Nothing Ear Wireless Review

Our Nothing Ear Wireless Experience

The Nothing Ear case is a clear magnet closed case that harkens back to the nostalgic early 90s with see-through phones (hey Gen-X, we see you!). It pulls off the feeling of high-tech and minimalism while somehow creating whimsy. It's an odd and unexpected combination we appreciated.

The Nothing Ear case isn't smooth, and the bump outs make it easier to hold.   Credit: Wendy Schmitz

The Nothing Wireless lid has an indent for your finger.   Credit: Wendy Schmitz

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The case is not as tall as most competitors, but the square size could be too big for narrow pockets. The magnetic lid has an indent that makes it easier to open, and the buds are color-coded to their magnetic slots. We liked how the case isn't totally smooth or hard to hold, as it has subtle bumps and irregularities, but these same irregularities could catch when stuffing it in tight spaces.

Pairing these earbuds was seamless once we discovered the Bluetooth button on the side of the case, and they work equally well with Apple and Android products. Between their thoughtful design, a versatile app, and a strong feature set, these earbuds offer an impressive, well-rounded user experience.

With a light, airy fit, these earbuds feel nearly weightless. We had no problem wearing them for hours across activities from office dull-drums to workout shennanigans. They have three tips to choose from, but the size difference between the small and medium is so slight it's hard to tell which is which. We found a comfortable and secure fit pretty easily, despite the lack of variation.

Touch controls can play or pause the music, answer calls, activate ANC mode, or skip tracks. However, the earbuds' connectivity can be spotty. On several occasions, one bud cut out or fell slightly out of sync with the other, though not often enough to be a dealbreaker given the price.

With an average battery life of a bit over 7 hours, these buds don't last a whole day of work. However, the quick charge case is useful to bridge the gap, and the five full charges in the case meant that with proper planning, we could transition from work to the gym without too much downtime.

During workouts, these buds stayed securely in place with a snug seal that didn't shift or loosen. They're surprisingly stable; from big yawns to impromptu dance breaks, they never shook loose. The only time they slipped was during napping. An IP54 rating means they're largely dust-proof and can handle water splashing, making them ready for outdoor adventures or rainy climates.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Sound Quality

We love a well-priced pair of earbuds that surprises by overdelivering, and the Nothing Ear Wireless earbuds do just that. Their sound quality outperforms that of many far more expensive options.

These earbuds produce an open and expansive soundstage, surrounding the listener with music and immersing them in the moment. The relatively clean mix makes it easy to appreciate each instrument and voice, although busy tracks can make their spatial locations feel a little fuzzy.

Songs like Nane's “Clementine Tree” showcase dynamic range. The track is a sonic feast, featuring a driving bassline, warm guitars, a wide vocal range, shimmering synth, and punchy percussion. The Nothing Ear handles with clarity, ensuring each element adds to the atmosphere without overwhelming it.

The bass range is powerful and precise, a rarity for earbuds in this price range. It occasionally veers into slightly distorted booms and rumbles, especially during bass-heavy moments like those in “SAME SIDE” by Jessie Reyez. But for the most part, it adds drama without distortion. The midrange sounds natural and realistic, bringing a wide range of vocals to life, though low male voices seem to shine the most. Instruments also sound lovely, with vivid textures, accurate attack, and agility.

The warm, smooth treble tones flow across the upper register. We didn't notice harsh notes, and we can be sensitive to pitchy peaks. They aren't as detailed as we'd like, and they lack sparkle, but these softened highs are absolute magic when it comes to classical music. Neil Young's “Harvest Moon” harmonica solo at 3:43 perfectly exemplifies being warm, clear, and never piercing. Slightly more developed highs and more consistent bass control would elevate this mix.

These earbuds also deliver impressive gain, handling high volumes without losing detail or balance. They maintain clarity and nuance no matter how high or low the volume is set.

We compare the frequency response of each earbud to our GearLab House Curve. The Nothing Ear Wireless closely mirrors our preferred curve. The higher frequencies drop off more quickly than we like, and the curve isn't as smooth as it could be, but we like the resulting sound.

The frequency mix is somewhat sculpted with a fun, lively sound profile, emphasizing the bass range for added punch. It's full of personality with dramatic lows, shimmering high notes, and forward, playful mid-tones. It's a little overdone, in the best way, with room for improvement, but not much.

Comfort and Fit

The no-frills design is reminiscent of Apple's AirPods. The silicon tip sits comfortably without needing frequent adjustments.

We were able to comfortably wear these for eight hours, one of the longest durations in the group.

Noise Cancellation

The Nothing Ear provides both passive isolation and Active noise cancellation (ANC), but its ANC isn't as effective as some competitors'.

While not as effective at reducing outside noise as some competitors, they performed better than average and were among the best in their lower price range. The Nothing also has a transparency mode that bypasses the seal's dampening effects, so you can hear your surroundings. However, the results are grating and artificial, and we didn't enjoy them.

The Nothing Ear does its best work blocking lower-frequency sounds, but it isn't as good at managing the mid- to high-ranges.

App Features

The Nothing X app is minimalist, with a futuristic style, and is easy to navigate. It mixes essential features with in-depth customization. The most important functions are front and center, with extras like the ear fit test, adjustable EQ, and presets tucked into the settings. Add in a helpful ear optimization test that customizes the frequency mix to suit your ear and hearing abilities, and it creates a compelling feature list for a competitive price.

Feature-wise, these earbuds pack in a lot, including a Find My Buds feature that plays a cricket-like chirp through the earbuds. They offer ANC and transparency modes, with options for high, medium, low, or adaptive noise canceling. A “bass enhance” toggle improves sound, especially when paired with a custom EQ profile. They include a low-lag gaming mode, dual device connection, and a surprisingly effective ear fit test.

Battery Life

The Nothing Ear has an average playback time of 7 hours and 42 minutes. A quick-charge feature provides an additional hour after 10 minutes.

Most impressively, the case itself carries an additional five charges. For travel, where access to a power outlet could be limited, this is a game-changer.

Call Quality

The Nothing Ear offers better call quality than its price would indicate. While not the best in the group, it is above average, and the experience wasn't frustrating. Surprisingly, they do better in louder environments.

Calling from a quiet room, the voices sound boxy, like talking through a cardboard tube. The female voice sounds a bit fuzzy, but both male and female voices are loud enough to hear and easy to understand. These buds blocked nearly all the background office noise, but the voices still sounded thin and distorted, as if they struggled to pinpoint which voices mattered.