Nothing Ear 2024 Review


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Welcome to the World of Nothing Earbuds: Unleash the Power of Sound

Meet the incredible Nothing Earbuds, a remarkable product that aims to revolutionize your audio experience. Available in a sleek white color and designed to fit snugly in your ear, these in-ear earbuds boast an impressive feature set that promises to take your music enjoyment to new heights.

At the heart of these earbuds lies a custom ceramic driver that delivers an unparalleled audio experience. With its ultra-compact design, this 11 mm driver offers a powerful sound that will leave you breathless. By incorporating a new ceramic diaphragm, Nothing has managed to increase airflow by 10% within each bud, resulting in less distortion and heightened clarity. Prepare to be immersed in rich, vibrant audio.

But don’t get carried away just yet; we’ll investigate if these claims hold true.

What sets Nothing Earbuds apart from the competition is the integration of ChatGPT. Designed exclusively for the Nothing ecosystem, this interactive feature allows you to ask questions, listen to informative responses, and learn on the go. However, keep in mind that this unique integration is only available when you connect your earbuds to a Nothing phone, currently limited to Phone (2). Although compatibility will expand with software updates to include Phone (1) and Phone (2a), it’s worth noting that this feature has its limitations.

Never underestimate the power of your voice! With the help of the Nothing X app, you can now access ChatGPT on Ear and Ear (a) using voice control. This seamless setup opens up endless possibilities, granting you the freedom to enjoy your Nothing Earbuds wherever you may be.

However, keep in mind that voice control is only available through the Nothing X app, limiting its convenience.

The Nothing Earbuds take your wireless audio experience to the next level by supporting high-resolution streaming via Bluetooth. Now you can enjoy a powerfully pure audio output without any loss in quality, exactly as the artist intended. Enjoy audio bliss with up to 1 Mbps 24 bit/192 kHz when using LHDC 5.0 or up to 990 kbps with frequencies up to 24 bit/96 kHz when using LDAC. Just bear in mind that such high-quality streaming requires compatible devices that support LHDC or LDAC.

Your unique hearing profile deserves special attention, and Nothing Earbuds are here to deliver. With the Personal Sound Profile feature, you can customize your music to suit your individual hearing abilities. Simply create your hearing ID in the Nothing X app, and the data recorded will be used in real-time to intelligently adjust the equalizer levels based on your hearing test results.

However, we must question the reliability of this feature and its ability to truly deliver a tailor-made audio experience.

Satisfy your audiophile cravings with the Advanced Equalizer feature. Gone are the days of being limited to treble and bass adjustments. Now, you can fine-tune your music to match your exact preferences. Create separate profiles for different genres, and easily share or import them using QR codes. The power to fully customize your audio experience is in your hands.

To ensure an undisturbed auditory journey, Nothing Earbuds come equipped with Smart Active Noise Cancellation. With an impressive noise cancellation rating of up to 45 dB, 1.8 times stronger than Ear (2), you can immerse yourself in your favorite music without external interruptions. But that’s not all. These intelligent earbuds automatically check for noise leakage between the earbud and your ear canal, applying additional noise cancellation to compensate for any potential leaks. Prepare to be enveloped in a sonic bubble of tranquility every time you put them on.

Nevertheless, we remain skeptical of these claims until we put them to the test ourselves.

The Nothing Earbuds promise a truly extraordinary audio experience, blending cutting-edge technology with sleek design. While they certainly offer an impressive array of features, we encourage you to approach them with cautious optimism. Let’s see if these earbuds can truly live up to the hype. Dive into the world of Nothing Earbuds and embrace the power of sound.

Technical Specifications

  • Colour: White
  • Ear placement: In Ear
  • Form factor: In Ear
  • Noise control: Active Noise Cancellation

CUSTOM CERAMIC DRIVER: Ultra compact but beyond powerful. Our 11 mm driver delivers an unbeatable audio experience. Coupled with a new ceramic diaphragm, we’ve increased airflow by 10% within each bud. For less distortion and richer clarity.

ChatGPT, INTEGRATED: Ask, listen and learn from ChatGPT on-the-go. A first-of-its-kind integration, made for your Nothing ecosystem. Only on Nothing earbuds when connected to Nothing phones. Available on Phone (2) and coming soon to Phone (1) and Phone (2a) via software updates.

VOICE CONTROL: Use your voice to access ChatGPT on Ear and Ear (a), wherever you are. Setup via the Nothing X app.

HI-RES WIRELESS AUDIO: Ear supports high-resolution streaming over Bluetooth. The result is powerfully pure audio with no quality damage. Just how the artist intended. Up to 1 Mbps 24 bit/192 kHz with LHDC 5.0 and up to 990 kbps with frequencies up to 24 bit/96 kHz with LDAC*.* Requires devices that support LHDC or LDAC

PERSONAL SOUND PROFILE: Tailors music to how you hear on an individual scale. Create your hearing ID in the Nothing X app. The data recorded is then used in real-time to intelligently adjust equaliser levels on your hearing test results.

ADVANCED EQUALISER: Go beyond treble and bass and tune music to exactly how you want to hear it. Create separate profiles for different genres. Then share or import via QR code.

SMART ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION: Up to 45 dB, 1.8x stronger than Ear (2). Ear automatically checks for noise leakage between the earbud and your ear canal, then applies more noise cancellation to make up for it. So you receive the best possible noise cancellation. Happens every time you put them in.

Could the Nothing Earbuds Outshine the Competition?

In the crowded market of wireless earbuds, Nothing’s latest offering tries to carve out its niche with an ambitious blend of high-fidelity audio, active noise cancellation, and tech-savvy integrations. But how do they stack up against established heavyweights like the Sony WF-1000XM4, Apple’s AirPods Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro? Let’s delve in.

Audio Quality: A Unique Approach

Sporting a custom 11 mm driver with a ceramic diaphragm, the Nothing earbuds aim for exceptional audio clarity and minimal distortion. While this sounds impressive on paper, especially coupled with high-resolution wireless audio support like LHDC 5.0 and LDAC, the real-world performance will be what counts.

Compared to the Sony WF-1000XM4, known for their exemplary audio quality and Balanced Armature drivers, Nothing’s earbuds might fall short for audiophiles. However, where Nothing may find its niche is in personalization. Their Advanced Equaliser and Personal Sound Profile promise a tailored listening experience, something that could attract users who crave customizability over raw sound power.

Noise Cancellation: Strong, but Is It the Strongest?

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) up to 45 dB is no small feat. Nothing claims a 1.8x improvement over its previous model, which is remarkable. But can it hold its ground against industry champions? The AirPods Pro is famed for delivering stellar ANC, while the Galaxy Buds2 Pro also do an excellent job in noise management. If Nothing’s claims hold true, they could provide a competitive edge; however, only real-world testing will reveal if they can deliver consistently across various noisy environments.

Tech Integration: A Unique Yet Limited Proposition

A headline feature here is the integration of ChatGPT. A first in the wireless earbuds market, this allows users to interact with AI directly through their earbuds. While innovative, the catch is that this functionality is limited to the Nothing ecosystem—specifically its phones. For someone deep into the Nothing ecosystem, this offers seamless AI interaction. However, users wedded to other brands might find this feature irrelevant. Voice control through the Nothing X app, while handy, isn’t a unique selling point when assistants like Siri and Google Assistant are universally available.

Form and Fit: Compact and Comfortable

With an ultra-compact in-ear design, these earbuds promise comfort over prolonged usage. The ear placement and form factor seem standard for this product category, matching up against most competitors. Whether it’s the snug fit of the AirPods Pro or the adjustability of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Nothing’s earbuds need to prove their staying power against brands with a track record of ergonomic excellence.

Who Should Consider the Nothing Earbuds?

If you’re someone who values cutting-edge tech integrations and thrives within the Nothing device ecosystem, these earbuds could be compelling. The high level of audio personalisation and potential for superior noise cancellation adds value for music aficionados looking for custom experiences. However, if you are deeply invested in other ecosystems or need the absolute highest audio fidelity and noise cancellation available, you might find the heavyweights from Sony, Apple, and Samsung more aligned with your needs.

Overall, Nothing’s earbuds strive for a perfect balance between high-tech features and a personalized audio experience, but whether they can dominate the landscape remains to be seen. Competition in this segment is fierce, and only time will tell if Nothing’s innovations are enough to steal the limelight.

Price: 236.23

Posted by Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller is a Brisbane-based Consumer Technology Editor at Techbest covering breaking Australia tech news.