Nothing Headphone 1 Pro vs AirPods Max 2 vs Beats 360: Nothing takes on Apple headphones
Nothing is walking straight into Apple’s territory—expensive headphones. So, yes, I’m comparing Nothing Headphone 1 Pro vs AirPods Max 2 vs Beats 360. The Headphone (1) Pro went on sale September 29 for $399, a week after Apple-owned Beats launched the Beats 360 at $349.99. Apple’s AirPods Max 2 still sit at the top of the price list at $549.
But it’s not just about price. Nothing is taking a very different approach to its third pair of headphones. This time, it’s brought in Metropolis Studios for tuning and added a physical switch for Flat EQ—which supports music production and mixing.
Nothing isn’t just trying to make another pair of expensive headphones. But it is making music central to the experience again. That’s interesting, especially since Apple has spent years integrating its headphones into the ecosystem and focusing on use beyond music.
Quick Verdict
If music is the whole reason you’re buying, get the Nothing Headphone 1 Pro. With its EQ customization, music will sound the way the artist intended. Current iPhone owners will feel right at home in AirPods Max 2. If you take your headphones to the gym or on the commute, the Beats 360 is the pick.
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Which sounds better when you’re actually listening to music?
Ever heard the studio version of a song you know by heart? That’s the sound Nothing is going after. Each ear cup splits the work among three drivers: 40 mm bass, a smaller dynamic driver for vocals, and an xMEMS tweeter for treble.
But I mostly care about the Flat EQ switch. Flip it, and the house tuning disappears. So I hear a track closer to how it was mixed. Flip it back, and I’ve got Metropolis’s genre presets.
Apple goes the other direction—H2 and computational audio adjust the sound for you. The quality is fine, but the music? It’s always an approximation of what the musician intended. Beats offers adaptive EQ and Personalized Audio, but Nothing goes considerably further with manual sound shaping.
My Verdict: Nothing Headphone 1 Pro are the best Headphones for music here. If you want to adjust how your music sounds, they take a really interesting approach.
What are you actually paying for beyond the sound?
What should $350+ buy you besides audio? Each company has different ideas.
Nothing spends it on controls: a roller for volume, a paddle for tracks, that Flat EQ switch…Then, it offers wired listening over USB-C or 3.5mm on iPhone or Android.
Apple spends it on software. H2 runs the ANC, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, even Live Translation for in-person chats in another language.
Beats splits the difference. You get Find My and one-touch pairing on iPhone plus Fast Pair on Android without the AirPods price tag.
My verdict: AirPods Max 2 pack the most into the price. But the bigger difference is what each company thinks premium headphones are for.
Which pair would I want to wear all day?
I’m not spending $400 on headphones that I want to take off after an hour.
Beats 360 are the lightest here at 294.5g, with breathable cushions that snap off automatically. I can swap a fresh set after a sweaty commute. Engadget did find the fit tight on larger heads, though.
Nothing weighs 327g with dual-layer cushions and a 10% wider headband. However, SoundGuys flagged the band’s light padding.
AirPods Max 2 weigh 386g with a strong clamp. They’re the pair I’d want off my head first by hour three of a workday or a long-haul flight.
My verdict: Beats 360 are the most comfortable of the trio.
Which one makes the most sense with your phone?
Do you bounce between an iPhone, Android tablet, and a work laptop? AirPods Max 2 are effortless on iPhone, but on Android, SoundGuys says you lose multipoint, firmware updates, and the smart features. Beats 360 covers both camps.
Nothing is a more interesting option here. It pairs through MFi on iPhone, and Google Fast Pair on Android. It also has a dual connection that links to my laptop and phone simultaneously—no particular ecosystem required.
My verdict: If you already own Apple devices, the AirPods 2 Max are worth paying for. If you don’t, Nothing Headphone 1 Pro wins, because the headphones work the same on Android and iPhone.
Where each one wins
Nothing has given music unusually high priority. Metropolis Studios tuning and three drivers per cup point to a serious listening device. It’s also the only pair here with hi-res USB-A audio and a 3.5mm jack, on iOS or Android. SlashGear’s reviewer called it their favorite controls on any headphones.
The catch is, if you’re not interested in EQ or sound profiles, you might miss what makes Nothing different.
Where Nothing Headphone (1) Pro wins
Nothing Headphone (1) Pro
Nothing has given music unusually high priority. Metropolis Studios tuning and three drivers per cup point to a serious listening device. It’s also the only pair here with hi-res USB-A audio and a 3.5mm jack, on iOS or Android. SlashGear’s reviewer called it their favorite controls on any headphones.
The catch is, if you’re not interested in EQ or sound profiles, you might miss what makes Nothing different.
Where AirPods Max 2 win
AirPods Max 2
With the AirPods Max 2, Apple has turned headphones into an extension of the iPhone. H2 drives the best noise-canceling of the three headphones. Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness mean I don’t have to switch modes every time someone talks to me.
But you’re buying Apple’s version of a premium headphone. That means convenience is part of the product. Battery also trails at 20 with ANC on.
Where Beats 360 Wins
Beats 360
Beats gives Apple a premium over-ear option for people on the move. It’s the brand’s first over-ear pair with IPX4 sweat and water resistance. The breathable, swappable cushions make sense for workouts and hot commutes. The battery runs up to 32 hours with ANC on.
It solves a different problem than Nothing, though. If you’re after a serious listening setup, there’s no wired audio here.
Nothing Headphone 1 Pro vs AirPods Max 2 vs Beats 360: Which should you buy?
Nothing Headphone 1 Pro: Choose it if you’re buying headphones for the music.
AirPods Max 2: They’re the headphones to get if you’re already deep in the Apple ecosystem.
Beats 360: The pick for anyone who wants over-ear headphones that mesh with an active life. Great for everyday listening and even workouts.
Nothing doesn’t out-Apple Apple here. What it is doing is offering discerning listeners another high-quality headphone option, with seriously interesting customizations. I think it makes that case.
