Fans of Nothing are currently faced with a decision: should they choose the new Nothing Ear (a) buds or the brand-new Nothing Ear earphones? Both of them provide upgrades to Nothing’s present audio crop and were both made public this week.
The Phone (1), Phone (2), and Phone (2a), as well as the Ear (1) and Ear (2) headphones, precede the (joint) release of the Ear (a) from Nothing.
We’ve been loving them for a short while now because of their brilliant yellow color and some of the best noise cancellation available for a gadget at this price range. And this is where the main distinction lies. The ‘a’ game from Nothing indicates that it is introducing a more cost-effective model. The Nothing Ear (a) buds retail for £99 / $99 / €99, while the new Nothing Ear costs £129 / $149 / €149.
Do you have any questions concerning the Nothing Ear (a) buds? You do, of course. Using the new, adorable tiny Nothings, we discovered the following five things.
1. Yellow is far from mellow
The Nothing’s first audio product available in a color other than black and white is the Nothing Ear (a) series. It’s a wise decision to go with yellow. As a primary hue that is straightforward, it not only makes the earphones stand out in the ear and range, but it also aligns with Nothing’s straightforward ‘transparency’ concept.
Does this imply that more red and blue Nothing buds will be seen? Though it is limited to the ‘a’ spectrum, yellow is now a lively and vivid hue.
2. Pairing is easy
Once the earbuds case is flipped and the button on the front is pressed, the Nothing app will begin to flash. The buds were the correct color in the shown visual and should have emerged on the Pixel 8 Pro in a matter of seconds.
Although pairing by Bluetooth is possible, using the Nothing X app is a far superior option. Additionally, you may adjust the shaft controls to your preference and manage a variety of features on the buds from here, such as Bass Enhance, Noise manage, and the Equalizer.
3. Nothing is bringing its (a) game
The Nothing Ear (a) is significantly less expensive than the new Nothing Ear range—there is a about 25% price difference. The good news is that the (a) range still sounds like it has around 25% of the capability of the full-fat headphones. It’s extremely difficult to determine where the cost reductions have truly occurred.
Battery life is actually longer on the (a) range—42.5 hours with case charging and no ANC as opposed to 40.5 hours without case charging and no ANC.
Both employ Nothing’s Smart ANC algorithm and have the same 45 dB loudness.
The case had the largest modifications that we could uncover. Unlike other earbuds, the case cannot be wirelessly charged, nor is it waterproof. Nonetheless, the buds’ IP54 water resistance remains the same.
4. Performance is punchy
We joked that we were playing Grimes’ debut album at the incorrect pace, taking a cue from Coachella! Using the Nothing Ear (a) earphones, we listened to a double header of How It Feels and Sonder from Barry Can’t Swim. The substantial bass notes and pleasant, warm sound in the upper register truly delighted us.
Four Tet’s “Three” had an amazing pastoral aura that was amplified by the headphones.
To some extent, the noise canceling worked, even if the Victoria Line’s thunder wasn’t as muffled as I would have wanted. The pleasures of traveling around London do not cease, though, as I ultimately decided to simply keep it at full blast. In a less cacophonous setting, the variable option ought to function effectively.
Even though I was more than satisfied with the earbuds’ stock tuning, having an equalization feature that lets you boost a track’s bass, treble, and vocal levels is a wonderful addition. For my ears, the balance was, well, just right.
The overall sound of these is definitely better than that of my other Nothing buds; it’s punchier and ideal for the rock stadium tones of Gaslight Anthem’s History Books CD.
When you combine this with the ability to listen in High Resolution Audio, the sound quality of them is excellent.
5. Battery is brilliant but missing something
As was already established, the Ear (a) has a longer battery life than its more costly sibling. We used the in-ear headphones for around 6 hours total before having to put them back in the case to charge, and for about 9 hours without the ANC. That is really excellent in this price range.
Even while we would have preferred wireless charging, using the case wasn’t too difficult; in fact, a mere ten minutes of charging provides almost ten hours of non-noise canceling listening, making it ideal for those of you who frequently forget things.
Nothing Ear (a): Final Verdict
With the Nothing Ear (a) line, Nothing has succeeded once more in producing a stylish and reasonably priced set of earbuds that sound amazing. Reaching the ‘sub £100’ threshold is crucial for appealing to the younger audience, and the new yellow coloring truly sets them apart.
Although wireless charging is not available, you still get quick cable charging along with all the fun features you’ve come to expect from the brand.
