It has been a year since Nothing, the tech brand based in London, released its wireless earbuds, Nothing Ear (2). So you would expect the new earbuds to be called Nothing Ear (3). Instead, it’s called Nothing Ear. The company wants to make the naming system simple to the point that users don’t have to worry about the series number. It’s an Apple-style move but hopefully it won’t get confusing in the future. The new earbuds come alongside Nothing Ear (a), an inexpensive option. The two models are very different and alike. For the review, we have been using Nothing Ear and it has got several things right.

As comfortable as ever

If you are looking for a difference in terms of design, there is none. If you keep Nothing Ear (2) and Nothing Ear next to each other, you will be confused. It’s good to see that Nothing Ear is as comfortable to wear as any of the other earbuds from Nothing. You can even listen to music for two-three hours without experiencing discomfort.

Since the design has been accepted by most users, Nothing decided against making changes. Most earbuds create a lot of pressure around the ears and it’s almost impossible to wear them for more than 30 minutes. Here, the fit is perfect and the ear tips are comfortable. And that itself is a win for the brand. In the past two-three years, I have recommended the Nothing earbud to many people, and nobody has complained.

Nothing X app can create a personal sound profile for your hearing traits

Nothing has retained the pinch controls, keeping them customisable. Unless the tap controls are of AirPods level, it’s better to have pinch control to avoid accidental touches.

It’s important to point out the transparent design. There have been discussions whether the design would hold good over time and whether dirt will be seen inside the earbuds. From personal experience, the earbuds have fared very well and that too without scratches.

Improved noise cancellation

In the past few days, I managed to use the earbuds during a couple of assignments, one that involved some plane travel, which offered an opportunity to experience active noise cancellation.

The earbuds offer active noise cancellation and are able to muffle out up to 45dB of noise

Make no mistake, the 45dB active noise cancellation has been improved a few degrees and there is even an adaptive mode that adjusts sound based on your environment. But has it reached AirPods level? Not yet but it’s getting there. Be it taking the subway or going on a plane journey, the buds can tackle environmental noises pretty well.

All of these come on top of IP54 dust and water resistance rating for the buds and IP55 for the Ear’s case.

Well-rounded sound

In the sound department, Nothing is offering 11mm ceramic driver and there is support for 24-bit hi-res audio with LDAC and LHDC.

Let’s keep jargons aside. The sound signature on the earbuds is better than before. The ceramic diaphragm brings a certain level of richness, be it in terms of bass or voice delivery. For example, on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department: the Anthology the earbuds do justice to the singer’s loose-cannon mood, capturing the autobiographical signals well. Shifting gears, on Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter, the guys-in-a-room energy gets highlighted. Then it was time for something very different — Grégoire Maret and Romain Collin’s Ennio, a homage to Ennio Morricone. Be it the slide-guitar sounds or the trancelike piano, Nothing Ear doesn’t disappoint.

In the Nothing X app, you can create a personal sound profile and that means sticking to advanced EQ, which lets you create profiles for different genres. The app is far more advanced than many that rival brands offer.

Should you buy it?

The question you may ask is whether Nothing Ear offers all the tricks that Apple and Samsung offer. Probably not. You have options like Find MyEarbuds. Google Fast Pair and In-ear detection but there is no head tracking spatial audio for example. But Nothing is getting there and it doesn’t leave out any big feature that you need (rather than aspire for).

The new Nothing Phone (2a) paired with Nothing Ear

The company plans to allow you to use your voice to access ChatGPT on Ear and Ear (a). It’s something I will keep an eye on. As for battery life, it’s more than enough, lasting over five hours with ANC enabled or well over eight hours if you turn it off.

Nothing has done a brilliant job with a pair of wireless earbuds that don’t cost the earth. Nothing Ear is reliable and has all the makings of a hit.

At a glance

Device: Nothing Ear

Price: Rs 11,999

High notes

Good design philosophy

Excellent sound profile

Right amount of noise cancellation

Versatile sound app

Muffled note

Misses some of the “extras” offered by Apple and Samsung