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.”

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.

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.

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.

Comfortable and well-built design. IPX4 rating. Good noise isolation performance. EQ presets available.

Disappointing recording quality. Are somewhat prone to inconsistent audio delivery. No multi-device pairing.

The Nothing ear (1) are decent for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a fairly neutral sound profile with adequate bass. However, a dip in the mid to high-mid weakens vocals and lead instruments, nudging them to the back of your mix. The buds are...

Good fit and feel ; Sound quality and noise cancelation is good for price ; Touch controls are extremely responsive ; Good battery life

Case is bulky and putting the buds in is finnicky ; No custom EQ ; Mis-touches when adjusting the earbuds are inevitable

Striking design ; Impressive audio quality ; New app features

ANC would be better

Solid and well thought out with smart details that enhance the user experience. Works great for phone calls, as long as it does not take place in too noisy and windy surroundings.

There is more work to be done with the noise reduction, and when they are at it, they should also add a voice that informs about which ANC setting has been selected with the touch control. We miss that now.

Although Nothing Ear (1) got a lot of publicity before they came on the market, you have to remember that they cost less than £100, and that you can therefore not expect revolutionary things. That’s just not fair.