Nothing Ear (1)

Swift, confident and quite dynamic sound ; Well-sorted control options

ANC influences sound so the sonic balance is subject to unsolicited change ; More fit-dependent than your average TWS

Whether or not you’re a big fan of the Nothing Ear will depend on whether you think getting two sounds for the price of one is a good thing or not

Distinctive design Active noise cancelation Wireless charging Very light and comfortable Highly competitive price

Limited codec support Bright sound can lack presence

“Fresh and distinctively styled, the Nothing Ear 1 true wireless earbuds enviable spec list with ANC and wireless charging is backed up by high comfort levels, good performance, and a great $99 price.”

Relatively modest price ; Good sound quality ; Distinctive design ; Comfortable to wear while resting or working out

Some connectivity issues ; Design may be divisive

Sleek design ; Great app with new EQ ; Comfortable fit ; Good ANC

Not a massive step from the Ear (2) ; ANC isn't the best we've tried

If you're on the hunt for a new pair of wireless earbuds which don't break the bank, the Nothing Ear is a great pick. Packed with cool features and a sumptuous design, this will be a great addition to any audio setup.

Very comfortable ; Decent sound ; Responsive touch controls

Limited EQ options ; Transparency mode is weak ; Limited codec support

Easy-to-use touch controls ; Loads of useful features like Find My Earbud ; Active Noise Cancellation

The case takes ages to charge ; No manual EQ settings ; The design isn’t fully transparent

There was a lot of hype around the Nothing Ear (1) buds, but they’re not as special as we expected them to be. Despite that, they do pack in tonnes of features considering just how cheap they are, and they sound great too. You won't find a better pair...

Unique transparent design ; Lots of features for $99 ; Comfortable and light

Buggy performance ; So-so noise cancellation and ambient sound modes ; Limited control customization

The Nothing Ear 1 earbuds bundle together features like active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and more for an appealing $99 price. They also have a unique, partially transparent design that lets you see their internal components.

Extensive feature set ; Enjoyable app ; Strong aesthetic

Tubby bass ; Timing issues ; Over-emphasised upper midrange

Nothing ventured, nothing gained: Nothing Ear (1) has the specifications to become a budget headphone contender, but the sound is a good step below class-leading

Few EQ controls ; Battery life is weak when using noise cancellation

Long-lasting battery ; Balanced sound ; Affordable ; Unique design ; Comfortable and lightweight buds ; Above-average noise cancellation

Impractical case design ; Limited companion app ; Buggy mic performance ; No voice assistant support

Nothing claims to have fixed a lot of issues that plagued its Ear 1 earbuds at launch. In this long-term review, we try to find out whether the Nothing Ear 1 are now the budget noise-cancelling earbuds to beat.