After much teasing, speculation, and leaks, Nothing has finally unveiled its latest audio products. Led by Carl Pei, the company has officially launched the Nothing Ear (a) and the Nothing Ear globally. The Ear (a) targets budget-conscious consumers, while the Ear is aimed at audiophiles. Here’s everything you need to know about these new offerings from Nothing.
Nothing Ear (a) Specifications
The design of the Ear (a) stands out from its predecessors, the Ear (1) and (2). It adopts a more conventional TWS appearance while preserving the transparent design aesthetic. The standout feature is undoubtedly the vibrant Yellow color option, adding a mesmerizing and playful touch.
According to the official press release, Nothing positions the Ear (a) as a significant upgrade over the Ear (2). Equipped with an 11mm driver and featuring a revamped internal chamber design and layout, the Ear (a) boasts a claimed 2.5 times increase in power output, promising a richer audio experience. The expanded internal chamber, now offering more space (0.55mm compared to 0.26mm), enhances audio depth and wideness.
The Nothing Ear (a) is certified as Hi-Res and supports LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs, suggesting compatibility with lossless music playback via Bluetooth for devices supporting LDAC.
In terms of battery capacity, the Ear (a) surpasses the Ear (2). With a 500 mAh battery in the case and 46 mAh in each bud, Nothing advertises up to 42.5 hours of music playback with ANC deactivated. With ANC enabled, the claimed battery life extends to 24.5 hours with the case and 5.5 hours with the buds.
Nothing has unveiled enhancements to its bass enhancement algorithm, promising deeper lows while maintaining clarity in high frequencies, ensuring earbuds deliver powerful bass without sacrificing overall sound quality.
The ANC on the Nothing Ear (2) has been upgraded to 45dB, with Nothing stating that the 13% increase in ANC can block external noise 1.8 times more effectively. The company is also promoting its improved smart ANC algorithm for enhanced noise cancellation and seamless switching between ANC modes. Additionally, the firm is highlighting its Clear Voice technology, which utilizes the three microphones on the Ear (a) and AI to reduce noise and improve voice clarity.
The Ear (a) has an IP54 rating, while the buds themselves are rated IPX2. These earbuds also feature support for Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, pinch controls, dual connection, and a low-latency mode. However, they do not include support for wireless charging.
Nothing Ear Specifications
The Nothing Ear maintains the sleek design introduced in the original Ear (1) and (2) models. With this iteration, Nothing is setting its sights on audiophiles, boldly stating it as “Our best audio experience ever.”
The more expensive Ear features 11mm ceramic drivers, while the Ear (a) uses TPU+PMI drivers. Nothing asserts that the rigid ceramic material results in clearer sound with crisp highs.
The Nothing Ear is also Hi-Res certified and supports LHDC 5.0 and LDAC. LHDC 5.0 could provide more detail, up to 24-bit/192 kHz, while LDAC can deliver 990 kbps at 24-bit/96 kHz.
The Ear (2) features ANC that can block noises up to 45dB, with support for smart and adaptive ANC like the Ear (a).
The battery life is slightly lower than the Ear (a) at 40.5 hours with the case on a single charge, but it’s still a 25% improvement over the Ear (1). Unlike the Ear (a), the Ear (2) supports wireless charging at 2.5W. The earbuds are IP54-rated, while the case is IP55-rated.
Other notable features include a low-latency mode, dual connection, Clear Voice technology, pinch controls, and all the features available in the Ear (a) such as Fast Pair and Swift Pair.
Nothing Ear and Ear (a): Colors and Pricing
The Nothing Ear (a) will come in three vibrant colors: Yellow, White, and Black, while the Ear will stick to the classic options of White and Black.
In India, the Ear (a) will be priced at Rs 7,999, and globally, it will be available for $99, 99 euros, £99, and 14,800 Yen. On the other hand, the Nothing Ear will be priced at Rs 11,999 in India and globally at $149, 149 euros, £129, and 22,800 Yen. Both models are now available for pre-order on the official Nothing website.
As for my personal experience with Nothing’s audio products, I haven’t had the chance to use them yet. However, the pricing seems competitive, offering a range of features and enhancements that may appeal to audiophiles and casual users alike. I’m intrigued to see how they perform and how consumers respond to them.
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