Nothing Headphone (1) vs Sonos Ace Ultra

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Headphone (1) compared with Ace Ultra

	NothingHeadphone (1)	SonosAce Ultra
Overview
Released
Released	July 2025	September 2026
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	Yes	Yes
Driver size
Driver size	40 mm	40 mm
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC, AAC and LDAC	SBC, AAC and aptX Lossless
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	Yes	Yes
Drivers
Drivers	40 mm dynamic driver with PU diaphragm surround, 16 Ω; 20 Hz to 40 kHz; sound tuned by KEF	Custom-designed 40 mm dynamic driver in each cup
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Real-time adaptive noise cancelling, up to 42 dB depth (Nothing's figure); Transparency mode	Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation adjusts to changes in fit and surroundings; Aware mode with optional Voice Boost; sidetone lets you hear your own voice during calls
Audio features
Audio features	LDAC with Hi-Res Wireless certification (24-bit/96 kHz); USB-C audio; spatial audio with head tracking; Personal Sound profile from a hearing test in the Nothing X app; 8-band equaliser; Low Lag mode	Dolby Atmos and dynamic Dolby Head Tracking with compatible content and devices; TrueCinema tunes playback to your room and compatible Sonos soundbar; TV Audio Swap supports two pairs, with head tracking available for one pair. Adaptive EQ plus 3-band or 8-band EQ and Loudness controls
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 35 hours	Up to 35 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	1040 mAh battery; with AAC, up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on or 80 hours off; with LDAC, up to 30 hours on or 54 hours off; talk time 37 hours with noise cancelling on, 53 hours off	Replaceable 1060 mAh lithium-ion battery; up to 35 hours with ANC or Aware mode on, or 50 hours with ANC off in the maker guide
Fast charging
Fast charging	5 minutes gives 2.4 hours of playback with noise cancelling on, or 5 hours with it off; full charge in 120 minutes over USB-C	Three minutes from empty provides up to three hours of listening; full charge from empty in up to three hours. USB-C power adaptor sold separately
Design
Weight
Weight	329 g	322 g (better)
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	IP52	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.3	6.0
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	Roller (roll for volume, click to play or pause); Paddle (click to skip, hold to scrub); customisable Button with Channel Hop for recent media and favourites; power switch; on-head detection	Content Key slides for volume and presses for playback, calls and audio swapping; Noise Control button cycles noise modes or activates the connected device's voice assistant; Power/Bluetooth button; wear detection pauses and resumes playback
Microphones
Microphones	Three microphones on each side (six in total); four-microphone ENC for calls with Clear Voice Technology	Ten microphones for noise control, calls, Aware mode and TrueCinema
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Formed aluminium structural parts with precision-moulded plastics and a transparent casing on each ear cup; 189.25 × 173.85 × 78.0 mm	Adjustable stainless-steel headband; rotating ear cups with magnetically attached replaceable cushions; contrasting right-cup interior. Current UK page gives 322 g, while the maker guide gives 325 g
Dimensions
Dimensions	–	Current UK page gives 193 mm height, 163 mm width, 90.8 mm ear-cup width and 45 mm ear-cup depth; maker guide instead lists overall depth 84 mm
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	IP52 dust and water resistance	No IP rating published; maker guide says the headphones are not waterproof
Works with
Works with	Nothing X app; iOS 13 and above, Android 5.1 and above; dual connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair; 10 m range	Bluetooth multipoint to two devices, disabled by default; USB-C digital audio and supplied USB-C to 3.5 mm analogue cable, with Bluetooth disabled during cable use. Maker guide specifies aptX Lossless; SBC and AAC are listed by What Hi-Fi. Headphone linking over 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi on 2.4 or 5 GHz requires a compatible Sonos speaker and the Sonos app; opt-in Early Access, provided as-is and subject to change
Colours
Colours	White, Black	Black, Soft White, Agave, Sand
In the box
In the box	Headphones, softshell case (264 g), USB-C cable, 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm audio cable, user guide, safety and warranty information	Headphones, travel case with removable cable pouch, 0.75 m USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2 m USB-C to 3.5 mm cable, setup and warranty documentation; analogue cable is not compatible with third-party replacements