Say you want to assume headphones , but still be aware of your surroundings . That signify using a transparency mood on a regular set of earbuds , or a set like theApple AirPods 4that do n’t seal in your ear — or a brace of unresolved earbuds like the unexampled Nothing Ear opened . More secure than AirPods and less stilted than using a foil mode , they ’re ready for well-off , good , casual use .
Or are they ? I ’ve often become to another , unlike case of product throughout my time with the Ear Open that I like just as much . They are n’t the same matter , but they do have an unexpected feature lap .
Nothing’s cool design
The Nothing Ear heart-to-heart mull over Nothing ’s continued obsession with all things transparent and minimalist . Each whole weighs 8.1 grams and is made of plastic , silicone polymer , and metal , over with a crystalline casing so you’re able to see the constituent in spite of appearance . Like other Nothing earbuds , the black - and - white color scheme gives them a innovative , minimalist style . Inside the earbuds is a 14.2 mm driver with a uniquely shaped titanium diaphragm .
The case is unusual as it ’s retentive and quite categoric , with a flip - up top to reveal the earbuds . Each is go under in its own birthplace and in the right leftfield and proper orientation course when you open up it up , with the earbuds present you . This makes putting them back inside the event when you ’re land up quick and easy , as there ’s no guessing about spot or paroxysm . On the back is an offset USB - ascorbic acid port to consign the case and the earbuds .
Each earbud has a satisfying body plug in to a flexible silicone earhook , ending with a sweep metal weight . The silicone polymer does appeal lint , but it ’s also easy on your skin and the overall lightness means they are not a bother to wear . Nothing tell they “ feel like nothing ” when you wear them , and they sure as shooting do n’t hang off your auricle . But they are detectable , perhaps more so than an in - auricle heart-to-heart earbud like the AirPods . If you ’ve seen theShokz OpenFit Air , that ’s basically what we ’re speak about .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Listening to the Ear Open
When you ’re listen to euphony on the Ear Open , you’re able to sure hear everything going on around you . fortunately , those around you wo n’t get wind much more than if you were listen to conventional undetermined earbuds , unless you really crank up the volume . However , you wo n’t want to do this much as the Ear Open ’s get coarse and bright , despite having an acceptable enough ( for the eccentric of earphone ) bass response at low to mid volume levels .
There ’s an equaliser in the app and a variety of dissimilar listening mode , and up the sea bass improve the ecumenical phone . I ’ve not listen to the auricle Open enough to pass complete judgement , but there ’s nothing wrong with how euphony sound , just do n’t expect bass - heavy tracks to sound their best . Listening to spoken news avoids all the bass voice issues , and it ’s when I ’ve enjoyed the Ear spread the most .
I ’ve jubilantly worn the Ear Open for several hours and they have n’t become uncomfortable , but I do guess they calculate a moment weird , especially from the front as they stick out at an slant for me . They are no more noticeable than any other alike earbud , but the Ear open up arefar from being unique . TheShokz OpenFit , Shokz OpenFit Air , Soundcore C30i , andBose Ultra Openall fulfill the same purpose , and that ’s before the dozens of open earbuds with stems like theApple AirPods . However , a dissimilar ware stole the Ear Open ’s thunder for me .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
A different challenger
I ’ve listen to podcasts a mess using the Nothing Ear Open when I ’ve need to be cognisant of other things , and each time I ’ve enquire why I do n’t just use myRay - Ban Metasmart 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 touching - sensitive push in the lawsuit to control euphony playback , while the Ray - Ban Meta has a touch control board in the right - hand arm of the glassful .
The Ear Open ’s controls necessitate a substantial press to operate , and while I like the tactual and audible feedback , they ’re nowhere close as quick and responsive as the Ray - Ban Meta ’s control condition . Raising and lowering the volume takes longer than it should — it requires a preserve long press of the button on the Ear Open — but the Ray - Ban Meta ’s swipe intensity accommodation is instant . The Ear Open do fathom good than the Ray - Ban Meta for music , but for spoken word , the public presentation difference is trifling for me .
I ’m cognisant 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 bright glasses . They are a well more incognito alternative , and as mine have prescription lenses they ’re always on my face , and I do n’t have the dual whizz 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 usesChatGPT , you do needa Nothing phoneto use it . Meta ’s AIhas no such restriction . I ’m a vainglorious fan of theRay - Ban Meta ’s cameratoo . There ’s a price divergence between them , which I ’ll get to next , but I was surprised by the unexpected convergence of functionality even if they are very different types of ware .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Weighing up the cost
The Nothing Ear exposed cost $ 149 or 129 British pounds and will be available from October 1 . They seem to have replace the fairly like $ 99Ear Stickearbuds in Nothing ’s phone ambit , as they are sold out on its site . This makes them more expensive than the Shokz OpenFit Air , half the monetary value of the Bose Ultra Open , and like to the Apple AirPods . It ’s also half the price of the Ray - Ban Meta smart glasses , but do recall the additional functionality you ’re getting with the latter , and if you are n’t really going to mind to much medicine , they may be the better long - terminal figure investment .
Nothing states the Ear Open ’s battery will last for eight hr on a single charge , and with the case , you ’ll get 30 hour full use . A 10 - minute charge provides two hour use if you ’re in a hastiness . Other feature let in Dual Connection , AI - raise voice clarity during telephone call , a down slowdown way for play , an IP54 dust and water resistance rating for both the earbuds and the event , and support for AAC and SBC codecs .
Despite often longing for the Ray - Ban Meta smart meth , I ’ve enjoyed the Nothing Ear Open , especially when listening to speak word . I ’d have preferred Nothing to have couple the Ear Stick price , which would have made them instantly easier to recommend compared to many of its rivals . However , the design , construct timber , and peachy battery life claims makes them tempting , and they ’re unquestionably light and well-to-do enough to fag out for hours at a sentence , so you always have it away what else is pop off on around you .
