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Nothing Ear and Ear (a) Buds Review: It’s Nothing To Scoff At

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PROS:


  • Vibrant and more ergonomic Nothing Ear (a) design

  • Beautiful, eye-catching design with a competitive price tag

  • Quality audio output with plenty of convenient smart features

CONS:


  • Nothing Ear only available in Black or White options

  • Nothing Ear (a) case only has IPX2 water resistance


RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Nothing Ear and Ear (a) builds on an already successful formula without straying from the brand's design identity.

It’s not unusual to see a company take a different direction after it launches a successful product or two. Improvements have to be made, of course, but there are times when upgrades turn into almost completely different products that seem to stray away from what made those successful designs successful. By renaming its earbuds to a simple “Ear” and dropping the number after it, some might think that Nothing has gone back to the drawing board to rebrand and redesign. Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about since the new Ear and Ear (a) look almost exactly the same, so we give it a test to see, or rather hear, if its beauty is skin deep or if it’s something you’ll want to listen to.

Designer: Nothing

Aesthetics

At its birth, Nothing made bold claims and used Apple-like language to describe its design philosophy, and for the most part, it has been able to prove its words. It has established a distinct aesthetic not just with the Nothing Phone at also with all iterations of its Ear wireless buds. Technically the fourth generation after two numbered Ears and one Stick, the new Ear and Ear (a) thankfully retains that transparent stem design paired with opaque buds, staying true to form and keeping what its customers love about its products.

Of course, that does also mean that you won’t be able to distinguish the new Ear from the Ear (2), at least not visually. All of the changes are internal, which you can technically see because of the transparent design but not recognized. You get the upgraded experience and new features without losing the Ear’s eye-catching design, nor do you miss out on the quality materials that give the buds and its case their premium character.

If you want something fresh, you’ll have to look at the Nothing Ear (a) instead. While the buds themselves remain the same, the case transforms into a more rectangular shape that still has a transparent cover like the regular Ear. The new case also has a few important usability improvements, which we’ll get to later. The biggest difference between the Ear and Ear (a), however, is the bright new yellow color available only for the Ear (a) model. The choice of color wasn’t simply based on a whim, as Nothing compares it to its design philosophy of transparency, stripping away unnecessary colors and leaving only the primary hues. Perhaps it’s a hint that future Ears will be available in Cyan and Magenta.

In terms of aesthetics, Nothing has thankfully stayed true to both the spirit and the application of its design philosophy. You have an elegant and minimalist earbud design that embodies transparency literally and figuratively. The Ear (a) takes that a bit further in the direction of joyful play with a bright yellow finish. It would have been great if both Ear and Ear (a) shared the same color selection, but it’s understandable that Nothing wants to target different groups with different designs while still holding true to its core design values.

Ergonomics

One of the benefits of sticking to a tried and tested design is that you don’t have to worry about whether it works or not. In this case, the Nothing Ear’s usability has already been proven since the first generation, so you can be sure that you will be enjoying a tight seal and a comfortable fit like others before it. That said, there will always be exceptions, especially for those with ear shapes that the included tips don’t support. Unfortunately, Nothing has yet to provide a solution to that problem, like with extra tips to fit less common ears.

Since the case of the Nothing Ear hasn’t changed in the slightest, its ergonomics remain the same as the Ear (2). You still have a compact square shape that opens up like a clamshell, complete with that odd dimple that lets you precariously use the case as a fidget toy. It almost means, however, that the new Ear’s case still bears the same shortcomings as well, which the Ear (a)’s case thankfully fixes.

The rounded rectangular case of the Nothing Ear (a) has softer edges that make it more comfortable to hold in the hand. More importantly, however, you can clearly see its orientation so you won’t have to pause for a second to figure out which direction it opens. And unlike the Nothing Ear case, this yellow bubble-like container has markings to make it easy to see which bud goes in which slot. The red dot matches the dot of the same color on the right Ear (a) bud, while white is the color for the left bud. It’s a trivial addition but one that has a significant impact on the product’s usability.

Performance

You’ve undoubtedly come across designs that are so captivating yet fail to impress when it comes to functionality. That is fortunately not the case for the new Nothing Ear and Ear (a), and this is where the earbuds really prove to be worthy upgrades. Suffice it to say, you won’t be disappointed by the sound that you will hear, especially when you consider how much the buds cost.

The Nothing Ear and Ear (a) both boast new 11m drivers, though the higher-end model uses a ceramic material for even better audio clarity. In practice, this means that both buds are nearly equal in terms of audio output, producing clear, bold sounds with depth, especially when you turn on the bass enhance setting on the Nothing X app. Admittedly, it’s not going to compete with premium earbuds that cost nearly twice as much, but you won’t find both Ears lacking either. You get a well-balanced audio performance that makes listening to music, especially to classical music, a joy.

You can, of course, tweak the experience with the equalizer available in the mobile app, but the Nothing Ear does one thing more than the Ear (a). You can create a personalized sound profile by going through a series of tests so that you can be assured of the best quality possible given your ear shape and the tips you’re using. It takes the Ear’s performance to the next level, but not all people will be willing to pay the literal price for advanced features they may or may not even notice.

The good news is that, for all intents and purposes, the two new Nothing earbuds have the same feature set and perform quite similarly in that regard. Active Noise Cancellation, which has three levels of sensitivity, is quite effective, though definitely not on the same level as those more expensive brands. You can also set the app to automatically switch between ANC levels depending on the amount of ambient noise, which doesn’t always kick in immediately. There’s also a transparency mode that works in the opposite direction to let external sounds in, useful when you need to talk to someone or be aware of your surroundings.

Another trait the two share in common is dual connectivity, where you can pair the buds to two devices at the same time. They will switch between the two depending on which device is active, so you can take a call on your phone and then resume listening to music from your laptop afterward. In-ear detection is also automatic, and it will pause or resume playback when you remove and put back one or both of the buds in your ear.

Battery life is also one of the key upgrades in this generation of Nothing earbuds. The Ear can last a little over 5 hours with ANC on, while the Ear (a) somewhat ironically lasts longer over 5.5 hours in the same condition. Those figures nearly double if you turn ANC off, and the cases can charge the buds around three more times for extended use.

Sustainability

Nothing has always been a strong proponent of sustainable practices from the get-go, and the Ear and the Ear (a) thankfully don’t diverge from that path. The buds themselves might not be made from recycled materials, aside from the 100% recycled tin solder paste, but everything else about their manufacturing and packaging takes positive steps towards taking care of the environment. In addition to plastic-free packaging and carbon footprint labels, Nothing also uses renewable energy in the final assembly of the earbuds.

Given their size, the tendency to lose at least one of the pair, and their fragile designs, many earbuds have become almost disposable accessories, even if you’d cry over their price tag. The Nothing Ear and Ear (a) are thankfully built to last, though not exactly on equal footing. Both buds are IP54 dust and water-resistant, but only the Ear’s case enjoys an IP55 rating. The Ear (a), unfortunately, can only claim IPX2 water resistance, so you’ll probably be more careful that the yellow box doesn’t meet accidents.

Value

Despite the upgrades, the Nothing Ear doesn’t change its price tag from the $149 of its predecessor. The Nothing Ear (a), on the other hand, introduces a new $99 option in between the Ear and the $79 Ear (stick). Given its impressive performance and eye-catching design, those prices are quite a steal. The bigger question, however, is which of the two you should grab.

Unfortunately, things don’t seem to be in favor of the Nothing Ear. Yes, it has more features like a personal sound profile, a slightly better audio quality, and a more durable case, but not all of these will be deal breakers. In contrast, the Ear (a) offers comparable performance, a slightly longer battery life, a more ergonomic case, and a new yellow color option in addition to the typical white and black, all for a $50 lower price tag. There is a chance that the majority of buyers will prefer the Nothing Ear (a), especially the yellow option, but more discerning audiophiles won’t go wrong with the higher-end Nothing Ear.

Verdict

At first glance, the Nothing Ear seems like a simple rehash of an old design. It does, however, invite us to look deeper to go beyond what the eyes can see, and the product’s transparency is exactly a metaphor for that mindset. It brings together a familiar, stylish design and quality performance without extraneous features that distract you from the essentials. Best of all, it doesn’t even ask for more despite the noticeable improvements in the overall experience.

The Nothing Ear (a) sends a slightly different message with its vibrant color and more playful shape. It still clearly has Nothing’s design DNA but mixes it up with a fun identity that doesn’t skimp on the important bits. It says that you don’t have to go overboard, both in features and in price, to have a good time, and both the Ear and Ear (a) offer a delightful design that not only gets the basics right but goes above and beyond for a truly memorable experience each time you put them on.

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Flip phone concept aims to inspire creativity with Nokia, Nothing aesthetics

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It may have been criticized for flooding the mobile phone market with dozens of confusing designs, but Nokia’s seemingly eccentric designs sometimes hit the right marks when it comes to uniqueness, aesthetics, or usability. From the XpressMusic to the N-Gage to the Communicator, there are times when those designs felt far ahead of their time, which didn’t do their sales any favors. There has been a great deal of interest in revisiting these designs, most of which, however, only make sense for non-smart feature phones like the ones HMD is offering. One particular design, however, might find a place in this modern world that’s obsessed with taking photos and recording videos, especially if it gets a little Nothing-inspired facelift.

Designer: Viet Doan Duc

Flip phones or clamshell designs are nothing new, even if the recent generation of foldable phones has given birth to their renaissance. The Nokia N90, however, did more than just open up in a stylish way to reveal a bigger screen and a large T9 keypad inside. It could also twist its top half so that you could hold it like a camcorder and feel more like a proper content creator. That was 20 years ago, even before the word “influencer” or even “YouTube” came to light. Now smartphones are pretty much pocketable cameras, and this concept design tries to give the Nokia N90 a second chance, with a bit of a twist.

The Nokia N90 design is obviously outdated by today’s standards, so this revision borrows some inspiration from Nothing’s now iconic translucent glass design. The concept focuses on three main concepts: mechanical precision, the spirit of exploration, and minimalist language. The mechanical aspect can be clearly seen from the smartphone’s industrial appearance, revealing details of precision circuity and clear edges. At the same time, however, it still manages to embrace minimalism by keeping the details down to the essentials, eschewing the noisy details that pervaded Nokia’s design language.

The Nokia N90 x Nothing concept is clearly a design that encourages exploration and creativity with its core design gimmick, turning the upper half around for a more immersive photography experience. Not only does it try to convey the feeling of using a camcorder, it also makes some difficult angles more feasible because of the degree of freedom the mechanism offers.

On the technical side, the dreams of some of the best hardware features that the mobile industry has to offer, and not just with the camera that’s installed on the phone’s hinge rather than its back. The physical keypad, for example, is replaced by an E Ink display that combines customizability and power efficiency, while a touch-sensitive D-Pad above it offers more precise control. All these, however, make the Nokia N90 x Nothing even more of a pipe dream, but the design itself is something that could definitely spark interest, and hopefully sales, among today’s generation of design-conscious creators.

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Nothing pokes fun at Apple for discontinuing the iPhone Mini with the Phone (2a) Micro

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There are some people who still buy the iPhone 13 Mini in bulk because it’s the last small smartphone Apple ever made. In the pursuit of ‘bigger and better’, smartphone companies have abandoned the very concept of ergonomics, and phones nowadays are so large and heavy, people quite literally have indented pinky fingers as a result. The iPhone 13 Mini and perhaps the Asus Zenfone 9 were perhaps the last ‘small’ phones before the concept was retired – so Nothing decided to do something about it. Or rather, poke fun at it at least.

Meet the Phone (2a) Micro – an alternative to the Plus and Max phones of today’s world. Announced as a rather fitting April Fool’s Prank, the Phone (2a) Micro is functionally miniscule, measuring probably no larger than a Zippo lighter. However, it still manages to hold up rather well considering its size. The prototype (although we’re 99% certain it’s CGI) features a rather usable (yet tiny) screen that still somehow manages to be usable. The video above is a tiny (no pun intended) demonstration of the phone in action… and it also takes aim at major smartphone companies for abandoning the relatively large (again, no pun intended) audience of people with small hands!

Designer: Nothing

Roughly 3 inches tall, the Phone (2a) Micro comes with the same design as its predecessor, albeit scaled down. It ditches the dual camera on the back for a single one (there’s really no real estate for 2 lenses), but still retains every aspect of the phone’s design including even its Glyph Interface (which apparently works, in the video demo). Flip the phone over and you’ve got a virtually bezel-less screen (clearly even the tiniest of bezels weigh heavily on a phone that size), but the lack of bezels is made up by a whopper of a front-facing camera, which eats into a significant portion of the display. I guess good selfies are an important part of owning a phone, right?

I’ll be honest, April Fool’s Day jokes have all but died down ever since the pandemic, when corporates decided it just wasn’t worth the effort. Sure, sometimes a company like Volkswagen DOES crack a joke about rebranding to Voltswagen, sending economies and stock markets into a flurry, but overall, larger companies have sort of lost their sense of humor (Google used to crack elaborate jokes every year before Sundar Pichai took the reigns). However, it’s good to see newer companies taking things in their stride and trying to engage with their fans and communities using humor. Whether it’s Nothing’s tiny phone, or Razer’s chair with robotic arms, a good corporate joke just makes large brands feel more human, allowing people to resonate and connect with them on a deeper level… but as far as the Phone (2a) Micro goes, does it have a 3.5mm audio jack, though??

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Nothing Phone (2a) Review: Nothing Beats the Beauty of Essentials

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PROS:


  • Beautiful and distinctive semi-transparent design

  • Decent dual 50MP cameras, 32MP front camera

  • Huge 5,000 mAh battery

  • Good value for its price

CONS:


  • No dedicated telephoto camera

  • Average mid-range performance

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Nothing Phone (2a) distills the smartphone experience to its most important essentials and wraps it in a gorgeous design you will never get tired of.

Smartphones are getting more and more powerful every year, but that power comes at the cost of complexity and cost. While there’s nothing wrong with a super powerful, uber-luxurious, and expensive device, it’s just not for everyone. Unfortunately, those who prefer to stick to the important basics are often left compromising in terms of performance and especially aesthetics. Nothing is a young brand that is trying to shake up the status quo with a heavy focus on thoughtful design, transparent practices, and accessible technology, and it has already been making headlines with its smartphones and accessories. With the Phone (2a), it’s dipping its hands into a different segment of the mobile market, so take it for a spin to see if it has anything substantial to offer or if it’s nothing at all, pun totally intended.

Designer: Nothing

Aesthetics

Nothing made a name for itself with the distinctive design of its products, especially its phones. While it was not the full transparency idealized by risky DIY hacks or printed skins, Nothing’s decision to have a semi-transparent design actually made better sense. It gave the phone a cleaner look, without the distracting noise of electronics and labels, but still had enough character to stand out from the crowd quickly.

The Nothing Phone (2a) is clearly a member of this family but also differs in significant ways. The arrangement of components is very different, with the camera bump now lying horizontally in the middle, surrounded by a Glyph Interface that’s also completely new and unique to this model. The camera array is enclosed in a circular area from which a covered path snakes down to the bottom, almost like the ribbon connectors between components you’d see inside phones. This distinctive design gives the phone a facsimile of a robotic face, friendly and welcoming like those in cartoons and kids’ shows.

Unlike earlier rumors that worried Nothing fans, the Phone (2a) does indeed have the Glyph Interface, except it’s also simplified like the rest of the phone’s design. There are only three components this time, two asymmetrical arcs on the left of the cameras and a vertical bar on the right, that delivers that same dynamic lighting but with less fanfare. Considering how you’re usually holding your phone, this makes sure that the glyphs will always be visible to everyone in front of you when they light up, rather than having parts of it covered by your hand.

The Nothing Phone (2a)’s aesthetics pretty much reflects the overarching theme of the phone. It delivers the essentials for a pleasing user experience without being showy but still having enough impact to be worth your while. It strives to strike a balance even harder than its older siblings in order to cater to a market that has long been in need of that kind of design that doesn’t compromise too much for the sake of driving down costs.

Ergonomics

The Nothing Phone (2a) is also an anomaly in the sense that it’s actually a large phone that weighs almost like nothing. With a 6.7-inch screen, it’s definitely one of the bigger slabs in the market, yet its 190g weight feels almost nothing in your hand. And that’s despite the large battery it hides inside, which makes the phone a bit of a mystery.

This means that the Phone (2a) is quite comfortable to hold, even for long periods of time. It doesn’t weigh down on your hand that much, though you might also be worried its lightness can become a liability instead. Fortunately, the flat edges of the phone do provide a bit of grip to aid your hand. All in all, it was a pleasurable experience to hold the phone, perfectly matching its pleasing aesthetic.

Performance

There’s no going around the fact that the Nothing Phone (2a) is not your super-powerful high-end premium flagship. Nothing partnered with chipmaker MediaTek for a custom Dimensity 7200 Pro chip, but that is also two tiers from MediaTek’s own top-of-the-line series. Even the GPU technology is from back in 2021, and benchmark scores seem to paint a rather disappointing picture. It’s theoretically better than its peers, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 and Snapdragon 782G, but those are mid-range processors as well.

The good news is that it hardly really matters because the Phone (2a) still manages to hold its own with most tasks you throw at it, especially with 12GB of RAM. Gaming is going to be less impressive, of course, so you’ll have to dial down the settings a bit, but it’s still a decent experience. The Nothing Phone (2a) is meant to be an everyday phone for everybody, rather than a hyper-focused tool for gaming or photography, and when it comes to general activities, it thankfully does quite well despite those numbers being stacked against it.

As mentioned earlier, the Nothing Phone (2a) has quite a sizable battery, specifically a 5,000 mAh pack. That’s actually very generous even by premium smartphone standards, and given the rest of the specs, it’s sure to give you more than a day’s worth of use, at least with reasonable measure. Charging is capped at 45W, which isn’t exactly the fastest but still an upgrade over previous technologies. As expected, there is no wireless charging, which is one of the very few compromises this design does make.

In addition to its unique semi-transparent design, the Nothing Phone was characterized by its Glyph Interface, basically a light-based notification system that adds a bit of flavor to the user experience. Some considered it gimmicky at first, but it’s actually a useful tool for minimizing distractions. You can keep your phone face down on your desk and only see the glyphs light up for important events, like a call, an important message, or a timer. You don’t have to glance at your phone’s screen every time something comes in, reducing the risk of you getting distracted when you other notifications as well. And because the glyphs are confined to the upper portion of the Phone (2a), they’re also less invasive and more restrained, focusing on just the essentials of the function rather than the glamour.

When it comes to the cameras, the Nothing Phone (2a) is a bit of a mixed bag. As you may have noticed, there are only two cameras, but both of them, fortunately, have 50MP sensors. The main Samsung GN9 camera features OIS and autofocus, while the ultra-wide Samsung JN1 has a 114-degree field of view. Both perform rather well, even at night, with clear details and low noise. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated telephoto camera, so you’ll have to settle for the main wide camera’s cropped 2x zoom, which is less impressive than regular shots.

The front-facing camera has an impressive 32MP sensor, and it definitely shows in the quality of selfies you can take. There’s no aggressive beautification like what you’d find in other brands, so what you see is really what you get. That means this camera isn’t just great for social media but, more importantly, for video calls and meetings as well.

Sustainability

Right from the start, Nothing wanted to be different from the way it ran its smartphone business, which also included its commitment to sustainability. From the use of recycled materials to the packaging, Nothing has been ensuring that its products reduce their negative impact on the environment. The Nothing Phone (2a) thankfully follows that practice, and although it’s not yet on the same level as bigger brands, it’s definitely a strong start.

That commitment to sustainable design is helped by the fact that the Nothing Phone (2a) is also made to last longer. With an IP54 dust and water resistance rating, it’s guaranteed to hold up against most accidents. It’s not the highest rating, of course, but just that mark goes a long way in assuring owners that their fun-looking mobile partner isn’t going to abandon them at the slightest incident.

Value

Given all the specs and features, it’s perhaps pretty clear that the Nothing Phone (2a) is the brand’s foray into a segment traditionally considered to be mid-range or mid-tier. In fact, its $349 price tag confirms that classification and that figure is nothing to scoff at. There’s a certain negative connotation to the phrase “you get what you pay for,” but this is a case where you’re actually getting a whole lot more than that price value.

Yes, performance is decent at best, but the Phone (2a) has enough power to get you through the day and more, both in terms of raw power as well as battery life. The cameras are serviceable, though you’ll definitely feel the absence of a proper zoom camera. Best of all, you’re getting all of that in a distinctive and eye-catching design that’s pleasing to the eyes and light in the hand. In other words, you’re getting a beautiful, no-nonsense smartphone that feels worth more than what Nothing is asking for.

Verdict

Nothing has definitely stirred up the waters by challenging the market giants with an ambitious vision and a visionary design. But while the first two Nothing Phones served to put the brand on the map, there was still a segment that was left underserved by these premium products. To bring its design to everyone, Nothing also needs to target different tiers, tiers with different needs and budgets.

The Nothing Phone (2a) was clearly made to address that need, offering an experience that focuses on the essentials without all the bells and whistles that, in the end, could also burden the user. It packages that in a design that is bare-bones yet distinctive and characteristic of Nothing’s design language. It distills the Glyph Interface down to its core purpose, to provide a distraction-free way to get notified of important events. The Nothing Phone (2a) is a laudable example of a design that deftly balances features and costs to craft an experience that is clearly made with the user in mind.

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The Nothing X AIAIAI Headphones combine transparency and modularity into one incredible design

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Although unofficial, the Nothing x AIAIAI’s headphones show how two company’s visions can align for one brief and beautiful moment to create a design that’s gorgeous to look at, and great to use. The Nothing X AIAIAI Headphones are a masterclass in iconic design, mirroring the uniqueness of individual details seen in the AirPods Max… except, this time, with the transparent flair of the London-based tech startup.

Designer: Ma Yc

Ma Yc’s headphone concept borrows the best that Nothing and AIAIAI’s design languages have to offer. For AIAIAI, there’s the classic TMA-2 Wireless design, comprising modular parts that can easily be replaced and swapped out on the fly. For Nothing, however, there’s the absolutely drop-dead beautiful transparent housing that you can see on the cans, on the ear stem, and even on the ear cushions. Ma Yc’s choice of transparent cushioning on the headrest instantly sets this headphone apart as memorable… quite like the AirPods Max’s tensile fabric headrest.

The headphones come in two color variants – a black and a white, quite like the rest of Nothing’s lineup. The design is almost exactly a tribute to the TMA-2 wireless headphones from AIAIAI, featuring slide-out cans, removable ear-cups, and detachable aux cables that connect the headphone’s elements together. Modularity has never really been Nothing’s mission statement, but to be honest, the aesthetic and modular design of AIAIAI’s headphones translate rather well onto the Nothing brand, making this a collaboration for the books. Let’s hope Carl Pei’s reading this…

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