Nothing ear (a) review: Almost Perfect TWS Earbuds 2024

The new Nothing ear (a) are wireless earbuds that just launched in April 2024. They are transparent so you can see inside and they block out the noise around you. They cost less than some other earbuds, but still have a lot of features. Let’s check out the Nothing ear (a) and see if they really are as good as everyone says.

Design

The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds are known for their cool see-through design, just like the previous Nothing Ear (1) model. You can see the inside of the earbuds, which some people really like because it’s different from other earbuds. They come in black and white, but this time there’s also a fun yellow color.

Controls

Nothing Ear (a) uses touch controls on the earbuds for playback, volume adjustment and ANC management. While the controls offer some customization, they aren’t as extensive as some competitors.

• Single press: Play/pause music or answer/end calls.
• Double press: Skip forward a track or reject a call.
• Triple press: Skip back a track.
• Press and hold (left earbud): Decrease volume.
• Press and hold (right earbud): Increase volume.
• Press and hold (both earbuds): Switch between ANC and Transparency mode.

Customization Options: The Nothing X app allows you to customize some of these touch controls. You can choose to assign different functions to each earbud for double press, triple press and long press actions. However, key functionalities such as play/pause and volume control cannot be recreated.

App

Nothing ear (a) is compatible with Nothing X app, available for both Android and iOS devices. While the app doesn’t offer a wide range of features, it does provide the functionality you need to manage your earbuds. Check out what the app has to offer here:

• Battery Levels: You can view the battery levels of both the earbuds and the charging case.
• Control Customization: The app allows you to customize the double press, triple press, and long press actions on each earbud.
• EQ Settings: The app provides a basic equalizer with several presets like Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Vocal. This lets you adjust the sound signature according to your preference.
• Transparency Mode Levels: You can adjust the intensity of the Transparency mode, allowing you to control how much ambient noise you want to hear while using the earbuds.
• Firmware Updates: The app will notify you of any available firmware updates for your Nothing ear (a).

Connection

The Nothing ear (a) uses Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, promising a stable connection and improved power efficiency. What we’ve observed regarding connection:

• Pairing: The earbuds support both Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair for effortless pairing with compatible devices (Android and iOS devices).
• Connection Stability: Good connection stability with the Nothing ear (a). The Bluetooth 5.3 seems to offer a reliable connection within a reasonable range. However, Some minor connection drops observed while moving between rooms, especially with a low latency mode enabled.
• Latency: The Nothing ear (a) offers a low latency mode for gaming and video watching.

Battery Life

Battery life is an important factor for any wireless earbuds, and the Nothing ear (a) offers good playtime on a single charge.

• Earbud Battery Life: With ANC turned off, the earbuds lasting around 7.5 to 8 hours on a single charge. With ANC enabled, playtime drops to approximately 4.5 hours.
• Charging Case: The charging case provides additional charges, extending the total playtime to a claimed 42.5 hours with ANC off and 24.5 hours with ANC on.
• Fast Charging: The Nothing ear (a) supports fast charging. 10 minutes of charging can provide up to 10 hours of playback. However, it’s important to note that this is likely with ANC turned off.

Isolation

When it comes to truly immersive audio experiences, good sound isolation is key. Nothing Ear (a) boasts Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology to block out external noise.

• ANC Performance: The ANC is said to work well up to frequencies around 5,000 Hz.
• Transparency Mode: The Nothing ear (a) offers a transparency mode that lets you hear ambient noise as needed. However, we noted that the transparency mode wasn’t the most natural sounding, with a slightly robotic quality to the external sound.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of earbuds is subjective and depends on individual preferences.

• Overall Sound Signature: Many reviewers found Nothing ear (a) to have a bass-heavy sound signature by default. This may appeal to bass lovers, but it can make some songs muddy.
• Custom EQ: The Nothing X app offers a basic equalizer with presets to adjust the sound signature. This allows users to tweak the bass, treble, and vocals to their liking.

Microphone

The microphone quality of the earbuds is crucial for clear communication during calls.

• Number of Mics: The Nothing ear (a) comes with 3 microphones for noise cancellation during calls.
• Microphone Performance: Microphone quality is good. The three mics seem to do a decent job of reducing background noise and ensuring clear voice transmission during calls.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Transparent design (unique aesthetic)
• Comfortable and lightweight
• Active noise cancellation (ANC)
• Decent battery life with fast charging
• Good microphone quality for calls
• Customizable controls and EQ settings
• Affordable price point

Cons:

• Bass-heavy sound signature (may not suit all preferences)
• Limited codec support (no LDAC)
• Average ANC performance compared to some competitors
• Transparency mode could sound more natural
• Slightly loose case hinge
• Lower water resistance rating for the case

Verdict

The Nothing Ear (a) is a solid choice for budget-conscious users looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds with ANC. It offers a comfortable fit, decent sound quality with customization options and great microphone performance. However, those who prefer exceptional audio quality or the most powerful ANC will have to consider other options.

Read more: Best Earbuds Under 1000 ₹

Alternatives

If the Nothing ear (a) doesn’t quite tick all your boxes, here are some alternatives to consider:

• Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro: Offers better sound quality, but with slightly weaker ANC.
• Nothing Ear (1): If sound quality is your top priority, the Nothing Ear (1) might be a better choice with LDAC codec support (potentially higher fidelity audio).

FAQ about Nothing ear (a)