Same family
CMF Headphone Pro
- Up to 50 hours with ANC
- Easy roller control
Cheaper alternatives to the Nothing Headphone (a)
Three cheaper headphones that sit lighter on your head and still last for days.
Updated November 5, 2026
Lightest pick
Illustration of a noise-canceling headphones; no product photo shown
JBL Tune 780NC
- Only 225 g
- Folds flat
Strong on voices
Soundcore Space One
- Blocks voices and traffic
- LDAC and two devices
The original
Nothing Headphone (a)
Worth it if: You hate charging headphones
- Huge battery, up to 75 hours
- Physical controls that are easy to use
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Headphone (a)?
What the extra money buys
- Huge battery, up to 75 hours
- Physical controls that are easy to use
- Punchy, balanced sound
- Standout retro design
Worth it if
- You hate charging headphones
- You want buttons, not touch panels
- You love the look
Not worth it if
- Heavy headphones give you headaches
- You need a hard case for travel
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
CMF Headphone Pro
CMF is Nothing's budget label, and its Headphone Pro costs under a third of the Headphone (a), with a similar roller control and LDAC. TechRadar liked its bass-hungry, detailed sound and outstanding battery. SoundGuys found the plastic creaks and the noise canceling solid for the price.
JBL Tune 780NC
At 225 g the Tune 780NC is far lighter than the Headphone (a) and folds into a bag. HIFI.DE calls it a dependable everyday pair with average sound and noise canceling, and Les Numériques praised the battery but found the shallow pads squeeze a little.
Soundcore Space One
The Space One weighs less than the Headphone (a) and costs about half. Trusted Reviews found it blocks voices and traffic well and sounds clear and detailed, though bass is lean and calls are weak. T3 liked the comfort but questioned the plastic hinges.
Final recommendation: To keep the Nothing feel for less, the CMF Headphone Pro is the obvious pick. The JBL Tune 780NC is the lightest and folds away. The Soundcore Space One suits loud commutes full of voices. Stay with the Headphone (a) if you want the longest battery and the best physical controls, and don't mind the weight.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | Illustration of a noise-canceling headphones; no product photo shown Lightest pickJBL Tune 780NC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Affordable | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Battery, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 75 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 40 hours |
| Weight | 310 g | 283 g | 225 g | 265 g |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Two devices at once | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folds / case | Pouch, no hard case | Folds flat, soft pouch | Folds, no case | Folds, soft pouch |
| Headphone cable | 3.5 mm and USB-C | Yes, 3.5 mm (powered on) | USB-C to 3.5 mm cable | – |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Is the Nothing Headphone (a) heavy?
Yes, at 310 g it's heavier than most rivals, and TechRadar and Tom's Guide both found the clamp strong. If heavy headphones bother you, one of the lighter pairs here will feel easier over a long day.
How long does the Headphone (a) battery last?
Nothing claims up to 75 hours with noise canceling on and 135 with it off. Reviewers couldn't drain it fully during testing, which says a lot.
Does the Headphone (a) come with a case?
No, just a soft drawstring pouch. It also lacks auto-pause when you take it off. Both are cost cuts reviewers forgave at this price.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Nothing Headphone (a) with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Nothing: Headphone (a), TechRadar: Nothing Headphone (a) review, Tom's Guide: Nothing Headphone (a) review, Nothing: CMF Headphone Pro, TechRadar: CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro review, SoundGuys: CMF Headphone Pro review, JBL: Tune 780NC, HIFI.DE: JBL Tune 780 NC im Test, Les Numériques : test JBL Tune 780NC, Soundcore: Space One, Trusted Reviews: Soundcore Space One review, T3: Soundcore Space One review.