The New Nothing Ear (Open) Earbuds Fit Your Ear and Focus on Something Different: Keeping You Aware of Your Surroundings

Nothing has unveiled a new pair of wireless headphones but with a slightly different approach this time. The Nothing Ear (open) are open earbuds (hence the name) explicitly designed for activities where users want to hear what’s happening around them.

This design also makes them predictably more comfortable and better-fitting. Oddly enough, their main advantage is the lack of active noise reduction technology. Let’s take a closer look.

Nothing Ear (Open) Specs

Headphones That Let You Hear Your Surroundings

What makes these headphones different is that Nothing didn’t design them to isolate you from the world while you wear them. Instead, their open design allows people to listen to the sounds around them. According to the company, it’s all about “respecting the environment.”

The headphones maintain the traditional design language of the Nothing devices. They have a sleek and transparent finish. Logically, they’re slightly larger and heavier than the in-ear earbuds.

The headphones weigh 0.28 ounces and are 19 millimeters thick. They feature a grip design for a comfortable fit on the ear.

The adjustment system consists of three balance points and silicone hooks to provide a full range of adjustment. The manufacturer says they’re better suited for running or cycling. The headphones are also IP54 certified, which guarantees their resistance to sweat.

This open design also increases the size of the case, but this is almost an advantage. The battery for both the headphones and the case is also larger than that of the Nothing Ear (2).

This autonomy also benefits from the absence of an active noise reduction mode. You can use these headphones for up to 8 hours with a single charge and up to 30 hours with the charging case. A 10-minute charge provides two hours of playback.

The sound comes from a remarkable 14.2-millimeter driver. Its components are 30% lighter than traditional headphones, allowing it to boost mid and high frequencies. The automatic bass enhancement algorithm also optimizes low frequencies.

The headphones also feature dual microphones and Clear Voice technology for crystal-clear conversations. Nothing uses a trained AI model with 28 million noise scenarios to theoretically process sound better.

The presence of generative AI models goes further with the option to use ChatGPT directly from the headphones.

Nothing Ear (Open) Price and Availability

The $149 Nothing Ear (open) headphones are available for preorder in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. They will be available globally starting on Oct. 1.

Images | Nothing

Related | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: A Powerful Mid-Range Phone That Keeps Its Distinctive Look