ZDNET Key Points
- For $99, the new product Nothing Ear (a) in-ear headphones Provides clear sound and thoughtful design.
- Affordable price, comfort, and long battery life make them a great choice for budget-conscious shoppers.
- Unfortunately, its middling noise-canceling technology doesn’t protect you from outside noise.
Most audio technology on the market today focuses on aesthetics. I have tested a lot of earbuds This year, and one thing I’ve noticed is that many manufacturers are sacrificing style for function, opting for blacks, grays, and enough matte finishes to fit in a therapist’s office — which makes me sad. In the words of the late, great artist Andre Leon Talley, “it’s a hunger for beauty” here.
Also: Why I Ditched AirPods Pro for Nothing’s New Transparent Headphones (and Don’t Regret It)
So when Nothing sent me their new earbuds, I was excited to finally see a great, fresh and exciting design, and they deserve a mention. I tested the new earbuds Nothing Ear (a) in-ear headphones Since their launch, I’ve taken them on ten-mile runs, worked at my desk, and taken the subway with them in my ears. One question that informed my initial testing was: Despite their stylish design, how does their sound technology compare to similarly priced competitors?
The Nothing Ear (a) has better specs than the same brand’s Ear (1) earbuds from 2021. The new earbuds come with a host of upgrades like improved active noise cancellation, transparency mode, longer battery life, multipoint Bluetooth, reduced latency for gaming, and pinch gesture controls.
Also: Best Earbuds of 2024: Expert Tested and Reviewed
Nothing plays with solid colors and transparent accents, putting both at the forefront of its product design. You can’t help but be haunted by the brand’s unique visual appeal: a simple design that reveals the inner workings of technology, set against a bold backdrop. The clean design of both the headphone case and the headphones themselves allows users to peer into the inner workings of the technology and appreciate what is usually hidden.
The earbuds come with three sizes of ear tips in the box and come in three colors: black, white, and yellow. I tried the yellow earbuds, which is the first non-neutral color in Nothing’s earbuds line. The color feels bold and bright, both a fashion accessory and a tech accessory.
The same can’t be said of other competing earbuds: I’ve looked at my list of best earbuds to see if there was any variety in color and found that every top earbud I included was either black, off white, or white, from Sony WF-1000XM5 And JBL Tour Pro 2ARRIVE Bose QuietComfort Ultra And Apple AirPods Pro. These earbuds, on the other hand, are like the AirPods Pro’s funky little sister, who attends art school, buys gifts for her friends through the MOMA Store, and can explain to you the difference between white wine and orange wine.
The case is light and compact, so it won’t get in the way or weigh you down when you slip it into your pocket. The earbuds themselves are comfortable and easy to wear, with extra tactile ear tips that help keep the earbuds firmly in place in your ear canal as you move around. Nothing else comes close to these earbuds’ multipoint Bluetooth functionality and in-ear detection when you’re wearing them, two great features that are sometimes lacking on cheaper earbuds.
Also: The best earbuds I’ve ever heard aren’t from Bose or Sony
I ran for five hours, worked and commuted with these headphones for a week straight and the battery life was still at 80%. Needless to say, these headphones won’t run out of battery easily.
One of my favorite design choices with the Ear(a) is that the controls are controlled by pinching instead of tapping and swiping, similar to AirPods Pro 2 Headphones. Most earbuds I’ve tested with the same style have touch controls at the top of the earbud where the eartip meets the earbud. I always run with my earbuds in my ears, and when my ears get too sweaty and the earbud starts to slip out, I accidentally touch and activate the touch control when I try to push the earbud back into my ear.
Also: Best earbuds under $100
Nothing about this issue gets rid of for me, as the touch controls are located at the bottom of the body, out of the way of accidental touches. Although you have to pinch to activate the controls, they are reliable and have good feedback. The pinch controls let you play and pause music, skip tracks, and toggle between ANC and transparency modes.
Speaking of ANC, this feature is where the Ear(a)s start to show their affordability. I turned on ANC while working in the office, and I could still hear my co-workers’ computer notifications and conversations around me. For $109, I wasn’t expecting great ANC, and that’s certainly not what I got. The headphones will drown out some noise, but you’ll pay a premium for premium ANC.
Review: Nothing Ear Stick: In-ear headphones, but make it fashionable
However, when it comes to actual sound quality, these earbuds produce balanced, clear, and bright sound. While listening to Moses Sumney and Shabaka InsecurityThe high-mids of the harp and flute sparkled in my ears without being too harsh. Songs with strong bass can be further enhanced by adjusting the Bass Boost algorithm in the Nothing app. While listening to Kaytranada What you needI toggle between five levels of bass boost to boost the lower frequencies. This feature produces a noticeably different sound with deeper, richer bass.
ZDNET Buying Advice
Nothing Ear (a) is the best choice for those who want an affordable pair of earbuds with thoughtful features and unique design.
If you want more effective noise-canceling earbuds at a similar price, consider the JLab JBuds ANC 3 for their strong noise-canceling and snug fit. If you like the Nothing’s unique and attractive design choices but want better sound, more effective ANC, and more premium features, try the No ears.
