{"id":5492,"date":"2025-05-17T05:59:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T21:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/nothing-is-making-over-the-ear-headphones-and-they-might-be-better-and-cheaper-than-airpods-max\/"},"modified":"2025-05-17T05:59:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T21:59:34","slug":"nothing-is-making-over-the-ear-headphones-and-they-might-be-better-and-cheaper-than-airpods-max","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/nothing-is-making-over-the-ear-headphones-and-they-might-be-better-and-cheaper-than-airpods-max\/","title":{"rendered":"Nothing is making over-the-ear headphones and they might be better (and cheaper) than AirPods Max"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p>Nothing is officially making its own pair of over-the-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones. The company confirmed the news in an almost <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/lyrrLa2zdLg?si=U_geTGQn-_WXxY9I\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/lyrrLa2zdLg?si=U_geTGQn-_WXxY9I\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\">four-minute video<\/a> where the London-based design team discussed their goals for the still-unnamed audio gear.<\/p>\n<p>The news follows <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/earbuds-airpods\/nothing-teases-new-audio-gear-made-with-kef-coming-in-2025-and-im-excited-for-this-one\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/earbuds-airpods\/nothing-teases-new-audio-gear-made-with-kef-coming-in-2025-and-im-excited-for-this-one\">Nothing&#8217;s announcement earlier this week that it will be partnering with British hi-fi institution KEF on new audio products<\/a>, although there was no mention of this venture in the video.<\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-base\"\/>\n<aside id=\"seasonal_0\" class=\"hawk-base\" data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\"\/>\n<p>While the details were sparse, we did learn about a handful of key elements that may set the Nothing over-ear headphones apart from competitors like <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/apple\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/apple\">Apple<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/sony\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/tag\/sony\">Sony<\/a>.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<span class=\"bg-secondary-500 text-white text-lg font-bold uppercase py-1 px-2 leading-[1.625rem] sm:leading-[6px] sm:text-sm\"><br \/>\nYou may like<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>In fact, the video kicks off with the designers pondering what &#8220;XM6&#8221; means, possibly referring to the trio of characters in the rather unwieldy name of Sony&#8217;s newest and, for the moment, industry-leading headphones, the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/wireless-headphones\/sony-wh-1000xm6-headphones-are-official-here-are-the-3-things-you-need-to-know-and-yes-the-design-is-more-portable\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/wireless-headphones\/sony-wh-1000xm6-headphones-are-official-here-are-the-3-things-you-need-to-know-and-yes-the-design-is-more-portable\">Sony WH-1000XM6<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Mostly, though, the team focuses on the choices they&#8217;re making for Nothing&#8217;s first over-ear headphones.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"price-4\">Price<\/h2>\n<p>Price is a huge consideration. Calling out the $549 <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/airpods-max\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/airpods-max\">AirPods Max<\/a> from Apple, which cost about as much as two last-gen Nothing phones, the team said it wants to produce cheaper headphones, ones that cost far less than AirPods Max.<\/p>\n<p>As for how much less, well, one designer mentioned the price, but in that moment, his voice was muted and his mouth was covered with a little message saying that Nothing has to keep some secrets.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-km9mRGmeWRS2Efzirrj4FP\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-km9mRGmeWRS2Efzirrj4FP slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Of course Nothing has form in this area. We awarded its budget earbuds the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/earbuds-airpods\/nothing-ear-a-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/earbuds-airpods\/nothing-ear-a-review\">Nothing Ear (a)<\/a> a five-star review and consider them to be among the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/audio\/best-in-ear-headphones-1276925\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/audio\/best-in-ear-headphones-1276925\">best earbuds<\/a> you can buy, and they cost a mere $99 \/ \u00a399 \/ AU$169.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/earbuds-airpods\/nothing-ear-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/audio\/earbuds-airpods\/nothing-ear-review\">Nothing Ear<\/a> earbuds, now on their third generation, are slightly more expensive \u2013 but we still proclaimed them to be &#8220;punching well out of their price class.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"ease-of-use-4\">Ease of use<\/h2>\n<p>The designers complain that with most headphones, the buttons all feel the same, and it is impossible to know if you&#8217;re touching the volume, pause, or Bluetooth controls. Nothing will, it seems, do it differently, designing all buttons to be &#8220;completely distinct.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The hope is that there will be &#8220;no doubt about which control you&#8217;re about to touch, [so] you don&#8217;t make mistakes and we get out of the way of that music listening experience.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-video youtube-facade\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"video-aspect-box\">\n<div class=\"watch-on-iframe-lyrrLa2zdLg\" data-yt-video-token=\"lyrrLa2zdLg\" title=\"We're making Over-Ear Headphones - YouTube\">\n<span class=\"youtube-video-title\">We&#8217;re making Over-Ear Headphones &#8211; YouTube<\/span><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/lyrrLa2zdLg\/maxresdefault.jpg\" alt=\"We're making Over-Ear Headphones - YouTube\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"play-button\" viewbox=\"0 0 234.67 165.33\"><path fill=\"red\" 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14.32C0 30.338 0 56.693 0 56.693S0 83.049 3.385 95.68A20.285 20.285 0 0 0 17.705 110c12.632 3.386 63.285 3.386 63.285 3.386s50.652 0 63.285-3.386a20.284 20.284 0 0 0 14.32-14.32c3.385-12.632 3.385-38.988 3.385-38.988s0-26.355-3.385-38.988m94.473 74.326c.887-2.314 1.332-6.098 1.332-11.35V58.556c0-5.097-.445-8.822-1.332-11.178-.888-2.355-2.452-3.533-4.69-3.533-2.163 0-3.69 1.178-4.577 3.533-.888 2.356-1.332 6.081-1.332 11.178V80.68c0 5.25.424 9.035 1.275 11.35.848 2.318 2.392 3.475 4.633 3.475 2.239 0 3.803-1.157 4.691-3.475zm-17.953 11.122c-3.207-2.16-5.486-5.52-6.835-10.079-1.352-4.554-2.027-10.617-2.027-18.185v-10.31c0-7.644.771-13.784 2.316-18.417 1.544-4.633 3.956-8.011 7.24-10.135 3.282-2.123 7.587-3.186 12.916-3.186 5.251 0 9.459 1.082 12.626 3.243 3.165 2.162 5.482 5.542 6.95 10.136 1.466 4.595 2.2 10.715 2.2 18.36v10.31c0 7.567-.714 13.65-2.142 18.243-1.43 4.595-3.747 7.955-6.951 10.077-3.205 2.124-7.548 3.186-13.03 3.186-5.64 0-10.06-1.082-13.263-3.243m248.053-57.981c-.81 1.005-1.352 2.646-1.621 4.923-.272 2.278-.404 5.734-.404 10.367v5.097h11.697V60.46c0-4.555-.155-8.011-.463-10.367-.309-2.355-.868-4.014-1.678-4.98-.812-.966-2.067-1.449-3.766-1.449-1.7 0-2.954.503-3.765 1.506zm-2.025 29.886v3.591c0 4.557.132 7.974.404 10.251.269 2.279.828 3.94 1.68 4.982.849 1.041 2.16 1.564 3.938 1.564 2.392 0 4.035-.927 4.923-2.781.887-1.853 1.37-4.942 1.447-9.268l13.785.812c.077.62.116 1.469.116 2.548 0 6.565-1.795 11.47-5.387 14.712-3.589 3.242-8.669 4.865-15.232 4.865-7.876 0-13.398-2.47-16.564-7.414-3.168-4.94-4.75-12.586-4.75-22.935V63.589c0-10.657 1.641-18.436 4.924-23.342 3.281-4.903 8.9-7.355 16.854-7.355 5.482 0 9.691 1.004 12.626 3.012 2.933 2.01 5 5.137 6.197 9.383 1.197 4.247 1.796 10.117 1.796 17.607v12.163h-26.757m-284.953-1.33-18.187-65.68h15.869l6.37 29.77c1.623 7.339 2.82 13.594 3.591 18.766h.464c.54-3.706 1.738-9.922 3.591-18.65l6.603-29.886h15.869l-18.417 65.68v31.51h-15.754v-31.51M322.115 34.23v71.007h-12.511l-1.39-8.688h-.347c-3.399 6.564-8.496 9.845-15.291 9.845-4.71 0-8.185-1.543-10.425-4.633-2.24-3.087-3.359-7.915-3.359-14.48V34.23h15.985v52.126c0 3.168.348 5.426 1.043 6.776.695 1.353 1.853 2.027 3.475 2.027 1.39 0 2.722-.423 3.996-1.275 1.274-.849 2.22-1.928 2.838-3.241V34.229h15.986m81.995.001v71.007h-12.511l-1.391-8.688h-.345c-3.402 6.564-8.498 9.845-15.292 9.845-4.711 0-8.186-1.543-10.426-4.633-2.24-3.087-3.358-7.915-3.358-14.48V34.23h15.985v52.126c0 3.168.347 5.426 1.041 6.776.696 1.353 1.855 2.027 3.476 2.027 1.391 0 2.723-.423 3.996-1.275 1.275-.849 2.22-1.928 2.839-3.241V34.229h15.985\"\/><path d=\"M365.552 20.908h-15.87v84.329h-15.637v-84.33h-15.869V8.05h47.376v12.858m76.811 53.636c0 5.174-.215 9.229-.639 12.162-.424 2.937-1.139 5.021-2.143 6.255-1.004 1.236-2.357 1.854-4.053 1.854a7.404 7.404 0 0 1-3.65-.927c-1.12-.618-2.026-1.544-2.722-2.78V50.796c.54-1.93 1.467-3.513 2.78-4.749 1.313-1.234 2.74-1.853 4.285-1.853 1.623 0 2.876.637 3.766 1.91.886 1.275 1.505 3.418 1.853 6.43.348 3.011.523 7.297.523 12.857zm14.652-28.964c-.967-4.478-2.531-7.721-4.692-9.73-2.163-2.007-5.136-3.011-8.919-3.011-2.935 0-5.676.83-8.224 2.49a16.926 16.926 0 0 0-5.908 6.545h-.117l.001-37.416h-15.405v100.777h13.204l1.622-6.717h.347c1.235 2.393 3.088 4.285 5.56 5.675 2.47 1.39 5.213 2.085 8.225 2.085 5.404 0 9.382-2.491 11.931-7.471 2.548-4.982 3.823-12.76 3.823-23.341V64.23c0-7.953-.484-14.17-1.448-18.65\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"make-it-special-4\">Make it special<\/h2>\n<p>Nothing&#8217;s designers say they can do things with headphones that the big companies cannot, because the big tech companies &#8220;just can&#8217;t take risks; they&#8217;ve got to think about this whole global program&#8230;and millions and millions of users.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Nothing, by contrast, contends it can just take an idea, build it, test it, and &#8220;put it out there.&#8221; To be fair, that&#8217;s certainly how it seems with <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/phones\/nothing-phones\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/phones\/nothing-phones\">Nothing&#8217;s unusual and iconic smartphones<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"make-the-best-audio-4\">Make the best audio<\/h2>\n<p>Nothing&#8217;s already got a significant experience and a quite good track record in the audio space. Its wireless headphones currently sit near the top of our <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/audio\/the-best-wireless-earbuds-available-today-1327335\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/audio\/the-best-wireless-earbuds-available-today-1327335\">Best Wireless Earbuds of 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As for how good these over-the-ear headphones sound right now, one Nothing designer said, &#8220;I&#8217;m already impressed. They&#8217;re not finished, but you know, I think these might be some of the best sounding on the market.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Not just in their price range, either; Nothing believes these headphones will &#8220;punch above their weight.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Nothing&#8217;s confidence goes even further, as the team muses that these headphones are as good as those you might pay twice as much for, and then adds that they&#8217;re &#8220;better than AirPods Max, and that was always the goal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-clue-4\">A clue<\/h2>\n<p>One interesting takeaway is that while Nothing isn&#8217;t sharing the price, they appear to note that these headphones are as good as ones costing twice as much, and then mention the $549 AirPods Max. Does that mean the Nothing Headphones might list for $275?<\/p>\n<p>While no name was mentioned, we&#8217;re willing to guess that &#8220;Ear&#8221; will be in the name and that the full name could be &#8220;Nothing Ear (Pros)&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s all the detail we gleaned from Nothing&#8217;s unusual announcement video, with the only other tidbit being that these headphones will ship this summer.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s too early to say if they will truly beat AirPods Max or approach Sony&#8217;s excellent audio quality. But considering Nothing&#8217;s audio track record, this will surely be a launch to watch.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-you-might-also-like\"><span>You might also like<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nothing is officially making its own pair of over-the-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones. The company confirmed the news in an almost four-minute video where the London-based design team discussed their goals for the still-unnamed audio gear. The news follows Nothing&#8217;s announcement earlier this week that it will be partnering with British hi-fi institution KEF on new [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5492","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blog"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}