Nothing Headphone (a) budget over-ear headphones set to launch on March 12 with pre-orders from March 5. Priced at 159 euros in Europe, offering a more affordable alternative to the flagship model.
© Nothing
Nothing continues to shift its focus toward more affordable devices. The brand previously confirmed it has no plans for a flagship smartphone in 2026, instead betting on the (4a) lineup. Now, a leak suggests this strategy could extend to the audio segment as well.
Nothing is preparing to launch new over-ear headphones called the Nothing Headphone (a). The name indicates these are a more budget-friendly version of the premium Nothing Headphone 1, aimed at the mass market. The leak also reveals color options—reportedly black, white, pink, and yellow, fitting the brand's signature style.
Insiders claim the official announcement for the Nothing Headphone (a) will occur on March 12, with pre-orders starting a week earlier on March 5. European markets will get the product first, followed by a potential rollout in other regions.
The rumored pricing is particularly noteworthy. In Europe, the Nothing Headphone (a) might be priced at 159 euros, while in the UK, it could cost 149 pounds. For context, the Nothing Headphone 1 launched at 299 euros, highlighting the new model's positioning as a more accessible alternative.
Earlier rumors suggested the Headphone (a) could be a simplified version of the Headphone 1 with a plastic build, but such a significant price difference points to more substantial compromises. Technical specs remain undisclosed, but some features are expected to be cut compared to the flagship model.
As a reference, the Nothing Headphone 1 features 40mm drivers, active noise cancellation up to 42 dB, a transparency mode, Bluetooth 5.3 support, the LDAC codec, dual-device connectivity, and up to 80 hours of battery life without ANC. Which of these capabilities will carry over to the (a) version should become clearer closer to the announcement.