Which Over-Ear ANC Headphones Win?

1. Sometimes, picking a pair of headphones feels like an impossible choice. There are lots to choose from, and the barrier to entry is enough to send haptic chills down one’s spine. If there’s one thing that most can agree on, it’s that Apple’s AirPods Max are probably the standard for people considering headphones in the U.S., especially if you already own an iPhone. But AirPods Max are so damn expensive, right? Is it worth shelling out $550 for a pair of headphones when competitors like Nothing’s $300 Headphone 1 exist and offer good-looking AirPods alternatives for a price that undercuts Apple by $250?

There’s a lot to unpack in that question, but luckily, I’ve tested both for you (and a lot of other audio products) and can offer my sage guidance on where to throw hundreds of dollars if you need to save yourself from the scourge of subway sounds or your neighbor’s incessant singing. First, let’s start with the looks.

See AirPods Max at Amazon

See Nothing Headphone 1 at Amazon

Headphone 1 vs. AirPods Max: Design

At the risk of pointing out the obvious: AirPods Max and Nothing’s Headphone 1 look very different. While Apple’s super-popular headphones opt for a minimalist design, Nothing’s Headphone 1 have a retro-inspired look that riffs on cassette tapes of yore. Undoubtedly, you’ll have your own thoughts on which looks better—these things are subjective after all—but from a more objective standpoint, they also use different materials that make them feel noticeably different.

AirPods Max, for example, use stainless steel and anodized aluminum, which means two things: they feel more premium, and they’re also a little bit heavier—that’s just physics for you. Nothing’s Headphone 1 wins points for unique style, but they’re made mostly from plastic and a little bit of aluminum so they definitely feel a lot cheaper but are also a lot lighter. Which pair speaks to you is a matter of preference, but if you’re looking for a lighter carry, Nothing’s Headphone 1 has AirPods Max beat: the weight breakdown here is 329g compared to almost 385g.

The Headphone 1 have a retro-inspired design. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

Nothing’s Headphone 1 also expand on AirPods Max’s hardware with a whole host of physical buttons that include a dedicated track skip/fast-forward/rewind paddle, a volume roller, and an on/off switch. AirPods Max have a crown for volume adjustment and pause/play and that’s it; to the frustration of many, there’s no on/off switch. The number of buttons on the Headphone 1 was a welcome surprise when I tested them out, and while I wish they were a little more refined and less finicky to use, they do set the Headphone 1 apart not just from Apple but from pretty much every brand of over-ear headphones.

Aesthetically, you’ll have to dig deep and figure out what you want out of a pair of headphones. If you want something that’s more of a fashion statement, the Headphone 1 are going to speak to you. If you want something that’s going to fade into the background, then AirPods Max are more your speed. Personally? I find AirPods Max to be a bit on the boring side, but I respect that not everyone cares about looking the part of a Brooklyn-based hipster. I’m opting for the Headphone 1 in this department for feeling lighter on my head and also bringing a design that I find exciting, sleek, and worth writing home about. Sorry, AirPods Max, stainless steel or not, the minimalism thing is a little bit tired.

Winner: Headphone 1

Headphone 1 vs. AirPods Max: Sound

Sure, your eyes may be the first way you judge a pair of headphones, but ultimately, your ears are what really matter. As a result, you’re probably wondering: can Nothing’s Headphone 1 really challenge the AirPods Max in the sound department? The answer is… to be honest, yes.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the sound on the Headphone 1—tuned in collaboration with hi-fi audio company KEF—actually held its own against the significantly more expensive and popular AirPods Max. Nothing’s headphones performed particularly well in the low-to-mid-range frequencies, though—sorry, budget seekers—I think Apple’s AirPods Max premium still means something in the audio department.

As I wrote in my review, I still think Apple’s AirPods Max have a noticeable edge when it comes to sound. In particular, mids-to-highs have slightly more texture and room, which makes vocals feel more organic and clear. That being said, Nothing holds its own against a competitor that charges a very hefty premium, and the fact that it comes close at all is definitely a feat. Still, better is better, and AirPods Max still feel clearer and more dynamically rich, even if by a close margin.

Winner: AirPods Max

Headphone 1 vs. AirPods Max: Comfort

A big reason why people buy over-ear headphones is that they may not like sticking earbuds inside their ears, which is fair, because even the most comfortable ear tips will become irritating over time. So, with comfort in mind, you’re probably wondering if AirPods Max feel as luxurious as the materials they’re made out of or, on the other side of the coin, if Nothing’s Headphone 1 feel rougher with less premium materials. At the risk of spoiling the result, this one is almost too close to call.

One of the first things that struck me about the Headphone 1 is that they fit my head well, which may not be a selling point for everyone, but for me, a person with a small head, that’s a huge win. Not only was the fit snug, but the vegan leather headstrap and earcups also felt cushy and smooth on my head and ears, respectively. There’s actually a pretty big difference material-wise when it comes to earcups on the AirPods Max, as Apple’s headphones are made with a mesh textile. Those mesh materials are designed to be more breathable than their counterparts, and while I’m not a big cardio guy, I’m willing to bet that they might be highly preferable to someone who wants to wear headphones while exercising.

Another major difference is in the head strap, which is a solid piece of plastic with memory foam and vegan leather on the Headphone 1. That’s opposed to AirPods Max, which have a mesh band that achieves a couple key things. First, it helps reduce the weight of the headphones, which have some heft due to the premium materials. Secondly, the mesh band also (similar to the mesh earcups) makes AirPods Max more breathable, giving them an edge for anyone who’s more fitness-focused.

Ultimately, both headphones are comfortable, even despite the weight difference, but I think I’m going to have to give AirPods Max the nod here if just because the materials and design of the earcups and head strap make them more suitable for a wider variety of use cases.

Winner: AirPods Max

Headphone 1 vs. AirPods Max: Battery Life and Features

Battery life is key in any gadget, but for headphones, that metric feels even more important since running out of juice while you’re on an airplane or commuting to work can be a huge drag. Given the importance of battery life, you’d think that shelling out more money for a premium product gets you more juice as a given, right? Couldn’t be more wrong.

Nothing’s Headphone 1 trounce AirPods Max in the battery life department, delivering up to 35 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) on as opposed to AirPods Max’s 20 hours. I find those battery life estimates to be accurate in my testing, and if you’re looking for more longevity, the Headphone 1 have an edge.

Both pairs of headphones have pretty much all the features you’d expect, including transparency (mixes music and ambient noise), adaptive noise cancellation, and spatial audio. Both headphones also have software-based hearing tests that allow you to customize the EQ of your audio to your specific hearing idiosyncrasies, and can also be custom-tuned either via Nothing’s X app or on iOS for Apple AirPods Max, though Nothing’s is more granular. Both also take advantage of custom hi-res codecs if you’re an audiophile looking for the best, lossless sound, though iOS doesn’t support LHDC (Low Latency High Definition Audio Codec), so you should keep your ecosystem in mind here. I will say AirPods definitely have an advantage if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, since they switch more seamlessly between working on your MacBook or iPhone.

While feature-wise these headphones are pretty much a tie, Nothing gets the nod for having a much longer battery life. It’s hard to argue with not having to worry about charging up your headphones.

Winner: Headphone 1

Headphone 1 vs AirPods Max: ANC

A good component of any premium pair of headphones or earbuds is their ability to cancel outside noise, and on that front, Apple’s AirPods Max always get high marks. But just because Apple gets the kudos doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily that good, right? Wrong.

AirPods Max do have an edge when it comes to noise cancellation, and while Nothing boasts an impressive 52dB of cancellation, lab tests from Sound Guys show that AirPods Max still beat the Headphone 1 with an impressive 88% noise reduction compared to the Headphone 1’s 85% reduction. Anecdotally, I can notice the difference when switching between the two headphones, and I think it has a lot to do with the earcups. I find AirPods Max’s cups create a tighter seal around my ears, which just naturally blocks out more sound. Apple’s noise-cancellation tech does the rest. If you’re looking for headphones with truly great noise cancellation, Apple’s AirPods Max still get the point here.

Winner: AirPods Max

Bottom Line

Everyone has different priorities when it comes to audio, but there are still some categories that are unavoidable. You need your headphones to sound good, of course, but you also need them to fit your head, be comfortable, and block out noise effectively. Apple’s AirPods Max are still some of the best at doing all of those things, but they come with a burdensome premium that might scare a lot of people away. Nothing’s Headphone 1, on the other hand, still excel in those key metrics, and while they fall slightly short in major categories like sound quality and ANC, they also make up for those shortcomings with a cool design, lots of features, and a heck of a lot of buttons.

If you have the money and want the best of the best there’s no reason not to go Apple, but I’m a firm believer that Nothing’s Headphone 1 still get you most of the way there, and if you’re a fan of what Nothing is putting down in the design department, you won’t regret saving yourself $250 and going with the underdog.

See AirPods Max at Amazon

See Nothing Headphone 1 at Amazon