If you enjoy dressing up as characters from 1960s sci-fi shows, you might already know about the Nothing Headphone (1). These over-ear headphones from the British brand look like they could be part of a Cyberman costume.
Nothing confirmed its plans to release more headphones. The company stated it will “double down” on over-ear headphones in 2026. Recent leaks show a cheaper model coming soon. Given how well Nothing did with its affordable earbuds, creating quality budget headphones seems within reach for the brand.
Tech leaker Billbil-kun shared details through Notebookcheck about what appears to be called the Nothing Headphone (a). The naming follows the same pattern as the Nothing Ear (a), which is the company’s budget earbud option.
The leak suggests Nothing wants to offer the same design at a lower price. This makes sense because the original Headphone (1) costs more than many people want to spend. A cheaper version could attract buyers who like the look but can’t justify the expense.
Nothing built its reputation on transparent designs and decent audio quality at reasonable prices. If the Headphone (a) follows this formula, it could compete well against other budget over-ear options. The main question is what features Nothing will cut to lower the price while keeping the headphones worth buying.
The Headphone (a) will be launched on March 12, 2026, following an announcement on March 5. Nothing might also unveil the Nothing Phone 4a on the same day.
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The price sits at $200 in the US and AU$300 in Australia. You’ll get four color choices, which are white, black, pink, or yellow. The yellow version should match the bright look of the Ear (a) earbuds.
That covers most of the leak. Billbil-kun also dismissed an earlier rumor from another source. That rumor claimed the Headphone (a) would be a Headphone (1) with a plastic body instead of aluminum. According to Billbil-kun, the low price makes this theory unlikely.
This matters because a plastic version of the existing model would mean fewer improvements. If Nothing is building something different rather than just swapping materials, the Headphone (a) could offer better value.
The company would need to rethink the design and features to hit that price point, which could result in a product better suited for budget buyers.
The March timeline gives Nothing a few months to generate interest before release. If the price and features match what people expect from the brand, these headphones could sell well.
Nothing Headphone (a) feature
The original Nothing Headphone (1) had a polarizing design. Our review listed “the looks are divisive” as a drawback. Whether you love or hate the appearance, these headphones definitely stand out from the crowd.
Will the Headphone (a) keep this bold style? I test budget over-ear headphones regularly. Right now, I have two pairs on my desk going through testing. Most budget headphones share one trait: they look incredibly plain.
The majority are just two black ear cups connected by a black headband. This might seem boring, but there’s a reason for it. When brands skip fancy designs, they save money that goes toward lowering the price for buyers.
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I hope the Nothing Headphone (a) takes this approach. Save the eye-catching design for people buying the premium model. Let budget buyers get something simpler and more practical.
Nothing’s real strengths are features and sound quality anyway. Those are what matter most in headphones. If the Headphone (a) inherits good audio performance and useful features from the original while dropping the flashy look, that would be the smart move.
Most people buying budget headphones care more about how they sound than how they look. A plain design that keeps the price down while delivering good performance would appeal to more buyers than a stylish pair that costs extra.
That said, offering the yellow color would be a smart choice. It adds personality without going overboard.
I liked the Nothing Ear earbuds enough to write an entire article praising their listening test feature. The Ear (a) made my list of top budget earbuds based on actual testing. Design hasn’t always been Nothing’s strong target, though. The Nothing Ear (open) turned out to be among the worst open earbuds I’ve tried.
Most cheap headphones I test cost about half what the leaked Headphone (a) price suggests. Even at that higher budget tier, Nothing will likely simplify the design to appeal to cost-conscious buyers. This approach could make the Headphone (a) a product people should actually buy.
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We won’t know for sure until the official announcement. You can mark March 5 on your calendar if you want to find out what Nothing plans to offer.
The company has shown it can make good budget audio products when it focuses on what matters. If the Headphone (a) delivers good sound and useful features at $200, the design won’t matter as much.
The real test will be whether Nothing learned from past products. The Ear (a) succeeded because it delivered good performance at a fair price. If the Headphone (a) follows that formula instead of prioritizing looks, it could become a popular choice in the budget headphone market.
