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Nothing Headphone (1) vs AirPods Max: Did Nothing deliver on its promise?
July 13, 2025
In the build-up to the release of their first headphones, Nothing stated that they had built a product they believe is “better than AirPods Max”. Now that we’ve had the chance to test both headphones side by side, are the Nothing Headphone (1) actually better than the Apple AirPods Max? Let’s dive into it in this full hands-on comparison.
This article was originally published on July 13, 2025, and this is the first version.
What’s it like to use the Nothing Headphone (1) compared to the Apple AirPods Max?
Wearing the Nothing Headphone (1) turns heads with its retro-futuristic design and transparent elements. It’s a visual statement that also feels premium in hand, with a sturdy build and memory foam padding that ensures comfort for hours. However, the design isn’t without drawbacks—its rectangular earcups occasionally bump into each other when worn around the neck, and the headphones don’t fold.
The AirPods Max feel more traditionally luxurious, thanks to their aluminum earcups and a plush fabric headband that distributes weight evenly. At 385g, they’re noticeably heavier than the 329g Nothing headphones, but comfort doesn’t suffer thanks to the deep, roomy earcups. However, Apple’s “Smart Case” is barely protective, and the lack of a power button introduces quirks around battery management when not docked.
When it comes to onboard controls the Nothing Headphone (1) uses a tactile control system that is similar to the physical buttons on the AirPods Max. While the AirPods Max have native Siri integration, you can also access the voice assistant from the Nothing Headphone (1) with the press of a button.
The Nothing Headphone (1) hold a slight edge in durability, thanks to the IP52 dust and water resistance rating. The AirPods Max are not rated for any dust or water resistance.
Do the Nothing Headphone (1) or Apple AirPods Max have more features?
The Nothing X app unlocks a ton of features for the Nothing Headphone (1). The standout feature is the parametric 8-band equalizer that provides full control over the sound of the headphones. You can also tweak other aspects of the headphones such as the controls and ANC strength within the app. If you like thumping bass, you can try out the “Bass Enhancement” modes, which I find provide significant emphasis on the low-end. Just like AirPods Max, there are two spatial audio modes to try with the Nothing Headphone (1): Head-tracking or Fixed.
On the other hand, the AirPods Max prioritize seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. Automatic switching between iCloud devices makes them incredibly convenient—if you use Apple gear. You can also quickly adjust the headphones ANC and spatial audio modes directly within the control center on your device. That said, there’s no custom EQ, no IP rating, and Android or PC users miss out on many smart functions.
How do the Nothing Headphone (1) and Apple AirPods Max connect?
Nothing’s Headphone (1) supports Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint pairing, SBC, AAC, and LDAC, making it well-suited to both Android and iOS users. It also includes both USB-C and 3.5mm analog cables for wired listening, and pairing is fast with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair.
The AirPods Max run on Bluetooth 5.0 and use Apple’s H1 chip for lightning-fast pairing with iOS devices. They only support SBC and AAC codecs, which is fine for Apple users but limiting for Android users who might prefer aptX or LDAC. True Bluetooth Multipoint is missing, but iOS devices seamlessly switch audio, which mimics the effect.
Is battery life better on the Nothing Headphone (1) or Apple AirPods Max?
We measured 42 hours and 53 minutes of playback with ANC enabled on the Nothing Headphone (1), far surpassing its 35-hour claim. With ANC off, Nothing claims up to 80 hours—ideal for long trips or workweeks.
The AirPods Max hold up decently with 20-21 hours of ANC playback, but the battery can drain if the headset isn’t docked in its Smart Case. And you can’t turn them off manually, which affects long-term battery longevity. Nothing’s inclusion of fast charging—5 hours of playback from 5 minutes—also eclipses Apple’s more limited fast charge capabilities.
Do the Nothing Headphone (1) or Apple AirPods Max block noise better?
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The AirPods Max remain one of the best ANC performers. Our lab tests showed highly effective attenuation, especially in low frequencies like airplane cabin noise. Overall, you get an average noise reduction of 88%. Transparency mode is also excellent, delivering clear, amplified outside sound that doesn’t interrupt your music.
Nothing’s ANC is also impressive, with an average noise reduction of 85%. It delivers 15–25dB attenuation in low frequencies and strong passive isolation with peaks of 52dB in the high end. The ANC doesn’t quite match the AirPods Max across the board, but it holds up very well. The Nothing Headphone (1) also have an impressive transparency mode that is nearly on par with the AirPods Max.
Do the Nothing Headphone (1) sound better than the Apple AirPods Max?
Straight out of the box, the Nothing Headphone (1) sound dark and underemphasize mids and treble. I had to spend time with the excellent 8-band EQ to fix the subdued highs. Once tuned, the sound becomes much more balanced and enjoyable. Meanwhile, the AirPods Max offer an adaptive sound signature that’s pleasing for most listeners, even though they lack user-controlled EQ.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
The Nothing Headphone (1) received a respectable 4.1 Overall MDAQS rating with strong Timbre (4.4) and Immersiveness (3.9), but weaker Distortion performance (3.5).
The AirPods Max attain slightly different scores depending on if the Adaptive EQ is enabled, with the highest Overall score in our measurements at a 4.5 (as of firmware update 6F25). This means more people will prefer the sound quality of the AirPods Max straight out of the box.
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
Objective Measurements
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As you can see in the measurements above, the default frequency response of the Nothing Headphone (1) and AirPods Max are both relatively aligned with our SoundGuys Preference Curve. That said, the AirPods Max more closely matches up with our target, particularly in the treble. As with the MDAQS results above, this suggests more people will prefer the AirPods Max straight out of the box, but the Nothing Headphone (1) offers more customization in the equalizer.
Do the Nothing Headphone (1) or Apple AirPods Max have a better microphone?
Both headphones perform adequately for calls, but the AirPods Max struggle with consistency across devices. On Apple hardware, voice quality is good, but on non-Apple platforms, it varies dramatically depending on how devices handle Bluetooth audio. The Nothing Headphone (1), by contrast, provides cleaner and more reliable voice pickup thanks to AI-powered Clear Voice Technology that handles wind and ambient noise well.
That said, the Nothing mic struggles in reverberant rooms, picking up unwanted echo noises and sounding distant. The AirPods Max fare a bit better here, but their default performance doesn’t quite redeem the inconsistency on non-Apple gear. If you prioritize mic reliability across platforms, Nothing is the safer bet.
Nothing Headphone (1) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Apple AirPods Max microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Nothing Headphone (1) microphone demo (Reverb conditions):
Apple AirPods Max microphone demo (Reverb conditions):
Which microphone sounds better to you?
Nothing Headphone (1) vs Apple AirPods Max: Price and availability
The Nothing Headphone (1) have a much more affordable starting price of $299, compared to the $549 starting price of the AirPods Max. That said, since the AirPods Max are five years older, you are much more likely to find them on sale. At regular price, the Nothing Headphone (1) are the better value, but if you can grab the AirPods Max for closer to $300, they are a great choice.
Should you get the Nothing Headphone (1) or Apple AirPods Max?
If you are in the Apple ecosystem, and you want the absolute best wireless headphone experience, the AirPods Max are still the clear choice. You get seamless integration with all your devices, continuous over-the-air firmware upgrades, and best-in-class active noise cancellation. If you have the budget for the AirPods Max, you won’t regret buying them.
On the other hand, the Nothing Headphone (1) are our new favorite mid-range headphones. While they aren’t the best at any one particular thing, they are packed full of all the features and customization options anyone could need. For Android users, tinkerers, or those seeking something unique, the Nothing Headphone (1) are a great choice.
20-hour battery life
Well-built pads