In context: Android smartphone maker Nothing has launched the Headphone (1) Professional, its new flagship audio product, which it claims combines an elevated listening expertise for customers with studio-grade manufacturing and mixing options for professionals. It succeeds final 12 months’s Nothing Headphone (1), which TIME named one in all its Finest Innovations of 2025.
The largest change within the new mannequin is a three-driver audio system. It features a bass dynamic driver designed so as to add extra punch and sensitivity to low frequencies, a precision dynamic driver that provides extra texture to vocals and devices, and a brand new treble xMEMS driver that Nothing says delivers crisper highs.
Nothing additionally labored with London’s Metropolis Studios to tune the Headphone (1) Professional, with the collaboration targeted on skilled audio instruments and soundstage traits.
The corporate additionally highlights an improved adaptive lively noise cancellation system that makes use of a 10-microphone array to extra precisely filter ambient noise than the first-gen mannequin. With claimed noise discount of as much as 46 dB, Nothing is positioning the Headphone (1) Professional in opposition to premium rivals from Bose and Sony.
Nothing says the advance in noise discount must be notably noticeable in robust winds or noisy site visitors. The headphones additionally function redesigned ear cushions with an 8mm silicone baffle wall inside, making a stronger sound barrier and enhancing the seal across the ears.
The Headphone (1) Professional helps Hello-Res wi-fi audio and wired playback over USB-C at as much as 24-bit/192 kHz. It additionally presents 5 modes of Dynamic Spatial Audio with head monitoring, together with 5 new customized EQ profiles. A separate Flat EQ swap is designed to provide producers and creators a extra impartial sound profile.
The Headphones 1 Professional is constructed out of aluminum and titanium to offer a sturdy shell whereas making a premium feel and appear. It additionally retains Nothing’s clear design language, utilizing shatter- and scratch-resistant 9H Panda Glass on each ear cups to disclose components of the triple-driver structure.
Regardless of the elevated use of metallic, Nothing has decreased the headphones’ weight to 327 grams by a redesigned inside structure, together with changing metal arms with titanium. Different adjustments meant to enhance consolation over longer listening periods embody a wider headband with thicker padding and softer ear cushions.
The Headphone (1) Professional is positioned to compete with premium fashions such because the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Extremely, and Apple AirPods Max. It’s priced at $399 and can be accessible starting September 29 by Nothing’s official retailer at nothing.tech, Amazon, and Finest Purchase shops throughout throughout the US and Canada.
