For $99, the new Nothing Ear (a) earbuds offer clear sound and a thoughtful design. Their affordability, comfort, and long battery life make them a great option for budget-conscious shoppers. Unfortunately, its middling noise-canceling tech doesn't protect you from external noises.
Most of the audio tech on the market right now errs on the side of aesthetic caution. I've tested plenty of earbuds this year, and something I've noticed is that many manufacturers sacrifice style for functionality, opting for blacks, grays, and enough matte finishes to fit inside a therapist's office -- much to my chagrin. In the words of the late, great Andre Leon Talley, "it's a famine of beauty" over here.
Also: Why I ditched my AirPods Pro for Nothing's new transparent earbuds (and don't regret it) So when Nothing sent me its new earbuds, I was excited to finally see a cool, fresh, and exciting design, and they're worthy of a callout. I've been testing the new Nothing Ear (a) earbuds since launch, taking them on a ten-mile run, working deskside, and commuting on the subway with them in my ears. One question that informed my initial testing was: Despite their stylish design, how does the audio tech stack up to similarly-priced competitors? The Nothing Ear (a) advances on the specs from the brand's Ear (1) earbuds from 2021.
The new buds offer plenty of upgrades like improved active noise cancellation, transparency mode, longer battery life, Bluetooth multipoint, minimized latency for gaming, an.