Last week, I received a package from Nothing, and inside was something rather intriguing—a sleek new box! Behold, the Nothing Ear (open) had arrived at my doorstep. Straight away, I was drawn to the concept of “openness” - being aware of my surroundings while still hearing everything around me.
I’ve been using the Nothing Ear (open) as my daily earbuds for about a week now, and it’s the first time I’ve used a product in this category. Below are my personal experiences and thoughts, and if you’ve got any questions, feel free to ask in the comments! 🙂
🗃 A Familiar Unboxing Experience
The packaging was exactly what you’d expect from Nothing: the tear-to-open mechanism, the product front and centre, a USB-C cable, and, of course, the manual (which we all read thoroughly 😏). What really surprised me was finding out that the main insert holding the product is made of paper, making everything recyclable. Hats off to the Nothing team for their continued efforts in sustainable packaging!
🤲 Ultra-Compact—Like a Stretched Version of Ear (a)
Nothing Ear (open) case is the longest and widest of all my Nothing Ear products, but at just 19mm thick, it’s also the slimmest - It’s like the Ear (a) case, but stretched! For some pockets, this might be a little too big, but for my uses I left the case at home or did not have it on me once wearing (open). It still has the signature indent, perfect for fiddling with if your hands are large enough, and the magnets are incredibly strong—both in securing the buds and keeping the lid shut. The case feels light and slim, with a USB-C port on the back and a pairing button inside.
🤓 You Forget You’re Wearing Them—Even with Glasses
At first, the Ear (open) felt very different from what I’m used to. They’re extremely lightweight, yet they retain that distinctive Nothing design. If you’re familiar with the brand, you might spot a nod to one of the original bud concepts that came before the Ear (1).
Ear (open) is angled at 50 degrees, positioning the speaker over the ear for optimal comfort. It took me a moment to get the positioning right the first time, but after that, it was second nature—just like putting in regular earbuds. As a full-time glasses wearer, I’m happy to report that these don’t interfere with my glasses, even after 7 hours of continuous use. There’s no pressure or discomfort on my ears, which was a huge relief.
Taking them off is a surprisingly pleasant experience. With in-ear buds or over-ear headphones, you sometimes feel ear fatigue or pressure, but with Ear (open), you don’t feel any of that. It’s like you weren’t wearing anything at all.
🔊 Surprisingly Impressive Sound Quality
The idea behind Ear (open) is to stay aware of your surroundings while listening to music, meaning you don’t always need to pause what you’re listening to in order to remain aware of your environment. I expected the sound quality to be mediocre for this type of product, but I was genuinely impressed—it exceeded my expectations.
I mainly listen to techno, drum and bass, and electronic music, and while you don’t get the deep, rich bass you’d expect from in-ear buds, you do get a good amount of bass considering the open design. Nothing’s Bass Enhance algorithm plays a big role in delivering a more immersive, deeper sound. That said, I found that activating the “More Bass” setting in the Nothing X app made the sound feel a bit muffled, so I stuck with the default “Balanced” setting.
Speaking of the Nothing X app, Ear (open) is fully integrated with it allowing customisation of the EQ (Simple or Advanced), pinch controls, low-latency mode, dual connection, ChatGPT integration and the “Find My Buds” feature - lots of things you’ll already be familiar with if you have used previous Nothing audio products and the Nothing X app.
Phone calls are crystal clear as well. During one call, someone commented that I sounded clearer than usual (though that could have been a one-off). I particularly enjoyed being on a call while still being aware of my surroundings—it felt more like a natural conversation than a phone call.
🎧 Real Use Performance
In the gym, the Ear (open) performed brilliantly. I was aware of ambient sounds like equipment and background music, but nothing was intrusive enough to interfere with my own music. The buds stayed securely in place, repelled sweat, and remained comfortable throughout my workout. When going for walks, Ear (open) was a pleasure to wear. I was fully aware of everything around me, yet I could still focus on my music. Going into shops was much easier too, especially when ordering something like a coffee (naturally), as I didn’t feel the need to pause my music, remove a bud, or adjust the ANC settings to accommodate speaking to someone - I could just speak to them and was able to have a conversation at ease.
✅ A Great Addition to My Lineup
Ear (open) turned out to be a product I didn’t know I needed, and it’s quickly become a staple in my routine. While Nothing Ear will continue to be my go-to earbuds for commuting or when I want to zone out with ANC, Ear (open) is perfect for work or the gym, where I need to stay aware of my surroundings without sacrificing comfort.
These would be ideal for anyone who isn’t a fan of in-ear buds but still wants the best that Nothing has to offer. Whether you’re into fitness or have a job where you need to remain aware of what’s happening around you, Ear (open) is a fantastic option.
