Thanks to the Nothing Community Team, I had the chance to test the newly announced Nothing Ear (open) during a few of my workouts. Below is a thread sharing my initial impressions with some usage clips and images—spoiler alert: they’re great!
Design & Comfort
The earbuds are super lightweight - I barely noticed I had them on during my workouts. I had no problems doing jump ropes, wall balls, running, and lifting weights. They stayed in place really well, so I could just focus on my exercises without constantly having to adjust them. However, for some reason, my right ear wasn’t as comfortable as my left. I could feel the presence of the bud a bit more and noticed a little movement. Despite that, they didn’t fall out and overall stayed securely in place. If you wear glasses when working out, there’s a bit of a learning curve when putting the earbuds on and taking them off, but once you get used to it, they fit just fine and don’t interfere with your glasses.
Build Quality
The earbuds and case are built very well, although the case is a bit larger than average. Personally, I didn’t mind the size since I simply toss it into my gym bag, and I had no issues when wearing workout shorts and having it inside my pocket. If you’ve previously owned the Ear (stick), the size of this case will feel familiar to you. One minor point to keep in mind - though it may come off as nitpicky - is that when the earbuds are in the case, they produce a slight rattling sound if you move it around, as shown in the video below.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of these earbuds is pretty impressive - they get decently loud and deliver good listening experience overall. Their open design has its pros and cons, though. On one hand, it lets in outside noise, which can be distracting, especially in a noisy gym where the music’s blasting. But on the flip side, this design gives you great environmental awareness, which is super important if you’re running on streets or need to stay alert during outdoor workouts. So while you might not get fully immersed in your music, you’ll definitely be more aware of your surroundings, which is a big plus for safety.
Microphone Quality
The microphone quality is good, and I had no issues during calls. A sample voice recording is attached below.
Nothing X Integration
To adjust the earbuds’ settings - such as equalizer options, gesture controls, dual connection, and low lag mode, as well as to perform firmware updates - you’ll need to use the Nothing X app. It’s a beautifully designed application with a very intuitive user interface. Below are some screenshots from the app for reference.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on the hunt for true wireless earbuds for your workouts, you should definitely check out the Nothing Ear (open). I’ve been enjoying them during my recent sessions - they’re super lightweight, so I barely even feel them in my ears. The sound quality is good, and the volume is more than enough. Overall, they’ve added to my workouts and made them even more enjoyable, so I think they’re definitely worth considering!
Thanks for reading ✌🏻
