When Nothing Ear was released there was a lot of excitement for the first genuine wireless earbuds. Simply defined, they did not live up to the expectations. They had a nice design. However, they had a very quiet sound, several connection problems, and poor noise cancellation. Ever since the Nothing Ear 1 Earbuds Black Edition and a number of improvements to the original wireless earphones have changed things.
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These look a little nicer, feel a little more comfortable, and, most importantly, sound really well for the price.
Of course, there is still scope for change. In comparison to the competitors, the charging case is still quite large. The active noise canceling on the earphones is better than earlier. However, the Transparency mode leaves a lot to be wanted. So, though they’re not perfect earphones, there’s a lot to appreciate about them. Their distinct clear design complements a black casing better than its white counterpart. Even though customers are not sure how frequently someone looks appreciatively at their earphones, it’s a great concept.
A software upgrade has also allowed voice assistant capability. It’s as simple as you’d imagine and, when combined with the Nothing Ear (1)’s always quick touch controls, is likely to come in handy during walks or workouts. The audio performance has also been improved, with a much larger soundstage than expected. Nothing’s collaboration with Swedish audio studio Teenage Engineerings appears to be shining through this time. Moreover, ANC means you no longer hear what’s happening around you.
Price and Availability
The Nothing Ear (1) is available now for $100 / £100 / AU$150, making them affordably priced for noise-canceling wireless earbuds.
Although only available through a limited drop on the Nothing website, they are now available through third-party sellers such as Amazon. Both Black and White versions are available. However, if you’re buying from a third-party shop, you may want to go with the Black version to ensure you’re getting the most recent model.
Design
The Nothing Ear (1) is designed in a totally unique way. If you want earbuds that stand out from the crowd, these are the ones to get. Both the earphones and the charging case are basically fully transparent. The only things you can’t see through are the earbud cover and the bottom of the charging case. Some of the internal structures, such as the circuit boards and magnets, can be seen, and they seem really cool. If you want to understand more about how your earphones function, here is a fun way to do so.
They’re also comfortable, thanks to a choice of three silicone tips. Each earbud stem is touch-sensitive, and there are a number of options to adjust here. In addition to the normal choices, the Nothing Ear (1) app allows you to change the settings. This is also where voice assistant support may be installed.
The charging case is the least attractive part of the kit. Its flip-top design is satisfyingly quick, but the casing itself is much larger than competitors’. It won’t simply fit in your pocket.
Audio performance and noise cancellation
The original version of the Nothing Ear (1) missed a lot of aurally, but they’re really nice this time around. While the music may be a little deeper and louder, the mids seem clear and smooth, with a hint of sharpness. The beat isn’t flat in this song.
A large soundstage makes you feel like you’re a part of the event, with Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy feeling like it’s coming at you from all angles. Listening to Foo Fighters’ All My Life makes you realize the bass might be stronger. However, switching to Queen’s Under Pressure makes you satisfied with the finer features.
Whatever you’re listening to, turning up the level is actually noticeable this time. The noise cancellation is quite effective. We couldn’t hear the TV playing across the room or even the tapping on our keyboard with the music at roughly half volume and noise cancellation set to Maximum via the app.
The transparency mode is still a bit shaky, but we’ll take it for better ANC.
Battery life and connectivity
With ANC turned on, the Nothing Ear (1) provides approximately four hours of listening time. When combined with the case, you should have roughly 24 hours total. If you turn off ANC, that number rises to 34. It’s a reasonable amount, if not outstanding in any direction. However, a 10-minute charge of the case provides almost eight hours of playback time. It can be charged using either the wireless charging case or the USB-C connector.
Bluetooth 5.2 is used for connectivity. There is currently no Bluetooth multipoint or aptX/LDAC codec compatibility for deep audio streaming, but one saw no dropouts. The first time one paired the earphones, it simply took a few seconds, and the earbuds never failed to connect.
The Nothing app shows the exact battery life for each bud and allows you to select noise cancellation settings, touch controls, and audio presets. However, there is no method to directly adjust one or the other.
Reasons to buy
Nothing Ear (1) will reflect nothing else you’ve seen before, and they’re very cool.
These won’t compete with the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM4 in terms of ANC, but for the price, they’re highly efficient.
Touch controls might be problematic at times, but the Nothing Ear (1) is well designed and quick.
Reasons to avoid
The Nothing Ear (1) offers sufficient sound for the price, but it loses bass.
The Nothing Ear (1) won’t blow your mind if you need a lot of battery life, thanks to its decent but ordinary battery life.
It’s great that there’s a Nothing app, but not being able to fully customize the mixer isn’t perfect.
Conclusion
The Nothing ear (1) earbuds are an amazing set of earphones. The design is definitely the most eye-catching component of them. The use of transparent material for the earphones and casing looks fantastic, and there is nothing else like it on the market. These are among the lightest and most comfy earphones available. The Nothing Ear 1 also offers a fantastic sound, active noise cancellation, and great audio. If you don’t require the most up-to-date technology or the most personalization, the Nothing Ear 1 is an excellent true wireless earbud alternative.
