Nothing Headphone (a) B186
Equipped with 40mm drivers, LDAC Hi-Res certification, and adaptive noise cancellation reaching 40dB, these over-ears deliver up to 135 hours of listening (ANC off) and a plush memory foam fit. Unique productivity features like a remote camera shutter and tactile roller-and-paddle controls, plus a dedicated low-lag mode for gaming, set them apart. They suit budget-conscious gamers and marathon listeners who need extreme battery life and everyday convenience rather than critical studio sound.
Про цей Headphones
Designed as the adventurous sequel in the Nothing noise cancelling headphones portfolio, Headphone (a) Bluetooth Headphones Over the Ear expands our reach to consumers seeking expression and affordability without compromise. Our Headphones Over Ear featured well-loved tactile controls carry over to provide intuitive and effortless navigation over your media. With tactile buttons at your fingertips, you're always in command — no fumbling, no distractions. Built from the foundation of Nothing's trusted sound quality, Headphone (a) Over Ear Bluetooth delivers clarity and performance you can rely on: LDAC Hi-Res Wireless certification Advanced EQ Spatial audio Audio codec: AAC, SBC, LDAC Active noise cancellation type: Real Time Adaptive ANC Depth: Up to 40dB Transparency Mode: Supported Dual connection: Supported Microphone quantity: 5 mic AAC: Playback with ANC off: Up to 75 hours Playback with ANC on: Up to 135 hours LDAC: Playback with ANC off: Up to 90 hours Playback with ANC on: Up to 62 hours Talk time: Talk time with ANC off: 72 hours Talk time with ANC on : 50 hours Charging time: Type-C Wired charging-to-full time 120 mins Connection range: 10M Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.4 water and dust resistance: IP52 Google Fast Pair: Supported Microsoft Swift Pair: Supported In-ear detection: No supported LED charging status: Supported Low Lag Mode: Supported; With Nothing Phone less than 120ms under Game Mode
- Dynamic Noise Cancellation Tailored for You: Experience the Nothing Headphone (a) with cutting-edge Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, utilizing state-of-the-art processors and adaptive microphones to eliminate distractions. The innovative Smart Adaptive Mode adjusts seamlessly to your surroundings, while the Transparency Mode allows ambient sounds for situational awareness. Select from four customizable ANC levels (High/Mid/Low/Adaptive) for a personalized listening journey
- Endless Listening with Rich Sound Quality: Crafted for 5 HD Mics, our Nothing Headphone (a) Bluetooth Headphones Over the Ear boasts a Spatial Audio with Hi-Res Wireless certification for remarkable clarity and an immersive auditory experience, Noise Cancelling Headphone with impressive battery life of up to 135 hours (75 hours with ANC on). A rapid 5-minute charge delivers 8 hours of playback time (ANC off)
- Remote Camera Shutter: Control your camera with a simple press of your Wireless Over-Ear headphones. No more running back and forth—just smooth, uninterrupted content creation. Perfect for vlogs, outfit checks, selfies, or group shots. Frame, get into position, and capture instantly.(On Nothing OS: Directly activates the camera; one press to record. On iOS & Android: Quickly capture or control recording if the camera function is already open)
- Comfort Meets Control: Designed for all-day comfort, the Nothing Headphones Wireless Over Ear features an ergonomic design with memory foam cushions for a secure fit. The Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones design includes an intuitive roller and paddle interface, providing easy access to volume controls, playback, and noise mode switching. The Nothing X app allows for extensive customization, ensuring a continuous, immersive sound experience
- Built For Your Unique Style: Start with your Personal Sound Profile and immerse yourself in Nothing X APP (with Ultra Bass included). Nothing Active Noise Canceling Headphones with Spatial Audio for concert or cinema-level listening for quick access to your most-used commands
The 30-Second Version
The Nothing Headphone (a) has battery life that makes every other over-ear look broken, and its adaptive ANC is scarily close to flagships. Buy it for the stamina, not the fit.
Overview
The Nothing Headphone (a) is a battery monster, plain and simple. 135 hours of playback with ANC off is unheard of, it's the absolute best battery performance we've ever recorded in an over-ear. For anyone tired of charging their headphones every few days, this is a game-changing number. But the trade-off for that marathon endurance and solid adaptive ANC at a low price is build quality that feels cheap and comfort that barely scrapes average. It's a headphone that says 'function over finesse' and mostly gets away with it.
Performance
The 40mm dynamic drivers pack a punch. Sound quality sits in the 95th percentile of our database, which means these are one of the best-sounding budget over-ears right now. LDAC support adds crisp detail, and spatial audio is a nice cinematic bonus. What surprised us most was how controlled the bass is, even with the Ultra Bass mode in the app. But the real star is the ANC, hitting 40dB depth and adaptive smarts that react faster than most. Only the very best flagship models beat it, and they cost twice as much. Calls are clear too, thanks to five mics, though the mic isn't quite top-tier.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Mammoth 135-hour battery life, we can't overstate how good this is 100th
- ANC is seriously impressive, close to Sony and Bose for way less cash 99th
- LDAC and spatial audio give you flagship sound detail 99th
- Multipoint and Bluetooth 5.4 make connectivity a breeze 98th
Cons
- Build feels flimsy and plastic-heavy, not built to take a beating 29th
- Comfort falls behind rivals, ear cushions get warm and clamp a bit tight 35th
- No in-ear detection, a weird omission in 2026
- Studio sound is mediocre, don't buy these for mixing or critical listening
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
| Ear Cushion | memory foam |
Audio
| Driver Type | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 40 |
| Impedance | 16 |
| Sensitivity | 110 |
| Hi-Res Audio | Yes |
| Codecs | LDAC |
| Surround | Spatial Audio |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | adaptive |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm |
Battery
| Battery Life | 135 |
| Charge Time | 2 |
| Fast Charging | 5-minute charge delivers 8 hours of playback time (ANC off) |
| Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 5 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Voice Assistant | ChatGPT |
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | Nothing X |
| Gaming Mode | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP52 |
Value & Pricing
At a street price floating between $169 and $250, the Headphone (a) is a steal if battery and ANC are your top priorities. You're getting 98th percentile noise cancelling and best-in-class stamina for half what Sony or Bose charge. The cost-cutting shows in the materials, but for many people that's a fair trade. If you just want a travel companion that never dies, this is the obvious budget pick.
vs Competition
The Sony WH-1000XM6 still holds the ANC crown and feels infinitely more premium, but its battery is a joke next to the Nothing, and it costs nearly double. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 offers better build and richer sound tuning, yet its ANC doesn't touch the Headphone (a) and battery is merely 'good'. If you absolutely need all-day cloud-like comfort, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the answer, but again you lose the battery bragging rights and pay a lot more. Nothing has carved out a niche where it beats giants on the metrics that matter to budget buyers.
| Spec | Nothing Headphone (a) B186 | Sony WH-1000XM6 WH-1000XM6 | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 M4AEBT | Bowers & Wilkins Px7 Px7 S3 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra QuietComfort Ultra | Technics EAH-A800 EAH-A800 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear |
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic | Dynamic | bio-cellulose | Dynamic | PEEK/Polyurethane 3-Layer Diaphragm |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 30 | 42 | 40 | - | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | 16 | 48 | 470 | 33 | 32 | 34 |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Battery Life Hours | 135 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 24 | 50 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Headphone (a) B186 | 97.7 | 87 | 34.6 | 95.1 | 99.9 | 28.8 | 98.6 | 98.8 |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 WH-1000XM6 Compare | 97.7 | 91.3 | 92.3 | 95.1 | 72.7 | 79.5 | 99.8 | 93.6 |
| Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 M4AEBT Compare | 97.7 | 85.1 | 77.1 | 97.6 | 89.3 | 79.5 | 99 | 79 |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px7 Px7 S3 Compare | 97.7 | 98.3 | 77.1 | 93.2 | 72.7 | 65.7 | 97.5 | 93.6 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra QuietComfort Ultra Compare | 87.5 | 78.6 | 95.9 | 47.9 | 69.3 | 79.5 | 99.4 | 93.6 |
| Technics EAH-A800 EAH-A800 Compare | 92.5 | 98.3 | 77.1 | 96.9 | 83.8 | 50.8 | 93.1 | 98.8 |
Common Questions
Q: Can I use these wired when the battery dies?
Yup, there's a 3.5mm jack so you can plug in for passive listening even with zero charge. No ANC in that mode, but at least your music doesn't stop.
Q: Is the ANC strong enough for flights?
Definitely. With up to 40dB of cancellation and adaptive mics, engine drone gets squashed hard. Far better than most budget headphones, and close to what you'd get from Sony. Just note the passive isolation isn't as good because the earcup seal isn't perfect for everyone.
Q: How comfortable are they for glasses wearers?
Not the best. The memory foam cushions are okay but the headband clamp force is stronger than we'd like. If you wear thick frames, pressure builds up after a couple of hours. Look at Bose QC Ultra if comfort is non-negotiable.
Who Should Skip This
If you want headphones you can forget you're wearing, skip these. The Nothing Headphone (a) isn't built for all-day comfort, and the plastic creaks remind you it's budget. Go grab the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony WH-1000XM6 if your ears deserve a spa day. Also, if you need studio-grade flat response, these are way too colored, grab a pair of open-back Sennheisers instead.
Verdict
Buy the Nothing Headphone (a) if you value battery life above everything else and want ANC that rivals the best for half the price. The sound is more than good enough for daily listening, and the feature set is generous. Just don't expect a luxury feel or plush comfort. For the money, this is a brilliant second pair or a primary for commuters who charge weekly, not daily.
