Nothing recently released its first-ever open-ear buds, the Nothing Ear (Open), priced at $150. While they are the company’s initial foray into open-ear buds, they are not perfect. Despite some areas for improvement, I have found myself using them regularly alongside the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, even outside of my review period. My experience with the Nothing Ear (Open) has been focused on convenience and reliability rather than exceptional sound quality. I have mainly used them for on-the-go activities, such as listening to podcasts and making calls while doing chores around the house. They have endured exposure to dust and splashes of water with no issues.
In terms of sound quality, the Nothing Ear (Open) falls short. The loose fit of the buds contributes to sound leakage, resulting in underwhelming audio performance. While they are comfortable to wear for extended periods and feature onboard volume controls, the sound quality is average due to the poor fit and leakage issues.
The design of the Nothing Ear (Open) is sleek and compact, with a slim case that easily fits into pockets. The buds themselves are housed in a transparent casing with colored dots for easy identification. The controls are handled by a single button on each bud, which can be customized using the Nothing X app.
The fit of the Nothing Ear (Open) is comfortable for long periods of wear, but the lightweight design can lead to movement when adjusting hair or glasses. The thin wire band that goes over the ear is sleek and lightweight, but may require frequent readjustments to ensure a secure fit. The sound quality of the buds is decent, with larger dynamic drivers for improved audio performance.
Overall, the Nothing Ear (Open) is a convenient and reliable option for on-the-go use, with a comfortable fit and easy-to-use controls. However, the sound quality may not meet the expectations of audiophiles due to the loose fit and sound leakage issues.