Nothing has recently unveiled two new additions to its earbuds lineup: the Nothing Ear and the Ear (a).
The new Nothing Ear continues the brand’s signature semi-transparent aesthetic, first seen with its predecessor, the Ear (2). The new model boasts 11mm dynamic drivers with ceramic diaphragms that have been engineered to move 10% more than those in the Ear (2), which is intended to produce deeper bass. Nothing claims this setup offers a clearer and more precise sound with reduced distortion.
A notable enhancement in the Nothing Ear is the improved active noise cancellation (ANC) capability, which now reaches up to 45 decibels, making it 1.8 times more effective than that of the Ear (2). The device also supports high-resolution wireless audio streaming over Bluetooth, thanks to LHDC 5.0 technology, which delivers audio quality of up to 1Mbps at 24bit/192kHz. Users can also take advantage of a bass enhancing algorithm, adjustable through the Nothing X app.
Battery life is a strong point for the Nothing Ear, with up to 8.5 hours of playback without ANC, 5.2 hours with ANC enabled, and up to 40.5 hours in total when used in conjunction with the charging case. The earbuds also support 2.5W wireless charging and USB-C charging for added convenience.
- Nothing Ear 1 Review
- Lo-Fi: What is it and why is it linked with high productivity?
- Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 Review
The Nothing Ear (a) is a more budget-friendly option while maintaining the same 11mm dynamic drivers as the Nothing Ear, albeit without the ceramic diaphragms found in the latter. It matches the Nothing Ear’s 45dB ANC and even exceeds its battery life, offering up to 9.5 hours of playtime without ANC, 5.5 hours with ANC, and a combined 42.5 hours with its charging case. The Ear (a) does not feature wireless charging and only supports regular LDAC for audio streaming, as opposed to the higher resolution LHDC 5.0. However, it stands out as the first Nothing product available in a color other than white or black, introducing an option in yellow.
Both the Nothing Ear and Ear (a) come with an intriguing feature for Nothing Phone users. The earbuds integrate with ChatGPT, allowing users to interact with the AI by pinching their earbuds if they are using a compatible Nothing Phone. This functionality is already available on the Phone (2) and is expected to be rolled out to the Phone (1) and Phone (2a) in a few weeks.
In terms of pricing, Nothing Ear (a) is priced at RM479 (~Php5,700). On the other hand, the more expensive Nothing Ear is available for RM659 (~Php7,900). Although the product pages are live on the Nothing Malaysia website, purchases are not yet possible as of writing. No word yet about the pricing and availability in the Philippines.