For the last week and a half, I have been using the Nothing Ear (open) – the latest addition to Nothing’s expanding lineup. I first want to say how grateful I am to be able to test such cool tech before release, it’s nice to be constantly reminded of how much Nothing really cares about its community. Going into this, even though I had never tried a pair of open earphones or headphones, I thought I knew what to expect. Saying that, my expectations were greatly surpassed in more ways than one.
Design & Comfort
The most sensible place to start would be, how Ear (open) looks and feels. The unboxing experience is your standard Nothing affair: cool box with the iconic red pull tab, crunchy translucent paper, cardboard and paper everywhere, and another new Nothing cable. That’s 5(?) different cable designs now and counting!
The first thing you notice, when everything has been unclothed, is how alien the charging case looks - more on that later. The buds themselves take the tried-and-true approach of the “ear hook” form factor and add a taste of Nothing-ness, with the transparent pod and its unique shape. On first impression it may remind you of a hearing aid…and that first impression will probably never leave lol. However, there’s multiple reasons why this form factor has been used for such an important device as a hearing aid is – some main ones being its unrivalled comfort and security.
As someone who previously only ever used in-ear TWS and over ear headphones, these earbuds feel ridiculously light and comfortable. So much so that I wore them for 9 hours straight on the first day, mainly because I forgot I had them on for a few hours. Once you get them in the right position, they stay there. I’ve been on several runs with them (both on a treadmill and outdoors), done some calisthenics and just used them whilst I sat and worked. Not once did they feel at risk of falling off or even really moving significantly. A joy to use. The only minor issue I had was that after wearing them for such a long stretch on that first day, the back of my right ear, where the metal tail touches the ear, was aching slightly when I took them off. I have worn them for extended periods of time since then but that pain hasn’t returned.
[P.S. No black variant – a true ear (stick) successor…on a real note I hope they do actually have a black version coming]
Case
The charging case is probably the most unique I’ve seen. Made up of what looks like two glossy, flat pillows stacked on top each other, one transparent and the other white, with the hinge following the contour of its unique shape. It’s long, flat, and thin, almost like a small remote, and the way the earbuds sit in the case reminds me of a ram’s horns. This makes it very pocket friendly for its overall size, even though it’s not much thinner than the case for Ear (2).
Check out Derren’s review for some amazing product shots:
https://nothing.community/d/16792-open-for-business-my-experience-with-nothing-ear-open
There were only two small problems I found with the case. The first being that the lid is obstructed from opening fully if a cable is plugged in, which is a shame because the transparent Nothing cable compliments the case so well. The lid can still partially open in this state, so you can still put the earbuds in and get them out, it’s just a more awkward interaction.
The second issue was a small rattling sound that happens when the buds are in the case. It occurs because the metal tips of the tails are free to move around, even with the lid closed. A minor inconvenience that seems like it could have been avoided with the inclusion of some more small magnets or maybe a slightly larger dimple.
Sound Quality
Depending on who you ask, sound quality is always paramount when it comes to audio products. I’m pleased to report that Nothing most likely agrees with this sentiment. If you are already a fan of how other Ear products sound, you’ll be right at home with Ear (open).
Having never tried open ear earbuds, I can accept that my expectations for the sound quality may have been slightly low. I thought these (and other products like it) would sound similar to those free headphones you get on a plane – somewhat distinguishable mids and highs but feeling quite ‘empty’ with a lack of bass and real clarity. That being said, when I put these on for the first time and started playing my go-to” testing songs”, I actually let out a gasp as I almost felt the bass kick in.
The music was as clear as anything, with a bass response you can practically feel. Granted, once the volume starts to exceed ~60%, the bass regresses a LOT and they do start to sound a bit like those aeroplane headphones, albeit much louder and whilst retaining the mids well. This seems like the norm in this product category. However, at this point you can only really hear loud and high-pitched sounds from your environment…which kind of ruins the whole point of open earphones. From 60% volume and below, they sound great and are very comparable to my Nothing Ear (2). I actually put on an Ear (2) bud and an Ear (open) bud in each ear to compare. In the ‘Balanced’ EQ preset they sound basically the same, with the exception that Ear (2) is like someone is singing in your ear, whilst Ear (open) sounds like the song is playing from a speaker in a small room with you.
Sound leakage is also not as big a problem as I anticipated. At “normal” levels (i.e. below 60%), someone standing within 2 metres of you can only really hear them if the room is silent. Above that, of course, they become more noticeable. I was able to easily hold conversations whilst music was playing at around 20%, and with no audio playing it sounds (and feels) like you aren’t wearing anything.
Do note that your experience can vary based on your ear size/shape, as this affects the way the Ear (open) fits on your ear, and in turn where the main speaker will rest on your ear.
Final Thoughts
Nothing Ear (open) are a great choice for those who value comfort, style, and a more natural listening experience. They’re perfect for everyday use, particularly in environments where being aware of your surroundings is essential, as well as an active lifestyle, where you need your earbuds to stay put no matter how you move. While they don’t offer the same sound isolation or bass response as the Nothing Ear line, they excel in providing an open, airy sound that’s enjoyable for casual listening and a secure, comfortable fit that can satisfy runners and office workers alike.
Check out my unboxing video of Nothing Ear (open) here: https://nothing.community/d/16891
