True Wireless
Nothing Ear
72Good
$109
Full review dataNothing Ear vs Nothing Ear (a): which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nothing Ear (a) comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 78. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Nothing Ear (a) - Great overall at around $80.
True Wireless
Nothing Ear (a)
78Great
$80
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Nothing Ear
Sound7.5
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Nothing Ear (a)
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery8.5
Calls8.0
Value8.5
Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Ear | Nothing Ear (a) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $109 | $80 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC 5.0 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 8.5 h | 9.5 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 5.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 40.5 h | 42.5 h |
| Quick charge | 10 minutes for 10 hours | 10 min = 10 h (ANC off) |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| ANC type | hybrid | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | No |
| Controls | buttons | touch |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 9.14 g | 4.8 g |
| Case weight | 51.9 g | 39.6 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP54 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | - |
| Call noise reduction | - | Clear Voice Technology 3.0 |
What reviewers said
Nothing Ear
The Nothing Ear is a versatile true wireless earbud that balances a strong feature set with solid everyday performance. It offers adaptive noise cancellation, long battery life, and a customizable sound profile, though it doesn't lead its class in any single area. It's a practical pick for those wanting a well-rounded, feature-rich option at a moderate price.
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC and transparency mode
- Pro:Excellent total battery life with the charging case
- Pro:Supports LDAC and multipoint connectivity
- Con:Battery life drops significantly with ANC enabled
- Con:Sound quality is good but not class-leading
- Con:Controls are limited to physical buttons
Nothing Ear (a)
The Nothing Ear (a) is a budget-friendly true wireless pair that delivers a warm, immersive sound signature and a distinctive design. It offers a robust feature set for the price, including adaptive ANC, LDAC support, and strong battery life, though its controls and multipoint connectivity can be finicky. Overall, it's a compelling everyday option for those seeking style and solid performance without breaking the bank.
- Pro:Warm, immersive sound
- Pro:Excellent battery life with case
- Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode
- Con:Tricky touch controls
- Con:Multipoint connection issues on Android
- Con:Case lacks wireless charging
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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