Nothing Unveils Ear (open): Innovative Open-Ear Earbuds with Unique Design and Features

Fibonacci Might've Helped Design Nothing's New Earbuds

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. Nothing has a new set of earbuds this week, the Ear (Open) buds, designed with a nifty wrap-around aesthetic and the classic see-thru look we've come to expect from the maker. Giving off a Fibonacci vibe, Ear (Open) buds will be priced at a completely reasonable $149, featuring Open Sound Technology, which is described as capable of creating a "more immersive audio experience while maintaining users' awareness of their surroundings." Nothing also notes the custom patent-pending diaphragm of the buds, titanium coating, and ultra-light driver and stepped design to offer a superior audio quality. For battery performance, Nothing lists 8 hours on a single charge, with a total of 30 hours of playback via the charging case. Topping it off, what good would a 2024 set of earbuds be without AI? With a ChatGPT integration and when paired with the Nothing X app, users of the buds can access real-time information all hands-free. Very nifty. Nothing's Ear (Open) buds will be available for $149 starting October 1.

Nothing's New Earbuds Take Aim at Sony's LinkBuds

Nothing's new Ear (open) wearable stereo earbuds are now open for pre-orders. The Nothing Ear (open) is designed to give a great listening experience that prioritizes both sound quality and situational awareness. A key highlight of the Ear (open) is its Open Sound Technology. This open design uses a Sound Seal System and directional speakers to minimize sound leakage. The Nothing Ear (open) is slim and weighs a mere 8.1 grams per earbud. The three-point balance system and silicone ear hooks give a secure fit for various ear shapes. The earbuds also come with Dual Connection that helps with seamless switching between devices, while Low Lag Mode helps when gaming. The Nothing Ear (open) is a lot like Sony's LinkBuds, but there are a few differences. Both Nothing's Ear (open) and Sony's LinkBuds have an open-ear design that focuses on situational awareness over noise isolation. However, the way they deliver sound is different. Ear (open) uses Open Sound Technology and a Sound Seal System to minimize sound leakage, but Sony's LinkBuds have a unique ring-shaped speaker with a literal hole in the middle that lets ambient sound blend with the audio playback. Ear (open) also has features like ChatGPT integration and Clear Voice Technology, differentiating it from Sony's offering. We've given high review scores to Nothing's previous earbuds, so the company has a good track record. The earbuds come with a compact charging case that can give two hours of playback through a 10-minute fast charge. The earbuds come with eight hours of playback on a single charge and up to 30 hours with the charging case. The Ear (open) also has a custom patent-pending diaphragm, titanium coating, and ultra-light driver. These components help reduce distortion, while the automatic Bass Enhance algorithm helps modify sounds for a better bass experience. The earbuds also come with Clear Voice Technology, powered by AI-enhanced processing that improves clarity during calls. Aside from that, the new integrated AI features come with ChatGPT integration in the Ear (open). Ear (open) pre-orders start today in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe, with global availability starting October 1, 2024. The earbuds will be priced at $149 on the official website. Source: Nothing

Nothing launches open-ear style earbuds, Ear (Open) with 30 hours of playtime - Times of India

Nothing has introduced its latest and first open earbuds, the Ear (Open). These open-ear style wireless earbuds are designed to provide users with situational awareness while enjoying their music, promise up to 30 hours of playback, and feature Nothing's transparent design. The Ear (Open) have 14.2mm titanium-coated drivers, which Nothing says is pending for a patent.Nothing has implemented an innovative three-point balance system with silicone ear hooks, resulting in earbuds that weigh just 8.1 grams each. The company claims its new Sound Seal System with directional speakers minimises sound leakage, addressing a common concern with open-ear designs. Owing to its open ear design, the Ear (Open) doesn't have the active noise cancellation. With Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, the Ear (Open) comes with the support for dual device pairing. The earbuds also incorporate Clear Voice 3.0 technology with dual microphones for improved call quality, customizable controls and EQ settings via the Nothing X app, and integration with ChatGPT (which requires a Nothing phone to function). The case is 19mm thin and is rated for dust and splash resistant, and so are the earbuds themselves. Nothing is promising 8 hours of playback on a single charge. Then, with the case the te Ear (Open) can go on for 30 continuous hours. For users in a hurry, a quick charging feature provides 2 hours of use after just 10 minutes of charging. Noting Ear (Open) are priced at Rs 17,999 India. The Ear (Open) will be available for pre-orders starting September 24, with sales beginning October 1, 2024. The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

I just tried Nothing's new open-ear earbuds -- and boy do they look funky

It feels like every day a new set of earbuds are launching and Nothing's already on its third of the year with its Nothing Ear (open), a new concept designed for runners and athletes alike. As the name suggests, Nothing's newest release are among the swath of open-ear earbuds that are designed to fit around the ear while leaving enough room over the ear canal so wearer's can hear what's around them -- hence why these come without ANC, unlike this year's Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a). Packed within is one of the largest custom drivers built by Nothing yet on a 14.2mm size, which sits right behind the Nothing Ear (stick) and its 12.6mm custom driver. All the latest features -- including pinch controls, low lag mode and advanced EQ -- are present on the new design. Nothing claims the new buds are rated for up to eight hours of charge and its accompanying case adds an additional 30 hours on top. Both are also rated IP54 durability, perfect against sweat and light puddles. The Nothing Ear (open) is launching at $149 USD / $199 CAD / £129 GBP in the US, Canada, and UK come October 1. There's something to be said about Nothing's bespoke design language and chic. While the new Nothing Ear (open) doesn't quite have that same transparent look as its two predecessors from earlier in the year, it's still a looker and sports a bulging metallic tip on the end of its ear flap for dual comfort and stability. Although ANC might be absent on the Nothing Ear (open), it still comes resplendent with a slew of assorted features like Nothing's AI-enhanced Clear Voice technology, which aims to reduce background noise and isolate your voice when on calls. Akin to many among the best wireless earbuds, pinch controls make a return on this new design. As the name implies, the Nothing Ear (open) also leverages Open Sound Technology. Nothing explains this as a "more immersive audio experience" without losing the sounds around you. That's perfect for runners who face traffic and pedestrians in the midst of a morning trot -- which I must say, after trying myself, works quite well. Open-ear earbuds are somewhat similar to bone conduction headphones, which literally use the wearer's facial bones to transmit sound. While the Nothing Ear (open) won't be among the best bone conduction headphones, they certainly deliver where it counts on an 8-hour total charge and an IP54 durability rating. While the fit is a bit awkward and loose to a degree, I never found the Nothing Ear (open) to fall out of my ears, which is the case on several alternative earbuds, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. These stayed firmly in my ear and the music was crisp and punchy despite not being fully set within my ear canal. We'll have to fully test these buds but they could land on our list of the best cheap wireless earbuds thanks to their $149 price. That sits at the same rate as the Nothing Ear launched earlier in the year and are just about $30 less than the newly announced Bose QuietComfort Buds. And similar to their predecessors, the Nothing Ear (open) will also come equipped with ChatGPT, furthering the AI-fueled world of 2024 and beyond. Stick to Tom's Guide for a full review of the Nothing Ear (open) as well as a deeper look into its AI chops as we did with the Nothing Ear ChatGPT integration. The Nothing Ear (open) preorders are set to launch today on Nothing's storefront. You can scoop up a pair in stores come October 1 for US, Canada, and UK regions with European availability starting on October 7.

Nothing Ear Open launched with 30 hours playtime and pinch controls

Nothing on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) launched its new wireless earbuds, Ear Open, in India with IP54 rating for dust and splashes. The Nothing Ear Open follows the shape of human ears in design where it can be worn over auricles like Bluetooth ear pieces. The Ear Open comes in a transparent case with LED charging indicator with pinch controls. Nothing Ear Open claims up to 30 hours of battery life while a single charge can give up to 8 hours of playback. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) Nothing Ear Open features 14.2mm drivers for the sound output. It does not have ANC because of the open-ear design. The new wireless ear pieces from Nothing support Bluetooth 5.3 and above. For pairing, it has Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair as well. Ear Open also has AI to help in clear calling. As announced earlier by Nothing, it comes with ChatGPT support too. Nothing Ear Open will be available for pre-order at ₹17,999 in India. Published - September 24, 2024 07:55 pm IST Read Comments

Nothing Ear Open hands-on: total awareness for $149 | Digital Trends

Say you want to wear headphones, but still be aware of your surroundings. That means using a transparency mode on a regular set of earbuds, or a set like the Apple AirPods 4 that don't seal in your ear -- or a pair of open earbuds like the new Nothing Ear Open. More secure than AirPods and less artificial than using a transparency mode, they're ready for comfortable, safe, everyday use. Or are they? I've often turned to another, different type of product throughout my time with the Ear Open that I like just as much. They aren't the same thing, but they do have an unexpected feature overlap. Recommended Videos Nothing's cool design The Nothing Ear Open reflect Nothing's continued obsession with all things transparent and minimalist. Each unit weighs 8.1 grams and is made of plastic, silicone, and metal, complete with a transparent casing so you can see the components inside. Like other Nothing earbuds, the black-and-white color scheme gives them a modern, minimalist style. Inside the earbuds is a 14.2mm driver with a uniquely shaped titanium diaphragm. The case is unusual as it's long and quite flat, with a flip-up top to reveal the earbuds. Each is set in its own cradle and in the correct left and right orientation when you open it up, with the earbuds facing you. This makes putting them back inside the case when you're finished quick and easy, as there's no guessing about position or fit. On the back is an offset USB-C port to charge the case and the earbuds. Each earbud has a solid body connected to a flexible silicone earhook, ending with a brushed metal weight. The silicone does attract lint, but it's also easy on your skin and the overall lightness means they are not a bother to wear. Nothing says they "feel like nothing" when you wear them, and they certainly don't hang off your ear. But they are noticeable, perhaps more so than an in-ear open earbud like the AirPods. If you've seen the Shokz OpenFit Air, that's basically what we're talking about. Listening to the Ear Open When you're listening to music on the Ear Open, you can certainly hear everything going on around you. Luckily, those around you won't hear much more than if you were listening to conventional open earbuds, unless you really crank up the volume. However, you won't want to do this much as the Ear Open's get harsh and bright, despite having an acceptable enough (for the type of headphone) bass response at low to mid volume levels. There's an equalizer in the app and a variety of different listening modes, and upping the bass improves the general sound. I've not listened to the Ear Open enough to pass complete judgement, but there's nothing wrong with how music sounds, just don't expect bass-heavy tracks to sound their best. Listening to spoken word avoids all the bass issues, and it's when I've enjoyed the Ear Open the most. I've happily worn the Ear Open for several hours and they haven't become uncomfortable, but I do think they look a bit weird, especially from the front as they stick out at an angle for me. They are no more noticeable than any other similar earbud, but the Ear Open are far from being unique. The Shokz OpenFit, Shokz OpenFit Air, Soundcore C30i, and Bose Ultra Open all fulfill the same purpose, and that's before the dozens of open earbuds with stems like the Apple AirPods. However, a different product stole the Ear Open's thunder for me. A different challenger I've listened to podcasts a lot using the Nothing Ear Open when I've wanted to be aware of other things, and each time I've wondered why I don't just use my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. They are a different take on the open-ear earbud trend and have several advantages over the Ear Open, with the control system being the biggest one for me. The Ear Open use touch-sensitive buttons in the case to control music playback, while the Ray-Ban Meta has a touch panel in the right-hand arm of the glasses. The Ear Open's controls need a substantial press to operate, and while I like the haptic and audible feedback, they're nowhere near as fast and responsive as the Ray-Ban Meta's controls. Raising and lowering the volume takes longer than it should -- it requires a continued long press of the button on the Ear Open -- but the Ray-Ban Meta's swipe volume adjustment is instant. The Ear Open do sound better than the Ray-Ban Meta for music, but for spoken word, the performance difference is negligible for me. I'm aware of my surroundings wearing the Ray-Ban Meta, just as I am with the Ear Open, and most people will never even know they are smart glasses. They are a considerably more incognito option, and as mine have prescription lenses they're always on my face, and I don't have the dual sensation of the earbuds and the arm of my glasses over my ear. Both the Ear Open and Ray-Ban Meta provide access to an AI assistant, and while the Ear Open uses ChatGPT, you do need a Nothing phone to use it. Meta's AI has no such restriction. I'm a big fan of the Ray-Ban Meta's camera too. There's a price difference between them, which I'll come to next, but I was surprised by the unexpected overlap of functionality even if they are very different types of product. Weighing up the cost Previous Next 1 of 3 The Nothing Ear Open cost $149 or 129 British pounds and will be available from October 1. They seem to have replaced the fairly similar $99 Ear Stick earbuds in Nothing's headphone range, as they are sold out on its website. This makes them more expensive than the Shokz OpenFit Air, half the price of the Bose Ultra Open, and similar to the Apple AirPods. It's also half the price of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, but do remember the additional functionality you're getting with the latter, and if you aren't really going to listen to much music, they may be the better long-term investment. Nothing states the Ear Open's battery will last for eight hours on a single charge, and with the case, you'll get 30 hours total use. A 10-minute charge provides two hours use if you're in a hurry. Other features include Dual Connection, AI-enhanced voice clarity during calls, a low lag mode for gaming, an IP54 dust and water resistance rating for both the earbuds and the case, and support for AAC and SBC codecs. Despite often longing for the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, I've enjoyed the Nothing Ear Open, particularly when listening to spoken word. I'd have preferred Nothing to have matched the Ear Stick price, which would have made them instantly easier to recommend compared to many of its rivals. However, the design, build quality, and great battery life claims makes them tempting, and they're unquestionably light and comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time, so you always know what else is going on around you.

Nothing Ear (open) review: my first open sound earbuds are almost perfect

Open sound earbuds have been on my list of must-have gadgets for some time now, and the new Nothing Ear (open) are almost perfect. As someone who cycles 20km a day to the Creative Bloq office and back home, an audio solution to relieve the journey is a must but I've always shunned earbuds for safety reasons - I really need to hear that BMW driver aggressively tailgating me. Nothing's first open sound earbuds feature the kind of design and technology mix I've come to expect from this disruptive brand. The earbuds feature a 'Sound Seal System' that makes use of directional speakers to reduce sound leakage while featuring a hooked over-ear design, which means there's no painful earbud directly wedged into my ear and I can hear my surroundings. On paper, ideal, and a perfect fit with my Nothing Phone 2 (but these also work with Apple). With this release Nothing is going up against established brands like Shokz and Bose, but for a little less. While those brands stick rigidly to the black 'oval' look that all seem very similar, Nothing has adapted its clear, angular design for these new earbuds. Nothing Ear (open) review: how it works Open sound earbuds are designed to enable you to hear your music and calls perfectly while also picking up on sound around you, including conversations. It's a clever new-ish idea that I've been keeping one eye on for some time as it means I can safely cycle and walk while also hearing cars or people in my surroundings. It works by using directional speakers to keep 'sound leakage' to a minimum while reverse sound waves are pushed out of the rear acoustic ports and 'superimposed on the sound from the front acoustic ports' to cancel out sound waves. The upshot is I can hear my music, but no one else can, and I can also hear everyone around me. If you want to cancel out your surroundings then the traditional earbuds like the recently released Nothing Ear and Ear (a) that offer noise cancelling technology to remove outside audio, perfect for flights and bustling train journeys, are better. Nothing Ear (open) review: design and specs In the box are a pair of earbuds, the slim curved oblong charging case, a USB-C cable, user guide as well as the standard safety and warranty information docs. The Nothing Ear (open) features some novel tech and design choices, for example the earbud has a stepped driver design to ensure the audio is closer to the ear. You find more specs in the box to the side. The design overall is neat and light. This approach begins with the charging case, which is just 19 mm thin, and deftly fits into a pocket. The case features Nothing's familiar transparent design, with a clear lid showcasing the curled earbuds inside. The buds are easily dropped into place too, which is satisfying. The earbuds are very light, weighing just 8.1 grams each. The main bud is a small long block attached to a familiar round bud, connected to a bendy, thick-ish lead that has a cylinder on the end. It slips over the ear perfectly, and the speaker sits on the outside of the ear. These are comfy and secure. This three-point design is an adaptation of the 'ear hook' concept that has been around for some time, but Nothing's take on the idea is clever, light and secure. In fact, once on I keep putting a finger to my ear to ensure these are still in place. It's perhaps not as forward looking as Bose's costly clip design, but then Nothing's release is half the price. There is a 'chunkiness' to the overall look, possibly from the angular design and thicker plastic and rubber ear hook, but it's offset somewhat by the transparent casing that reveals the tech inside. Some may prefer the clip designs of Bose or the slimmer look of Shokz, but these are more affordable than Bose and more secure than Shokz. The Nothing Ear (open) also only comes in white, which is not an issue for me but I know some prefer a choice. Nothing Ear (open) review: performance The audio is good. I am genuinely taken aback the first time I place the Nothing Ear (open) buds over my ears and start playing music. The audio quality is excellent, balanced and rich with bass where it needs to be but also enables me to hear sound from my environment. Over the jangle of The Feelies and the distortion of Dinosaur Jr. I can hear footsteps around me, chatter and general noise, but without ruining the music. Nothing has its own Advanced Equaliser tools in the Nothing X app that I've been using for some time now. There is a simple setting that enables you to adjust bass, treble, voice and more or go into the Advanced settings to really tinker and get the sound you need. It's a great app, but also for the majority of needs I find the Nothing Ear (open) work perfectly out of the box (case?). For those who need it, Nothing has integrated ChatGPT into its app and use, so you can text or ask the AI questions using the Nothing Ear (open). I've been using the Nothing Ear (open) for a week now, using them on my cycle to the office as well as at my desk - ideal for keeping up to speed with office chat and listening to my playlist. I've covered the audio quality already, and the other aspect of open ear devices is the approach to how they sit on the ear. Nothing's approach brings back the old Motorola hands-free 'ear hook' approach, but gives it a nuanced revamp. Nothing Ear (open) is simply very comfortable. The lightness of the design is incredible, and after a few minutes I forget they were there. More so, there's no tight feel or nicks, and they work fine with glasses. Topping it off, the Nothing Ear (open) hasn't fallen off. I tried, I really did, I sat at my desk and shook my head and despite a bump cycle they've yet to slip off. If you're a keen runner, I'd recommend Nothing Ear (open), for example. It takes some getting used to the controls, as each bud features four programmable inputs on the body of the earbud, for example double pinch declines calls and forwards tracks, while pinch and hold controls volume. In use I've found the Nothing Ear (open) battery lasts just shy of the promoted eight hours of usage, perfect for two or three days commute. (The charging case holds a 30 hour charge.) These also have the industry standard IP54 rating, meaning these are splash resistance. Nothing Ear (open) review: who's it for? The new Nothing Ear (open) is designed for those who want to hear music and make calls without needing to stop or pause music or audio playback. It also means you can hear the environment around you, making this a safer way to enjoy music while out in public. The downside is you can hear everything around you, so if you like to close off distractions and noise when on flights, for example, you'll need traditional earbuds or headphones. Personally, I'll be packing both types of earbuds.