[Review] Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a) – Solid Performance Wireless Earbuds with Sleek, Transparent Design for Under $250

The Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a) earbuds are the latest offerings from Nothing, known for its distinctive transparent design and affordable yet quality tech products. The naming may be a tad confusing if you have been following Nothing’s range of products which started with Ear (1), Ear (2), Ear (stick) to just Ear and Ear (a).

Priced at $229 for the Nothing Ear and $159 for the Nothing Ear (a) respectively in Singapore, these earbuds offer solid performance and sleek aesthetics, making them a strong contender in the wireless earbuds market.

Design and Comfort

Both models feature Nothing’s signature transparent design, which gives them a modern and unique look. We are fans of their transparent design and are glad Nothing continued to build on the same aesthetic.

The Ear (a) adds a fun twist with bright yellow accents, while the Ear sticks to the classic black and white options.

The earbuds come with three sizes of ear tips, ensuring a comfortable fit for most users. However, those with smaller ears (like kids, for instance) might find the Ear a bit large, making the Ear (a) a more comfortable choice for extended wear.

Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation

The sound quality of both models is impressive for their price range.

They feature custom 11-mm drivers that deliver clear and dynamic audio across various genres. The Ear (a) provides a balanced sound profile with good detail in the highs and mids, while the Ear offers a slightly fuller and more defined audio experience due to its higher-quality ceramic drivers.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) on both models works well, effectively reducing background noise in most environments. The adaptive ANC feature adjusts noise cancellation based on the earbuds’ fit and surroundings, enhancing user comfort and audio quality. While they may not match the noise-canceling prowess of higher-end competitors’ models, they perform admirably given their price point and are more than sufficient for average daily use if you are not an extreme audiophile.

Battery Life and Features

Battery life varies slightly between the two models.

The Ear (a) offers up to 5.5 hours of playback with ANC on and up to 9.5 hours without it, while the Ear lasts up to 5.2 hours with ANC and up to 8.5 hours without.

The charging cases extend total battery life to 42.5 hours for the Ear (a) and 40.5 hours for the Ear. The Ear’s case also supports wireless charging, a feature absent in the Ear (a).

Both models come equipped with user-friendly features such as quick pairing with Android devices, customizable EQ settings via the Nothing X app, and responsive touch controls.

The Ear model also supports high-fidelity audio streaming with LDAC and LDHC codecs, offering superior sound quality for audiophiles.

Verdict

We found both the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a) to be excellent choices for anyone looking for stylish, high-quality wireless earbuds at an affordable price.

The Ear (a) stands out for its vibrant design (available in bright yellow) and slightly better battery life, making it a great value at $159. We would recommend this for most average users, particularly for students and young kids.

The Ear, while pricier, justifies its cost with enhanced audio quality and additional features like wireless charging and advanced codec support.

Overall, both models provide a compelling mix of design, functionality, and performance, making them strong contenders in the competitive wireless earbuds market. Nothing knows their positioning in the highly competitive earbuds market and continues to deliver on what they are known for.

Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a) are both available online via Nothing’s official online store on Shopee.