London tech upstart Nothing is back with not one, but two new additions to its TWS earbud lineup: the Nothing Ear and the Ear (a).
Ditching the sequential numbers of the past — Ear (1), Ear (2) and even Ear (stick) — Nothing is making a clear distinction between its premium and budget options.
The Ear boasts a significant upgrade under the hood. An 11mm ceramic driver replaces the previous generation’s graphene and PU combo, promising a whopping 110% more movement for potentially punchier sound.
Active Noise Cancellation also gets a bump to 45dB, effectively blocking out more unwanted noise. Battery life is solid, with 8.5 hours per bud without ANC and a total of 40.5 hours with the wireless charging case.
Nothing throws in a few extra features for good measure, including LDAC support alongside the existing LHDC 5.0, a nifty ChatGPT 61 integration, a low-lag mode for gamers, Clear Voice tech for calls, and intuitive pinch controls.
The Ear (a) is the more budget-conscious sibling, sporting a bright yellow colorway, though monochrome options are available for those who prefer a more muted look.
It retains the partially transparent aesthetic that Nothing is known for. While it downgrades to an 11mm dynamic driver with a different material composition, it still packs a punch with its Bass Enhance Algorithm and, crucially, retains the 45dB ANC.
Battery life takes a slight boost compared to the Ear, with 9.5 hours per bud and 42.5 hours total with the case.
Price and availability
The price reflects the feature set. The Nothing Ear will set you back USD 149 (~Php8.5K), while the Ear (a) comes in at a more wallet-friendly USD 99 (~Php5.6K).
No availability details yet in the Philippines but expect it to hit the shelves soon via Digital Walker or Nothing’s online store channels.
