Nothing Ear (open) in the test: Airy, casual and full sound

Nothing Ear (open): Design, workmanship and comfort

Open earbuds are a category all their own and the Nothing Ear (open) are no exception. Instead of digging into the ear canal, they sit loosely on the ear and stay in place thanks to the bracket. The design ensures a feather-light fit and allows the sound to flow freely without completely blocking out the surroundings. Another plus point: because they sit on the ear, no ear tips are needed. The annoying trial and error of trying out the best fit is completely eliminated.

But there is a catch. In contrast to in-ears, open ears with their headband require significantly more space and therefore a larger case, which in the case of the ear (open) is more elongated and less compact than the square case of the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a)Although the case still fits in a jacket pocket, it is a bit tight in a trouser pocket.

Visually, the Ear (open) are not at all disappointing. Even if Nothing has long spoiled us on the design front with its transparent look, the exterior is still a real eye-catcher. The completely transparent sound bodies in combination with the white temples and the silver weights at the end create a look that is both simple and futuristic. In short: you can't get enough of it.

The earbuds are pleasantly light at just 8,1 grams per earbud and are IP54 certified, which protects them against dust and splashes of water. This makes them ideal for everyday use and sweaty workouts, but they should not be worn in heavy rain.

As always, when it comes to comfort, it is important to remember that it depends a lot on the wearer. As a glasses wearer, I was initially concerned that the earbuds' arms would get in the way of my glasses' arms, especially with my slightly thicker arms.

But at least for me, the feeling of wearing them was surprisingly comfortable over a longer period of time and they proved to be a secure fit when doing sports. With slimmer glasses temples, you probably won't even notice it. Only those with particularly wide glasses temples might notice a small discomfort when wearing them.

Nothing Ear (open): Sound

The Nothing Ear (open) use a dynamic 14,2 mm driver. For open earbuds, that's a real beast in a positive sense. More driver surface means one thing above all - more powerful bass - and that's exactly the clear advantage that Nothing is making here. Despite the open design, which normally produces less deep bass, the Ear (open) deliver a remarkably dynamic sound. A titanium-coated membrane enhances the effect by ensuring crisp and detailed highs.

Bluetooth 5.3 is used for the connection. In the test, this was stable, had a long range and low latency. Nothing has dispensed with high-resolution codecs such as LDAC this time, but with the standard codecs SBC and AAC, the Ear (open) are well equipped for everyday use. For audiophile sound freaks, there may not be the very highest resolution here, but the equipment is ideal for enjoying music and podcasts on the go.

 sound quality 

Now for the all-important question: How do the Ear (open) really sound? It's clear from the first listen that Nothing has done a lot right here. The sound is impressively powerful and balanced for open earbuds. The bass range delivers just the right amount of depth and warmth to play tracks like "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd with plenty of punch and energy. And all without completely blocking out the environment.

When it comes to sound insulation, the Ear (open) remain discreet. As long as you keep the volume at a moderate level, the music stays with you. However, if you turn it up all the way, the "Sound Seal System" reaches its limits and you will have to share your playlist with the people sitting next to you, whether you like it or not.

They particularly score points in the mids and highs, which, in conjunction with the open design, create an airy, transparent sound stage. Songs like "Hotel California" by the Eagles unfold with an impressive sense of space. Each instrument is easy to locate and the guitar sounds are clearly in the foreground without disturbing the balance of the sound.

The sound signature of the Ear (open) tends towards the classic V-curve, which emphasises bass and treble and gives the sound a lively and rousing character. Perfect for pop, rock and electronic music! If you like to fine-tune the sound, you can use the versatile 8-band equalizer in the Nothing X app. A few decibels more in the bass and tracks like "Lose Yourself to Dance" by Daft Punk come across even crisper and more lively.

 Nothing Ear (open): Features 

The functions of the Nothing Ear (open) are based entirely on the concept of the open design. This also means: no active noise cancelling (ANC). What sounds like a clear negative point for in-ear fans, however, fits the picture here. After all, open earbuds are not meant to shield us from the outside world, but to keep us in the middle of the action. Perfect for outdoor athletes who want to keep the traffic in their ears while running or cycling. Less ideal if you are looking for absolute peace and quiet on the subway.

As with other Nothing buds, they are operated using pinch gestures. Pressing once plays or pauses the music, double-pressing skips to the next track and a long press controls the volume. A clever system that works well, even if it can lead to a wrong click in hectic moments. If you want to customize your gestures, you can do so in the Nothing X app and adapt the controls to your own flow.

The multipoint connection is useful. If you often switch between your laptop, smartphone, etc., you will love this function. You can pair two devices at the same time, which is particularly useful if you are listening to music on your laptop but don't want to miss a call on your cell phone.

The low-lag mode is another extra that particularly appeals to gamers. The latency is noticeably reduced here, which improves the gaming experience. But even without the mode, the delay is limited, so videos and mobile games run well on the Ear (open), even if you shouldn't expect gaming headset quality from an open-ear model.

As far as voice quality is concerned, the Ear (open) delivers a solid performance. Thanks to the Clear Voice technology, the voice remains clear and easy to understand in quieter environments. However, in noisy environments such as traffic or crowded offices, the microphones quickly reach their limits. The quality is perfectly adequate for everyday phone calls, as long as you are not in an acoustic cauldron.

 Nothing Ear (open): Battery 

The Nothing Ear (open) have a decent battery life. With a full charge, the earbuds have a playback time of around 7,5 hours at medium volume. That's easily enough for a long day. The case adds a lot more and brings the total playing time to almost 30 hours.

If you're in a hurry, the quick-charge function provides a quick energy boost. Just 10 minutes in the case will give the earbuds 2 hours of playtime. Nothing has dispensed with wireless charging this time. Instead, there's a classic, uncomplicated USB-C port.