Nothing has announced its new Headphones (a) alongside the Phone (4a) series. The headphones bring improved battery life, physical controls, a lightweight design, and support for high-resolution audio.
The Headphone (a) uses physical controls integrated into the ear cups. It has a Roller, Paddle, and Button for adjusting volume, navigating media, and switching ANC modes. The headphones use memory foam ear cushions, carry an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance, and weigh 310g. They are available in Black, White, Pink, and a Limited Edition Yellow.
The headphones also have special functions like “Channel Hop” to switch between apps using the main button, and a “Camera Shutter” mode to trigger the camera on a paired smartphone.
The headphones feature 40mm titanium-coated drivers and support Hi-Res Audio and LDAC codec. They have hybrid Adaptive ANC with dual feedforward and feedback microphones. ANC adjusts automatically to the environment and fit, with three manual levels: Low, Mid, and High.
For calls, the headphones use a three-microphone array with AI noise reduction trained on 28 million scenarios. This isolates voice audio and reduces background noise. Users can further customize the sound and ANC settings using the Nothing X App.
Nothing says the Headphone (a) offers up to 135 hours of playback with ANC off, or up to five days of continuous listening. A five-minute charge gives up to five hours of playback. With ANC on, the headphones provide up to 75 hours on AAC and 62 hours on LDAC.
Specifications
- 40mm dynamic drivers with PEN+PU diaphragm
- Bluetooth 5.4, AAC, SBC, LDAC, Hi-Res audio, dual connection
- Low-Lag Mode, in-ear detection
- Up to 40dB personalized ANC
- Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode
- Clear Voice Technology for calls with 3-mic ENC
- Physical controls for media, volume, ANC, assistant, and calls
- Dimensions: 177x78x190.4mm, Weight: 310g
- 1060mAh battery with fast charging: 5 minutes for 8 hours of playback (without ANC)
Pricing and Availability
The Headphone (a) is priced at USD 199 (around Rs. 18,235), 159 Euros, or 149 GBP. Pre-orders start on March 5 via nothing.tech and select partners. Sales begin March 13 for White, Black, and Pink models, while the Limited Edition Yellow will be available from April 6. The India launch is expected in the coming months.
