Edifier ES850NB VS Nothing Headphone 1

Both the Edifier ES850NB and the Nothing Headphone 1 share the same over-ear fit and a broadly portable-friendly design package — detachable and tangle-free cables, a closed-back build, and an included travel bag. For everyday commuters, these shared traits mean neither headphone will feel at a disadvantage in terms of basic usability and cable management.

Where the two diverge meaningfully is in portability and resilience. The ES850NB weighs a notably lighter 265 g versus the Headphone 1's 329 g — a 64 g difference that becomes tangible during extended wear sessions, reducing fatigue over long listening periods. The ES850NB also folds flat, making it significantly more compact for storage and travel, a real advantage for users who regularly pack their headphones into a bag. The Headphone 1, however, counters with sweat resistance — a feature the ES850NB entirely lacks — giving it an edge for gym use or outdoor activity where moisture exposure is a concern.

Overall, the ES850NB holds the design edge for most users: it is lighter, foldable, and therefore more travel-friendly. The Nothing Headphone 1 earns a specific advantage only for active or fitness-oriented use cases where sweat resistance is a priority. If portability and all-day comfort are the deciding factors, the ES850NB's design is the more practical choice.

On paper, these two headphones are remarkably well-matched in sound quality fundamentals. Both share an identical 20 Hz–40,000 Hz frequency range, 40 mm driver units, active noise cancellation, and spatial audio support — meaning neither holds a spec-sheet advantage in raw audio capability or the core features that define modern headphone performance.

The one differentiator in this group is passive noise reduction, which the Nothing Headphone 1 offers and the ES850NB does not. This matters in practice: passive noise reduction — achieved through physical enclosure and ear cup design — attenuates ambient sound even when ANC is switched off or the battery is depleted. The ES850NB, lacking this, will let in more environmental noise in those scenarios. For users in loud commuting or office environments who may occasionally use their headphones unpowered, this gap is a genuine consideration.

The Nothing Headphone 1 takes a narrow edge in this category, strictly on the basis of its additional passive noise reduction. Everything else being equal, that extra layer of isolation gives it a more complete noise management profile across varying usage conditions.

Battery life is where the Edifier ES850NB establishes its most commanding lead in this comparison. At 92 hours of standard playback versus the Nothing Headphone 1's 80 hours, the gap is already meaningful — but with ANC active, the difference widens considerably: 53 hours for the ES850NB against just 35 hours for the Headphone 1. That 18-hour ANC gap is the more telling figure, since ANC-on is likely the default mode for most users purchasing noise-cancelling headphones.

In practical terms, the ES850NB's ANC endurance could mean the difference between charging once versus twice over a long-haul trip or an intensive work week. The Headphone 1's 35-hour ANC runtime is by no means poor — it still comfortably outlasts a typical multi-day usage cycle — but it trails noticeably by comparison. Both headphones charge via USB-C and share the same core charging infrastructure, so there is no convenience difference on that front.

The ES850NB wins this category clearly, with superior battery performance across both standard and ANC modes. For users who prioritize infrequent charging and sustained ANC use, this is a significant practical advantage.

The connectivity profiles of these two headphones are closely aligned, with both supporting LDAC and AAC — a solid codec pairing that covers high-resolution wireless audio for Android users and efficient streaming for Apple device users respectively. The identical 10 m Bluetooth range and shared wireless-plus-wired connectivity mean neither headphone has a practical edge in day-to-day signal reach or flexibility.

The two points of divergence are Bluetooth version and fast pairing. The ES850NB runs Bluetooth 5.4 versus the Headphone 1's 5.3 — a generational step that can bring incremental improvements in connection stability and energy efficiency, though in real-world listening conditions the difference is unlikely to be dramatic. More tangibly, the Nothing Headphone 1 supports fast pairing, which streamlines the initial device connection process — a small but genuinely convenient quality-of-life feature that the ES850NB omits.

This category is effectively a near-tie, with each product holding one minor advantage over the other. The ES850NB's newer Bluetooth version has a slight theoretical edge in connection robustness, while the Headphone 1's fast pairing offers a more immediately noticeable convenience perk. The decision here comes down to whether a user values incremental wireless refinement or setup convenience — neither advantage is decisive.

Feature-wise, these two headphones share a strong common foundation: noise-canceling microphones, ambient sound mode, 2-device multipoint connectivity, and on-device controls — covering the core expectations of any modern ANC headphone. For most users, this shared set alone handles the majority of daily use cases, from switching between a laptop and phone to taking calls without removing the headset.

The single differentiator here is in/on-ear detection, which the Nothing Headphone 1 supports and the ES850NB does not. This sensor-driven feature automatically pauses playback when the headphones are removed and resumes when put back on — a subtle but genuinely useful convenience that reduces manual interaction and prevents missed audio when stepping away briefly.

The Nothing Headphone 1 holds a narrow edge in this category, purely on the strength of its in/on-ear detection. It is not a transformative advantage, but for users who frequently take their headphones on and off throughout the day, the automatic pause/resume behavior adds meaningful polish to the overall experience that the ES850NB simply does not offer.