Having already won us over with the excellent Nothing Ear model, the London-based brand presents its new open-ear earbuds, the Nothing Ear (Open). Positioned in front of the ear canal rather than in the ear, they are the ideal solution for those who prefer a non-intrusive model. IP54 certification, Bluetooth Multipoint, advanced equalizer, intuitive operation, long battery life… This 2024 model has plenty to offer, and promises to be excellent for city traveling and outdoor activities.
Included accessories
The Nothing Ear (Open) True Wireless earbuds come with a case and a dedicated cable for charging (USB-C to USB-C). All the necessary documentation is included.
Presentation
Open-ear design
The Nothing Ear (Open) stand out above all for their open-ear design, so you can enjoy music while remaining aware of your environment. This is a reassuring configuration for playing sports in an urban environment, an activity that requires you to pay attention to outside noise. They are also very practical for daily commutes, to hear the names of bus or tram stops, announcements at the station, or to chat with friends and sports partners while still enjoying the music.
Unlike conventional in-ear monitors and earbuds, the Nothing Ear (Open) are placed just in front of the ear canal. They are tilted at an angle of 50 degrees to the ear hook, so they sit perfectly in front of the ear for perfect diffusion and comfort. The transducer is positioned directly between the helix crus and the tragus, creating the impression that you aren’t wearing earbuds at all.
Stepped transducers
The Nothing Ear (Open) are equipped with stepped dynamic transducers, specially designed to bring the sound closer to the ear for optimal coherence. Unlike traditional transducers, this innovative architecture delivers more precise sound diffusion. Their exclusive diaphragm narrows in the center to reduce distortion, promising deep, punchy bass without compromising overall clarity. As a reminder, most in-ear monitors need to be correctly inserted and have a perfectly fit inside the ear canal, using the various included ear tips, to take full advantage of the low frequencies.
In addition, thanks to a titanium coating, these diaphragms offer precise reproduction of high frequencies, improving sound clarity and offering a gain of 3 dB over 12kHz. What’s more, the lightness of the components, 30% less than those of conventional earbuds, enables the midrange and high frequencies to be amplified for a sound that is both powerful and detailed. The intelligent “Bass Enhance” algorithm detects and adjusts low frequencies in real time, automatically balancing sound performance according to the music being listened to.
A minimalist, comfortable envelope
Transparent design
The Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds’ design perfectly embodies the brand’s philosophy of “removing all barriers between people and technology”. With a transparent design, these earbuds reveal their internal components, highlighting the hidden beauty of technology.
At just 19mm thick, the Nothing Ear (Open) case slips easily into a pocket or bag. It also features the same colored dots (red and white) as those on earbuds, allowing you to instantly see where they go for quick, effortless storage.
Comfortable and durable
The comfortable Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds feature a three-point balance system. This design optimizes their positioning at the front, top and back of the ear for a perfect fit. They are extremely stable, making them the perfect companions for a fast-paced sports session. The ear hooks have been perfected with soft, lightweight silicone, ensuring pressure-free wear. Their ergonomic design adapts to all ear shapes, offering long-lasting comfort. Even after hours of use, we felt no discomfort.
As well as being lightweight (8.1g per earbud), the Nothing Ear (Open) are IP54-certified, guaranteeing protection against dust and splashes. This makes them ideal for sports and outdoor use.
Intuitive operation
Push-button controls
The Nothing Ear (Open) Bluetooth earbuds are controlled intuitively by pressure-sensitive controls that are neither physical buttons nor a conventional touch-sensitive surface. They respond to a gentle pinch on the sides of the earbuds, offering precise control without the risk of accidental activation, as can be the case with touch controls. A single press plays or pauses music, while two pinches change tracks. A long press is all it takes to adjust the volume. A combination of two short presses followed by one long press activates the voice assistant.
Comprehensive app
In addition, the Nothing Ear (Open) are compatible with the Nothing X app, available on iOS and Android. This app provides access to various features, including an advanced equalizer. In addition to customizing the bass, midrange and highs, it’s possible to adjust the Q factor (quality factor), which controls the bandwidth of the equalizer. With Q values close to 10, adjustments become more precise, perfect for fine-tuning sonic detail. The app also lets you create and save specific audio profiles for different musical genres, which can be shared or imported via a QR code, offering unique audio personalization.
Artificial Intelligence
For users of Nothing or CMF by Nothing smartphones, the Ear (Open) earbuds incorporate artificial intelligence. As a result, ChatGPT can be accessed directly through voice commands. Custom Nothing widgets are available, making it easy to access ChatGPT. Whether for text, voice or visual searches, it is possible to interact directly from the home screen. The “Journalist” function lets you listen to the latest news selected by the AI according to the preferences you have entered.
Bluetooth 5.3
The Nothing Ear (Open) wireless earbuds feature the latest Bluetooth 5.3 technology, and support AAC and SBC audio codecs (but not HD codecs such as aptX and LDAC). Movie and video game fans benefit from a Low Lag mode, which effectively reduces latency, ensuring perfect synchronization with on-screen actions. On Nothing Phone smartphones, this mode activates automatically during gaming sessions, with an end-to-end latency of less than 120 ms. With other devices, simply activate it via the Nothing X app. While watching movies and playing games, we didn’t notice any significant latency.
The Nothing Bluetooth earbuds are compatible with the Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair protocols. Another practical feature is the Nothing Ear (Open)’s support for Multipoint, which makes it easy to switch between two devices. It’s possible to answer a call without interrupting music or video on another device, then instantly return to the content after the call.
Battery life
The Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds provide up to 8 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. The case extends this autonomy to 30 hours, so you can enjoy music all day long. In the event of a low battery, a quick charge of just 10 minutes provides a further two hours of listening. A charging status LED is integrated into the case. The latter is recharged using a USB-C cable only. Compatibility with wireless induction charging would have been welcome.
Clear Voice technology
Thanks to the Clear Voice technology integrated into the Nothing Ear (Open), call quality promises to be ideal, with less noise and echo. Optimized by artificial intelligence through over 28 million scenarios, this technology automatically adapts to the environment. The earbuds are equipped with two microphones positioned to capture your voice with optimum precision. The main microphone, with its L-shaped channel, effectively filters out ambient noise, while the second microphone is positioned to avoid wind interference. Our conversations turned out to be crystal-clear in all situations, with background noise that was properly blocked out.
Key specifications
- 14.2mm dynamic transducers
- Customization by Nothing
- Water and dust resistance: IP54 earbuds and case
- AI Clear Voice Technology
- Nothing X app (iOS, Android)
- Autonomy: up to 30 hours with case and 8 hours with earbuds only
- Bluetooth 5.3 (AAC, SBC), Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, Multipoint, low-latency mode
Test conditions
To test these Nothing open-ear earbuds, we paired them with an Android smartphone, an HP laptop and a Samsung TV. We listened to music on Qobuz and Spotify, and we also watched several films and videos on MyCanal and YouTube. Pairing was easy thanks to Google and Microsoft quick pairing protocols, while the Multipoint mode enabled us to switch easily from one device to another.
Our impressions
Despite their open design, the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds impressed us with their sound quality right from the start. The first compromise one might expect with this type of design concerns bass, which is often sacrificed in favor of a more airy listening experience. But this was not the case here. Bass was deep and punchy. On tracks like Zoufris Maracas’ “Mazunte”, the percussion was rich and vibrant, without spilling over into other frequencies. Vocals were clear and the highs well-defined.
The Nothing X app’s built-in equalizer took sound customization even further. For example, on Scorpions’ “Still Loving You”, a slight adjustment of the treble via the equalizer highlighted the vocals and guitars even more, while preserving the overall balance of the track. On the other hand, for a song like Lithe’s “Fall Back”, a slight boost of the bass was enough to give the music more substance and accentuate the impact of the rhythm.
It’s important to note that the sound of the Nothing Ear (Open) is highly dependent on the listening environment. In a quiet room, details and depth of sound are fully revealed. On the other hand, listening in a very noisy environment, such as a city center, alters sound perception. Traffic, passers-by and surrounding sounds are added to the soundstage. This is an advantage if you want to remain attentive to your surroundings, but also a compromise if you want to concentrate solely on the music. Note that at high volume, your music can be heard by those around you, but at moderate volume (recommended to preserve your hearing), it remains inaudible to others.
Nothing Ear (Open) compared to Shokz Open Run Pro
The Nothing Ear (Open) and Shokz OpenRun Pro are characterized by their goal of offering an open-ear listening experience. The Nothing Ear (Open) feature a special design with dynamic transducers that sit in front of the ear canal. They offer a rich sound reproduction, with punchy bass, while still allowing ambient noise to be heard. On the other hand, the Shokz OpenRun Pro earbuds use bone conduction technology, enabling music to be heard without any part of the earbud touching the inside of the ear, offering less sound isolation and sound reproduction that’s less rich.
Who are they for?
The Nothing Ear (Open) are for users who want to enjoy their music without being totally cut off from the outside world. Thanks to their open-ear design, they are ideal for activities such as outdoor running, street-workouts or city commuting, where it’s essential to remain aware of ambient sounds, such as traffic or pedestrians. Daily commutes are also made easier, allowing you to hear announcements on public transport while enjoying music or podcasts. In addition, they are suitable for those who appreciate lightness and comfort, with the non-intrusive design of these earbuds for prolonged use, without sacrificing listening quality.
Conclusion
Given their open-ear design, the Nothing Ear (Open) impress with their sound quality. Bass remains punchy, while detail is clearly present. The equalizer in the Nothing X app lets you customize the sound according to your preferences, ideal for fine-tuning sound reproduction. Their lightweight design and excellent fit make them comfortable for extended use, even on the move. They’re the perfect solution for listening to music, podcasts or even enjoying a movie while remaining attentive to your surroundings.
We liked
- The comfortable design with an excellent fit
- The advanced equalizer
- The sound quality
- The microphone quality
- Bluetooth Multipoint
We would have liked
- HD codec support
- Wireless charging
