Nothing Ear (1)

Distinctive design Active noise cancelation Wireless charging Very light and comfortable Highly competitive price

Limited codec support Bright sound can lack presence

“Fresh and distinctively styled, the Nothing Ear 1 true wireless earbuds enviable spec list with ANC and wireless charging is backed up by high comfort levels, good performance, and a great $99 price.”

Relatively modest price ; Good sound quality ; Distinctive design ; Comfortable to wear while resting or working out

Some connectivity issues ; Design may be divisive

Very comfortable ; Decent sound ; Responsive touch controls

Limited EQ options ; Transparency mode is weak ; Limited codec support

Easy-to-use touch controls ; Loads of useful features like Find My Earbud ; Active Noise Cancellation

The case takes ages to charge ; No manual EQ settings ; The design isn’t fully transparent

There was a lot of hype around the Nothing Ear (1) buds, but they’re not as special as we expected them to be. Despite that, they do pack in tonnes of features considering just how cheap they are, and they sound great too. You won't find a better pair...

Unique transparent design ; Lots of features for $99 ; Comfortable and light

Buggy performance ; So-so noise cancellation and ambient sound modes ; Limited control customization

The Nothing Ear 1 earbuds bundle together features like active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and more for an appealing $99 price. They also have a unique, partially transparent design that lets you see their internal components.

Extensive feature set ; Enjoyable app ; Strong aesthetic

Tubby bass ; Timing issues ; Over-emphasised upper midrange

Nothing ventured, nothing gained: Nothing Ear (1) has the specifications to become a budget headphone contender, but the sound is a good step below class-leading

Few EQ controls ; Battery life is weak when using noise cancellation

Long-lasting battery ; Balanced sound ; Affordable ; Unique design ; Comfortable and lightweight buds ; Above-average noise cancellation

Impractical case design ; Limited companion app ; Buggy mic performance ; No voice assistant support

Nothing claims to have fixed a lot of issues that plagued its Ear 1 earbuds at launch. In this long-term review, we try to find out whether the Nothing Ear 1 are now the budget noise-cancelling earbuds to beat.

Unique transparent design stands out ; Comfortable to wear for long periods ; Great sound ; Wireless/fast charging ; Reliable for video and voice calls

Battery life could be improved ; Lots of competition ; Touch gestures limited (at time of review)

It's rare to find a pair of earbuds as accomplised as the Nothing Ear 1 in the affordable market segment. They look unique, sound great, and are reliable enough to use day-in day-out.

Incredible sound quality ; Great ANC ; Crystal-clear call quality ; Responsive touch controls ; Impressive Bluetooth 5.2 range ; Easy-to-use app ; Prompt customer support

Divisive design ; Average battery life ; Limited EQ customizability

The Nothing ear (1) screams "first generation product," for better and for worse. The striking transparent design is divisive and the battery life is average, but with impeccable sound and stellar call quality, Nothing is on the right track.