Nothing CEO Carl Pei has put the criticism surrounding the Headphone (1) Pro’s carry case front and center in a new company video. The $399 over-ear headphones have drawn attention not only for their audio hardware, but for a hard-shell case that reviewers say is bulky, leaves the headband exposed and prevents charging while the headphones are stored inside.
Marques Brownlee, featured in the video, called it the worst case he has seen for a pair of headphones. His objections include its size, added weight and the fact that the Headphone (1) Pro does not fold. The case itself weighs 383.5g, exceeding the headphones’ 327g weight.
If users have a problem, it is our problem.
Carl Pei
Pei said Nothing should not dismiss feedback by assuming that users misunderstand the product. At the same time, he defended the underlying idea: the rigid TPU-lined case was intended as a visible accessory rather than the smallest possible way to transport headphones. It includes loops for straps, carabiners and other accessories, and is designed to support stickers, keychains and other personalization.
The Headphone (1) Pro is Nothing’s move into premium over-ear audio, priced at $399 in the US and €349 in Europe. Its hardware includes physical Roller volume and Paddle track controls, which Pei said Nothing did not seriously consider replacing with touch surfaces.
- A 40mm dynamic driver for bass
- A precision driver for midrange frequencies
- An xMEMS solid-state driver for high frequencies
- Active noise cancellation rated at up to 46dB
- Ten microphones, Bluetooth 6.1 and claimed battery life of up to 68 hours with ANC off
Pei said Nothing’s ambition was to compete with established names including Sony and Apple. Brownlee’s assessment was more reserved: in his comparison with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Apple AirPods Max, he said instrument separation trails those rivals and placed the sound at roughly seven out of 10, versus around nine for the segment’s reference models.
We didn’t start a company to be a small player.
Carl Pei
Brownlee did identify a rationale for the “Pro” branding. A physical Flat switch immediately selects a more neutral sound profile intended in part for audio editing, while the Nothing X app offers a more detailed equalizer than is common on consumer headphones.
The response video follows a format Pei has also used after the Phone (3), with Nothing republishing unfavorable reviewer comments alongside praise. The case now appears to be the product’s clearest design trade-off: its accessory-focused approach may appeal to fashion- and design-minded buyers, but its weight and charging limitations remain the points Nothing will need to address in a future generation.
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