials that make them feel noticeably different. AirPods Max, for example, use stainless steel and anodized aluminum, which means two things: they feel more premium, and they're also a little bit heavier—that's just physics for you. Nothing's Headphone 1 wins points for unique style, but they're made mostly from plastic and a little bit of aluminum so they definitely feel a lot cheaper but are also a lot lighter. Which pair speaks to you is a matter of preference, but if you're looking for a lighter carry, Nothing's Headphone 1 has AirPods Max beat: the weight breakdown here is 329g compared to almost Headphone 1 have a retro-inspired design. © Raymond Wong / GizmodoNothing's Headphone 1 also expand on AirPods Max's hardware with a whole host of physical buttons that include a dedicated track skip/fast-forward/rewind paddle, a volume roller, and an on/off switch. AirPods Max have a crown for volume adjustment and pause/play and that's it; to the frustration of many, there's no on/off switch. The number of buttons on the Headphone 1 was a welcome surprise when I tested them out, and while I wish they were a little more refined and less finicky to use, they do set the Headphone 1 apart not just from Apple but from pretty much every brand of over-ear headphones. Aesthetically, you'll have to dig deep and figure out what you want out of a pair of headphones. If you want something that's more of a fashion statement, the Headphone 1 are going to speak to you. If you want something that's going to fade into the background, then AirPods Max are more your speed. Personally? I find AirPods Max to be a bit on the boring side, but I respect that not everyone cares about looking the part of a Brooklyn-based hipster. I'm opting for the Headphone 1 in this department for feeling lighter on my head and also bringing a design that I find exciting, sleek, and worth writing home about. Sorry, AirPods Max, stainless steel or not, the minimalism thing is a little bit tired. Sure, your eyes may be the first way you judge a pair of headphones, but ultimately, your ears are what really matter. As a result, you're probably wondering: can Nothing's Headphone 1 really challenge the AirPods Max in the sound department? The answer is… to be honest, yes. I was pleasantly surprised to find the sound on the Headphone 1—tuned in collaboration with hi-fi audio company KEF—actually held its own against the significantly more expensive and popular AirPods Max. Nothing's headphones performed particularly well in the low-to-mid-range frequencies, though—sorry, budget seekers—I think Apple's AirPods Max premium still means something in the audio department. As I wrote in my review, I still think Apple's AirPods Max have a noticeable edge when it comes to sound. In particular, mids-to-highs have slightly more texture and room, which makes vocals feel more organic and clear. That being said, Nothing holds its own against a competitor that charges a very hefty premium, and the fact that it comes close at all is definitely a feat. Still, better is better, and AirPods Max still feel clearer and more dynamically rich, even if by a close margin. A big reason why people buy over-ear headphones is that they may not like sticking earbuds inside their ears, which is fair, because even the most comfortable ear tips will become irritating over time. So, with comfort in mind, you're probably wondering if AirPods Max feel as luxurious as the materials they're made out of or, on the other side of the coin, if Nothing's Headphone 1 feel rougher with less premium materials. At the risk of spoiling the result, this one is almost too close to call. One of the first things that struck me about the Headphone 1 is that they fit my head well, which may not be a selling point for everyone, but for me, a person with a small head, that's a huge win. Not only was the fit snug, but the vegan leather headstrap and earcups also felt cushy and smooth on my head and ears, respectively. There's actually a pretty big difference material-wise when it comes to earcups on the AirPods Max, as Apple's headphones are made with a mesh textile. Those mesh materials are designed to be more breathable than their counterparts, and while I'm not a big cardio guy, I'm willing to bet that they might be highly preferable to someone who wants to wear headphones while exercising. Another major difference is in the head strap, which is a solid piece of plastic with memory foam and vegan leather on the Headphone 1. That's opposed to AirPods Max, which have a mesh band that achieves a couple key things. First, it helps reduce the weight of the headphones, which have some heft due to the premium materials. Secondly, the mesh band also (similar to the mesh earcups) makes AirPods Max more breathable, giving them an edge for anyone who's more fitness-focused. Ultimately, both headphones are comfortable, even despite the weight difference, but I think I'm going to have to give AirPods Max the nod here if just because the materials and design of the earcups and head strap make them more suitable for a wider variety of use cases. Battery life is key in any gadget, but for headphones, that metric feels even more important since running out of juice while you're on an airplane or commuting to work can be a huge drag. Given the importance of battery life, you'd think that shelling out more money for a premium product gets you more juice as a given, right? Couldn't be more wrong. Nothing's Headphone 1 trounce AirPods Max in the battery life department, delivering up to 35 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) on as opposed to AirPods Max's 20 hours. I find those battery life estimates to be accurate in my testing, and if you're looking for more longevity, the Headphone 1 have an edge. Both pairs of headphones have pretty much all the features you'd expect, including transparency (mixes music and ambient noise), adaptive noise cancellation, and spatial audio. Both headphones also have software-based hearing tests that allow you to customize the EQ of your audio to your specific hearing idiosyncrasies, and can also be custom-tuned either via Nothing's X app or on iOS for Apple AirPods Max, though Nothing's is more granular. Both also take advantage of custom hi-res codecs if you're an audiophile looking for the best, lossless sound, though iOS doesn't support LHDC (Low Latency High Definition Audio Codec), so you should keep your ecosystem in mind here. I will say AirPods definitely have an advantage if you're in the Apple ecosystem, since they switch more seamlessly between working on your MacBook or iPhone. While feature-wise these headphones are pretty much a tie, Nothing gets the nod for having a much longer battery life. It's hard to argue with not having to worry about charging up your headphones. A good component of any premium pair of headphones or earbuds is their ability to cancel outside noise, and on that front, Apple's AirPods Max always get high marks. But just because Apple gets the kudos doesn't mean that they're necessarily that good, right? Wrong. AirPods Max do have an edge when it comes to noise cancellation, and while Nothing boasts an impressive 52dB of cancellation, lab tests from Sound Guys show that AirPods Max still beat the Headphone 1 with an impressive 88% noise reduction compared to the Headphone 1's 85% reduction. Anecdotally, I can notice the difference when switching between the two headphones, and I think it has a lot to do with the earcups. I find AirPods Max's cups create a tighter seal around my ears, which just naturally blocks out more sound. Apple's noise-cancellation tech does the rest. If you're looking for headphones with truly great noise cancellation, Apple's AirPods Max still get the point here. Everyone has different priorities when it comes to audio, but there are still some categories that are unavoidable. You need your headphones to sound good, of course, but you also need them to fit your head, be comfortable, and block out noise effectively. Apple's AirPods Max are still some of the best at doing all of those things, but they come with a burdensome premium that might scare a lot of people away. Nothing's Headphone 1, on the other hand, still excel in those key metrics, and while they fall slightly short in major categories like sound quality and ANC, they also make up for those shortcomings with a cool design, lots of features, and a heck of a lot of buttons. If you have the money and want the best of the best there's no reason not to go Apple, but I'm a firm believer that Nothing's Headphone 1 still get you most of the way there, and if you're a fan of what Nothing is putting down in the design department, you won't regret saving yourself $250 and going with the underdog. See AirPods Max at Amazon See Nothing Headphone 1 at Amazon
Android Authority
22-07-2025
- Android Authority
Nothing's new CMF smartwatch boasts of dual-band GPS and ChatGPT integration
TL;DR Nothing's CMF Watch Pro 3 upgrades include a larger AMOLED display, better sensors, and longer battery life. AI features like post-workout summaries and ChatGPT integration boost usefulness during workouts. The CMF Watch Pro 3 has launched globally at $99, but you might be able to pick it up at a discounted price of $79. There are plenty of fitness trackers in the market, including those that resemble the shape of a smartwatch. Nothing entered this market with its CMF Watch Pro, followed by the CMF Watch Pro 2 last year. Now, the company is refreshing its offering with the new CMF Watch Pro 3. The CMF Watch Pro 3 looks much like the Watch Pro 2, thanks to the 1.43-inch AMOLED display with Always On Display support, the metal body, and silicone straps. Users will appreciate the slightly larger display, up from 1.32-inch on the Watch Pro 2, as that brings along a 10% improvement in the screen-to-body ratio. This year, there are three finishes and strap color combinations: Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Orange. The company also boasts over 120 custom watch faces, so you can personalize your watch to your liking. Another area where the CMF Watch Pro 3 improves upon its predecessor is its support for a dual-band five-system GPS setup for faster and more accurate route tracking. It also features a new four-channel heart rate sensor with improved accuracy across all skin tones and workout intensities. Battery life is also claimed to have increased, now claiming up to 13 days with typical use, a two-day increase from the Pro 2. A full charge is said to take 99 minutes. Nothing is also proud of the new AI-powered post-workout summary feature, which helps break down your performance with helpful guidance on recovery time, training load, and even 5K/10K endurance predictions. It also features automatic tracking for seven core activities. It wouldn't be a current-generation product if it didn't also support AI assistants, so Nothing blessed the Watch Pro 3 with ChatGPT integration. Thanks to it, you can interact with OpenAI's digital assistant using natural-language voice prompts as long as your phone is nearby. The Watch Pro 3 also features a built-in voice recorder with auto-transcription, and an Essential News tool that delivers daily news digests. It's not immediately clear if you need a Nothing phone to access these software features — accessing ChatGPT on the Watch Pro 2 required pairing with a Nothing or CMF phone. The CMF Watch Pro 3 retains its predecessor's IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Other features include blood oxygen monitoring (SpO2), stress tracking, guided breathing exercises, hydration and inactivity reminders, and women's health support. An additional microphone has also been added to improve call pickup for Bluetooth calling. Nothing says that all CMF smartwatches are transitioning to the Nothing X app, which lets users manage their Nothing audio products and watches in one app. The app also supports Strava, Apple Health, and Google Health Connect integrations. Nothing Watch Pro 3 pricing and availability Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority The Nothing Watch Pro is priced at $99 in the US (though I already see a $20 discount that brings the price down to $79) and €99/£99 in the EU and UK, respectively. Global sales begin today via Nothing's website and select retail partners. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Khaleej Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Nothing Phone (3) launches in UAE: Fans flock to Dubai Mall for early access
On the eve of the official UAE launch of the Nothing Phone (3) and Headphone (1), a crowd began to gather hours in advance at Sharaf DG, Dubai Mall. Some came out of pure loyalty. Others came for the exclusive #Drops100 campaign, which promised early access to the brand's newest devices — and even better, a surprise upgrade deal. The offer is that if you purchase the Nothing Phone (3) priced at Dh3,299, you'll get the Headphone (1) at no additional cost. Organised by Nothing Tech as part of a global initiative across select cities including Dubai, the #Drops100 campaign is a gesture of gratitude to the brand's fast-growing fanbase. 'The #Drops100 campaign is about rewarding our community,' said Rishi Kishor Gupta, Nothing's Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa. 'We're doing this in a few key markets ahead of the official launch, and Dubai is a major one for us.' If the early access wasn't enough, Gupta also revealed that on July 18, launch day buyers of the 12GB + 256GB version of the Phone (3) will receive a free automatic upgrade to the 16GB + 512GB model — plus a complimentary pair of Nothing earphones. During the #Drops100 campaign in Dubai Mall's Sharaf DG, the first one to get his hands on the Nothing Phone (3) was Faisal Obaid, a local Emirati who's been first in line at every Nothing launch for the last two years. 'I came before 4pm today. I had to be here,' he said. 'The design is the best thing they offer. It's detailed, different from any other brand. And every year, the performance just keeps getting better.' Faisal chose the black variant, praising the Glyph interface and the brand's bold approach to standing out in a market crowded with lookalikes. From Sri Lanka to Finland The event also drew an enthusiastic mix of Dubai residents. A group from Sri Lanka raved about Nothing OS, calling the software 'the smoothest we've used.' Malik Shibli, a Dubai-based user of the Nothing Phone (1), said he's been holding out for the right upgrade: 'The new camera system is what I'm most excited for.' Chantelle, originally from South Africa, came to buy the phone as a birthday gift for her son, who is currently in Finland. 'He's been tracking this release for months and asked me if I can get it today,' she said. "So here I am." Meanwhile, Abdul, a Palestinian expat using the Nothing Phone (2), shared what draws him to the brand: 'It doesn't feel like just another slab of metal. It's personal. Every detail matters and that's why I'm here.' The turnout reflected what Nothing is gradually building in the region: a cult following rooted in thoughtful design, playful innovation, and an ecosystem-first approach. And for many who lined up, the wait was worth it. The Nothing Phone (3) officially launches in UAE on July 18, with with two configurations of the Phone (3): 12GB + 256GB, priced at Dh2,999 and 16GB + 512GB, priced at Dh3,299.
Android Authority
02-07-2025
- Android Authority
Nothing's Android 16 update will arrive before the end of the quarter as Nothing OS 4.0
Nothing TL;DR Nothing has confirmed that its Android 16 update will reach users by September. Nothing OS 4.0 will likely debut on the newly launched Phone 3 before rolling out to older models. Nothing Phone 2 and newer models will receive the update, but the original Phone 1 is not eligible. Thanks to Google releasing stable Android 16 for its Pixel lineup earlier than usual, several OEMs are expected to ship their Android 16 updates ahead of schedule this year. Samsung will likely debut One UI 8 based on Android 16 with the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. Nothing has also confirmed that it will follow suit by releasing Nothing OS 4.0 much earlier. During yesterday's Phone 3 launch event, Nothing announced that although its new flagship will ship with Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, Nothing OS 4.0 based on Android 16 will 'arrive in Q3 2025.' We suspect the platform upgrade will first reach the newly launched Phone 3, before rolling out to older models. Nothing Phone 2 and newer models will receive the Android 16 update, but the original Phone 1 is not eligible for the release. At the moment, Nothing has not shared the exact release timeline for these devices. We expect the company to share all details closer to the rollout. We have little information about the features and improvements that could arrive with Nothing OS 4.0, but it's safe to assume that it will include all the significant changes included in Android 16. Nothing will likely test beta builds with select users ahead of the stable release, which should give us a better idea of what's new in the update. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
The Verge
01-07-2025
- The Verge
Nothing Headphone 1 review: head-turning
Nothing's first pair of over-the-ear headphones has arrived, bearing the company's signature retro-transparent design that it introduced with the Phone 1. But until now, that design has mostly been in your pocket or peeking out of your ears. With the $299 Nothing Headphone 1, you have to commit to having that aesthetic wrapped around your head or hanging from your neck. I spent about a week with the Headphone 1 to see how it fits among the competition — and with your outfit. 6 Verge Score The Nothing Headphone 1 resembles a cross between Apple's AirPods Max and 1980s FM radio headphones. I dig the design, but wearing it on my head feels silly. The housing feels cheaper than the aluminum casing of the $549 AirPods Max and also less… grown up. I'm almost embarrassed to wear it on the street and worried that I'll look like I'm cosplaying as a cyborg. The ear pads look like that of generic headphones, with rubbery and plastic unremovable pads and a memory foam center. Though I don't care for the texture, they're comfortable, and I haven't felt fatigued while wearing them throughout the day like I do with the Sony WH-1000XM6. The button design is my favorite part of the headphones. The volume is controlled by the roller, which is like a rubbery wheel you spin, not too far off from Apple's digital crown, but oriented on its side. Pressing on the roller plays or pauses your audio, and holding it down toggles one of three modes — noise canceling, transparency, or off. There's also the paddle button, allowing you to skip tracks, go backward to previous tracks, fast forward or rewind, or hang up or decline phone calls when held down. I have yet to find an app that works with the fast forward / rewind control, but Nothing claims this is dependent on the platform. A customizable button on the outside of the right ear cup can be set to launch a voice assistant like Google Gemini, use an EQ preset, mute the microphone, control noise, or enable spatial audio. These customizations are done with the Nothing X app (available on iOS and Android). If you use the Headphone 1 with the Nothing Phone 3, you can use that button to 'channel hop' between different audio apps — a feature that will eventually be rolled out to other Nothing devices. I wasn't able to test this, since I don't have a Phone 3. The Headphone 1 features head tracking, allowing you to anchor your position while listening to audio and rotate the panning according to how you turn your head. This is a trend among flagship headphones — like Apple's spatial audio, Bose's immersive mode, and Sony's spatial audio mixing — but it's not something I ever want to use. It does not sound very believable, and most of the time, it makes the audio sound worse. Much like the worst versions of Apple Music's spatial audio tracks, it emulates that 'stadium' mode from old stereo receivers. Noise canceling works well, outside of calls. It's a little easier to deliver good active noise cancellation (ANC) with over-the-ear headphones than with earbuds because of their size and ability to cover your entire ear, but I've found the Nothing headphones can block subway sounds, loud hums, and other city din with ease. I would feel comfortable bringing these as my travel headphones on a trip. I won't get over-analytical with the sound quality, but nothing stands out as bad compared to other flagship headphones. I don't think the Headphone 1 sounds as good as the AirPods Max, but I prefer Nothing's frequency response to Bose's QuietComfort Ultra and Sony's WH-1000XM6. This is on par with Nothing's earbuds line and even its budget CMF-branded earpieces, which compete surprisingly well with other flagship earbuds. My biggest problem with these headphones is how they handle voice calls. Nothing claims the Headphone 1 has 'four built-in microphones with AI-powered Clear Voice Technology to isolate your speech and suppress background noise,' but I went to a busy train station in New York City to take a call with some colleagues, and they were not able to understand half of the words I was saying. In a quiet office, I had no trouble communicating on calls, and it even sounded fine against the other headphones. But in a large hall with crowd sounds, it started to cancel my voice out along with everything else. The headphones also do not seem to have multipoint; The Verge emailed Nothing to confirm but has yet to hear back. The Headphone 1 comes in a slim, softshell zipper case that's made of a material prone to picking up the fur of my white cat. The zipper is a little finicky and gets caught easily when closing, but it seals pretty well when fully zipped. The Headphone 1 also comes with a Nothing-designed USB-C cable, which can be used for both charging and listening, and a 3.5mm cable for listening on analog headphone jacks. The analog jack doesn't work when the headphones are off or when charging, so if the battery dies, they're unusable until you find a USB port. That's unfortunate, especially if / when these batteries die of old age. But you can listen over Bluetooth or USB-C while recharging, at least. Nothing promises up to 35 hours of battery life with ANC on and using the AAC codec (probably the most common scenario) and 37 hours of talk time with just ANC on. With ANC off, Nothing claims the headphones offer up to 80 hours of playback using AAC codec and 54 hours with the LDAC codec. After a week of casual use and using them throughout my day working in an office, I never had to charge them to get through my day, and had gone two days without plugging them in. The $299 Nothing Headphone 1 offers many features that compete well with Bose, Apple, and Sony, and the lower price might get some folks to choose it. If you're planning to use headphones for voice calls, I'm not sure this is the right pick. But if not, and if the design fits your personality, then saving $200 for this audio quality and noise cancellation makes this a package worth considering. Photography by Owen Grove / The Verge
