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The $99 Nothing Ear (a) true wireless earphones are quite different than the Ear (stick) they replace. For starters, they ditch the earbud-style design for an in-canal fit, add active noise cancellation (ANC), and come in more color options. They also produce bass-forward sound that you can customize via the app and support all the Bluetooth codecs you need for high-quality listening on both Android and Apple devices. Ultimately, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earphones are our Editors’ Choice winners because they offer more effective noise cancellation and similar audio quality for the same price, though they aren’t nearly as stylish.Design: Vibrant and UniqueThe Ear (a) earpieces closely resemble Nothing’s $149 Ear (2024) down to the signature transparent stems. They are available in a distinctive yellow color (the version I tested), in addition to black or white. The box includes three pairs of eartips that match the earpiece color and ensure a comfortable fit over extended listening sessions. Again, this is a notable change from the non-sealing Ear (stick) that results in better passive noise isolation, deeper bass response, and more consistent ear-to-ear imaging. Internally, 11mm dynamic drivers deliver a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz.
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(Credit: Tim Gideon)
The earphones rely on Bluetooth 5.3, work with the AAC, LDAC, and SBC codecs, support Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, and offer multipoint connectivity with up to two devices. The Liberty 4 NC model matches these specs, except for Microsoft Swift Pair.You control the earphones by pinching and holding their stems. The layout is identical on both earpieces by default. A single pinch handles playback and calls, two pinches skip forward a track and decline incoming calls, three pinches skip backward a track, and a pinch-and-hold gesture cycles through the ANC and Transparency modes. Via the app, you can add an Off option to the latter cycle, configure volume controls, and introduce a double-pinch-and-hold gesture to the mix. If you have ChatGPT and the latest version of Nothing OS on your phone, you can use a pinch-to-speak gesture to directly interact with the AI tool. The controls feel responsive overall.
An IP54 rating means they can withstand moderate dust exposure and water splashes from any direction. You don’t need to worry about sweat or light rain, but you shouldn’t submerge them. This is a fairly typical rating for noise-cancelling earphones, but consider alternatives like the IP68-rated JBL Reflect Aero ($149.99) if you plan to work out in the elements.The charging case’s IPX2 rating means it’s slightly water-resistant. Design-wise, it’s a fun take on the Nothing aesthetic and a departure from the cylindrical case of the Ear (stick). The charging docks match the color of the earpieces, while decorative white and red dots help you place each correctly. The transparent, slightly round outer shell seems like it’s just as prone to scratches as others from the company. Most cases for competing earphones use a tougher silicon material for the outside. The back of the case houses a USB-C port for the included USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable. Wireless charging isn’t an option here, unlike with the pricier Ear.
(Credit: Tim Gideon)
Nothing estimates that the Ear (a) can last roughly 9.5 hours (ANC off) or 5.5 hours (ANC on) per charge. The case holds 33 hours (ANC off) or 19 hours (ANC on) of battery life, but your results will vary depending on your typical listening volume level and codec choice. The case fully recharges the earpieces in 80 minutes. For comparison, the Liberty 4 NC earbuds last 10 hours with ANC off and 8 hours with ANC on.App ExperienceI tested a beta version of the Nothing X app (available for Android and iOS) and didn’t experience any bugs. The app looks sleek and is easy to navigate.The main screen shows battery life readouts for each earpiece and the case. Four tiles follow below: Equaliser (EQ), Controls, Noise Control, and Bass Enhance. The EQ section lets you select between Balanced (the default), More Bass, More Treble, and Voice presets, but not alter them. Alternatively, you can manually adjust the bass, mids, and highs on a graphic that resembles a flux capacitor. It works fine but isn’t nearly as useful as the multi-band graphic EQ you get with the Ear. Those earphones use the same app, which means Nothing could have made that feature available here but didn’t.
(Credit: Nothing)
The Controls section lets you reassign the function of everything but the single-pinch gesture. You don’t have to keep the controls symmetrical. Not all options are available for every gesture, but I like the overall level of adjustability. The Noise Control tile has three options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. The Noise Cancellation mode offers High, Mid, Low, and Adaptive options, but I never felt a need to change from the default High mode since it’s the most effective.Tap the Bass Enhance tile to toggle the effect (it’s on by default) and adjust its level (1-5). In testing, this adds a little extra punch and definition to kick drums.In the app’s settings menu, you can toggle in-ear detection (on by default), Low Lag mode (a Nothing Phone-specific feature that automatically switches on when you start playing a game), perform an ear fit test, use the audio-based Find My Earbuds feature, and perform firmware updates.Noise Cancellation: Good for the PriceThe Ear (a) earphones deliver quality noise cancellation for the price, though you’ll need to use the default High setting in the app for the best results. In testing, I noticed that slightly adjusting the in-ear fit forces the circuitry to recalibrate. If you don’t experience effective noise cancellation at first, try repositioning the earpieces.They noticeably cut back powerful low-frequency rumble from a recording, with just some sneaking past. They also lowered the lows and mids from an audio sample of a busy restaurant, while letting through a bit of the higher frequencies. The Liberty 4 NC earphones have an advantage here since they cancel more deep rumble in the first test and more complex, higher-frequency noise in the second one.The Transparency mode presents your environment at a lower volume than that of competing models, though it sounds quite natural. I detected a slight hiss in quieter scenarios, though nothing in the way of the EQ effects that some competitors apply to enhance conversational clarity. Sound: Mostly Balanced With a Bass Focus In testing, the app’s EQ works well enough. You can dial in more or less of a bass response, as well as tweak the mids and highs to taste. Boosting the bass can lead to lower overall playback volume because digital signal processing (DSP) steps in to prevent distortion in certain cases. For my evaluations below, I used the Balanced EQ mode and set the Bass Enhance feature to its middle level since those are the default settings. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the earphones produce powerful low-frequency response. The lows pack some serious thump at higher volumes and remain forceful at moderate levels.The drivers have no problem reproducing the sub-bass at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” The lowest of these deep-bass synth notes come across with a subwoofer-like rumble. The various vocals sound clear and fully present in the mix despite the boosted lows.
(Credit: Tim Gideon)
Drums on Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass, sound full-bodied but not too heavy. Callahan’s baritone vocals receive a pleasant blend of low-mid richness and high-mid detail, while the acoustic strums get appreciable high-mid clarity. Some listeners might want more high-mid and high presence, something the in-app EQ can accommodate. As is, the sculpting slightly emphasizes lower frequencies.On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the earphones again push the lower-register instrumentation forward. Purists won’t enjoy this tendency, but it can lead to an exciting presentation. Meanwhile, the higher-register brass, strings, and vocals maintain a prominent place in the mix.The voice mic array works fine. I could understand every word from a test recording on my iPhone and didn’t notice much in the way of sculpting. For comparison, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earphones slightly accentuate the lower frequencies.Buds That Please Both the Ears and the EyesIf you want $100 wireless earphones that blend high style with engaging audio, you needn’t look further than the Nothing Ear (a). In addition, they have excellent Bluetooth codec support, work with an app that lets you tweak the sound signature, and offer reasonably durable build quality. If style isn’t at the top of your priority list, however, Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earphones remain our Editors’ Choice winners since they provide longer battery life and superior noise cancellation for the same price.
Pros
Bass-forward, relatively balanced audio
Unique, transparent design
Adjustable in-app EQ
Good codec support
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The Bottom Line
The Nothing Ear (a) true wireless earphones offer a striking design, respectable noise cancellation, and bass-leaning audio for an affordable price.
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