Words: Shravan Kini
Personality, practicality and a pleasant listening experience
The Nothing Ear (Open) is the company’s latest entry into the growing category of open-style wireless earphones. Nothing has been able to successfully carve a niche for itself in the headphones space with an attractive mix of products at different price points.
From the outset, the design, look and feel of the Ear (Open) warrants attention. In typical Nothing fashion, the earbuds are characteristically striking. In a market overflowing with “minimalist,” look-alike earbuds, the Ear (Open) cuts through the clutter and makes an impact. The charging case is also easily pocketable despite being big(ish), and the buds snap into place without any effort or guesswork thanks to their distinctive shape.
Where in-ear Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) earphones – like Apple’s AirPods and Sony’s XM2s – quite literally cut out the noise and deliver isolated music experiences, open earphones cater to listeners who want immersion (and environmental awareness) without isolation. This is where the Nothing Ear (Open) shines.
The Ear (Open) delivers a strong sonic experience, especially considering its category and price bracket. Despite not sealing the ear canal, the bass delivered is impressive. Call quality is competent and should easily meet the expectations of most users.
True to their name, these earbuds virtually feel like “nothing” on your ears, lightweight, comfortable and non-fatiguing. But their open nature introduces one notable downside. Loud environments like malls, cafés and other noisy public spaces can drown out your audio. Conversely, in quieter settings, sound leakage becomes noticeable at around 50% volume.
Connectivity is straightforward. The Ear (Open) pairs like any standard Bluetooth device, but for the best experience, use the Nothing X app, available on Android and iOS. The app not only makes setup effortless but also improves the experience through firmware updates and sound personalisation via its built-in equaliser and more.
Both the case and earbuds’ IP54-rating for dust, water and sweat resistance may put potential buyers further at ease.
Many hours of testing — and some serious headbanging to System of a Down — later, it’s safe to say the Ear (Open) can be trusted to stay put.
Personality and practicality are neatly balanced in this piece of tech, and regardless of your music preferences or earphone needs, the Nothing Ear (Open) delivers a flexible and sound (pun totally intended) listening experience.
Rs. 12,999 (MRP Rs 18,999), nothing.tech
Leave a Reply