Budget true wireless earbuds are constantly improving, and the Nothing Ear (a) stand as one of the best options I’ve tested. Following in the footsteps of the Nothing Ear, these buds continue the tradition of offering great value. While their naming convention might leave you scratching your head, there’s no denying their impressive feature set and surprisingly capable audio quality. And with their striking design, they’re a refreshing change from the sea of generic-looking earbuds crowding the market.

Design: Transparency as a Signature

Nothing has carved out a distinct visual identity in a short time. Their commitment to transparency, showcasing the inner workings of their devices, adds a unique touch. The Nothing Ear (a) continue this trend with their clear case lid and visible stems. It’s a blend of retro and modern that sets them apart.

The smaller, more pocketable case, while less distinctive than the Nothing Ear (stick)’s cylindrical design, is practical and well-built. The buds themselves utilize the familiar “stem” design popularized by AirPods, which some may find offers additional stability compared to more compact buds like Sony’s WF-1000XM5.

The intuitive pinch controls are conveniently placed along the stems. While the app allows for customization, including volume adjustment via double pinch, this feature proved unreliable in practice.

Comfort: Superior

Sometimes, the best earbuds are the ones that melt into the background – the ones you can wear for hours without fatigue settling in. The Nothing Ear (a) pull off this disappearing trick exceptionally well. Each bud weighs less than five grams, making them feel incredibly light in your ears. After popping them in, you might occasionally find yourself checking to make sure they’re still there!

That airy feel wouldn’t mean much if the buds weren’t secure, but the Nothing Ear (a) have a clever trick up their sleeve: those short stems. While the trend lately has been towards stemless earbuds, this design choice often sacrifices stability. Not so with the Ear (a) – the stems provide just enough counterbalance to keep them firmly anchored without adding any noticeable pressure.

The result? You get the best of both worlds: lightweight comfort that allows you to focus on your music or podcasts, plus a reassuringly snug fit that won’t have you worrying about losing an earbud on your commute or during a workout. If you’ve struggled to find earbuds that don’t cause aches and pains after extended listening sessions, the Nothing Ear (a) could be your salvation.

Features and Sound: Surprisingly Rich for the Price

For their price, the Nothing Ear (a) boast a feature set that rivals some higher-priced options. Active noise cancellation (ANC), once a luxury reserved for premium earbuds, is becoming increasingly common at this level. The Nothing Ear (a) effectively reduce ambient noise, making them ideal for travel, commutes, or focusing in noisy environments. They achieve this with a combination of microphones strategically placed on the buds and clever digital processing algorithms. These algorithms analyze incoming noise and generate inverted sound waves to cancel it out. Users have granular control over the ANC intensity, with High, Mid, Low, and Adaptive modes available. The Adaptive mode attempts to automatically adjust the ANC level based on your surroundings, but I found manually selecting the High setting provided the most consistent noise cancellation.

Another notable feature is LDAC support, a high-quality audio codec that maximizes the potential of compatible streaming services on Android devices. While some users might not perceive a significant difference between LDAC and the more common SBC or AAC codecs, for audiophiles or those with discerning ears, LDAC offers a noticeable improvement in sound fidelity.

Automatic ear detection is a convenience feature that pauses playback when you remove a bud from your ear and resumes it when you put it back in. This is a thoughtful touch that helps conserve battery life and prevents missed portions of your music or podcasts.

Gamers will appreciate the low-latency gaming mode, which minimizes audio delay between what’s happening on screen and the sound you hear in your ears. This can give you a competitive edge in fast-paced games where precise audio cues are essential.

Multi-point connectivity allows the Nothing Ear (a) to be paired with two devices simultaneously. This is a handy feature for users who frequently switch between their phone and laptop or tablet. For example, you could be listening to music on your phone and then seamlessly transition to a video call on your laptop without having to go through the pairing process again.

Of course, when the track demands it, the Ear (a) can bring the bass. Billie Eilish’s “You Should See Me in a Crown” thumps with satisfying authority, delivering a well-balanced rumble without overwhelming the mix. If you crave even more of that low-end punch, the app’s “Bass Enhance” tool lets you dial things up a notch.

Overall, the Nothing Ear (a) delivers superb audio quality for its price. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better-sounding pair of wireless buds in this range. They offer a well-rounded listening experience that’s sure to please most music lovers.

The Nothing X App: Sleek and Functional

The Nothing X app, available for both iOS and Android devices, acts as the control center for your Nothing Ear (a) earbuds. While the Android version boasts a few exclusive features (like LDAC support for higher-fidelity streaming), both platforms offer a well-designed and user-friendly experience.

One of the first things you’ll notice is the app’s visual design. It mirrors the clean, minimalist aesthetic that Nothing has established with its hardware. The interface is uncluttered and easy to navigate, with a focus on intuitive visuals. This makes it a breeze to learn your way around, even for those who aren’t familiar with equalizer apps.

EQ for Everyone: Simple and Effective

The app provides two ways to customize the sound profile of your Nothing Ear (a) buds: a straightforward five-band equalizer and a selection of presets.

• EQ for the Tweakers: For those who enjoy tinkering with audio settings, the five-band equalizer allows for granular control over the sound signature. Whether you prefer a more bass-heavy experience, a crisper treble response, or a more balanced sound, you can adjust the sliders to your liking. The visual representation of the frequencies makes it easy to see what you’re adjusting, even for users who are new to equalization.
• Presets for the Quick Switcher: For those who prefer a more streamlined approach, the app offers a selection of presets (Balanced, More Bass, More Treble, Voice). These presets cater to different listening preferences, making it easy to switch between a neutral sound profile for a wider range of music genres, a bass-boosted experience for electronic music or hip-hop, or a treble-focused profile that emphasizes vocals and dialogue in podcasts or audiobooks.

While these adjustments might not be sonically transformative, they offer a level of flexibility that allows you to personalize your listening experience. For casual listeners, the presets will likely be sufficient. But for audiophiles or those who prefer a specific sound signature, the EQ provides the tools to fine-tune the audio to their taste.

The Nothing X app goes beyond just sound customization. Here are some additional features worth mentioning:

• ANC Controls: You can easily adjust the level of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) through the app. Whether you prefer the maximum noise-blocking power of the High setting or a more balanced approach with the Mid setting, the app allows you to tailor the ANC to your environment. There’s also a Transparency mode that lets you hear ambient noise when needed, for increased awareness of your surroundings.
• Gesture Control Customization: The Nothing Ear (a) utilizes pinch gestures for playback control. The app allows you to customize what each pinch does, giving you more control over how you interact with your music or calls.
• Firmware Updates: The app will notify you of any available firmware updates for your earbuds. These updates can improve performance, add new features, or fix bugs. Keeping your firmware up to date ensures you get the most out of your Nothing Ear (a) experience.

Nothing Earbuds Get Chatty with ChatGPT

Nothing has partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to its earbuds. This feature, currently exclusive to the Nothing Phone (2), is slated for a wider rollout across Nothing devices in the coming months.

How Does It Work?

Setup is simple. With ChatGPT installed on your paired Nothing Phone (2) and the latest Nothing OS firmware, you’ll receive a prompt in the Nothing X app to activate the integration. Then, simply pinch and hold either earbud to ask ChatGPT a question. Keep in mind, an internet connection is required for this feature to work.

Endless Possibilities… with Some Caveats

I tested the integration in various environments and was impressed by its functionality. Getting directions or nearby recommendations was surprisingly seamless, highlighting the potential for location-based services. However, ChatGPT’s reliance on older data limits its ability to provide accurate, real-time information on topics like ongoing news or sports scores.

The Bigger Picture

While the integration can’t replace the functionality of virtual assistants like Google Assistant or Siri, it does offer a unique hands-free way to interact with AI. The potential here is exciting, but there are several limitations to address:

• Limited Scope: ChatGPT lacks real-time data access and struggles with nuanced or complex queries.
• Slow Responses: Some searches took longer than expected, possibly due to internet connectivity or query complexity.

Battery Life: Adequate, Not Exceptional

Battery life is a crucial factor for any pair of wireless earbuds, and the Nothing Ear (a) delivers a moderate performance in this regard. Nothing claims the buds themselves can offer approximately 5.2 hours of playback with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled. This number jumps to a more substantial 8.5 hours when ANC is deactivated.

While this isn’t class-leading battery life compared to some of the best budget wireless earbuds on the market, it represents a significant improvement over the Nothing Ear (2), which only managed 4 hours with ANC turned on. This translates to a roughly 30% increase in listening time with ANC on the newer model.

The charging case also sees a capacity boost, extending the total playback time to a maximum of 40.5 hours. Here too, the predecessor, the Ear (2), offered a less impressive 36 hours. Additionally, a 10-minute quick charge with the included USB-C cable is claimed to deliver up to 10 hours of playtime, a handy feature for those who find themselves running low on power.

The Verdict

The Nothing Ear (a) are a triumph of design and value. Their transparent aesthetic is a refreshing change from the sea of generic earbuds, and they manage to pack in a surprising amount of features for their price tag.

The sound quality is well-balanced and detailed, offering a pleasurable listening experience for a wide range of genres. Active noise cancellation effectively blocks out ambient noise, making them ideal for commutes or focusing in noisy environments.

The Nothing X app provides a user-friendly interface for customizing the sound profile and ANC settings, further enhancing the overall experience. While the fit might not be perfect for everyone, and the battery life could be longer, these are minor drawbacks considering the exceptional value proposition of the Nothing Ear (a). They’re a fantastic option for budget-conscious listeners who prioritize style, sound quality, and features.