Nothing Ear A10600062

The Nothing Ear true wireless earbuds bring killer looks and surprisingly good ANC to the table, but they stumble on battery life, fit, and call quality. At $220, they're outclassed by Sony and Samsung alternatives unless the transparent design is a must-have for you.

Let's talk about what these earbuds actually do well. The ANC is the star of the show here. At the 75th percentile, it punches above its price point and does a respectable job muting low-end rumble from engines and HVAC systems. It's not quite at the level of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but it's closer than you'd expect for $220. Call quality, on the other hand, is a weak spot. The microphone performance sits in the 14th percentile, which means your voice will sound compressed and distant to the person on the other end. Not ideal if you're taking work calls on the go.

Sound quality is a bit of a paradox. The 11mm ceramic drivers are technically capable, but the stock tuning doesn't make them shine. Our data puts them at the 31st percentile for sound, which translates to a profile that's clear but lacks the depth and sparkle you get from the Sony WF-1000XM6 or the Technics EAH-AZ100. You can fix a lot of this with the app's EQ, but out of the box, it's just okay. Connectivity is also middle-of-the-road at the 43rd percentile. We didn't experience constant dropouts, but the range isn't anything to write home about.

Stacked against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Nothing Ear earbuds feel like a style-first alternative that can't quite keep up where it counts. The Sony pair dominates in sound quality, battery life, and mic performance, though you'll pay a bit more for the privilege. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another strong competitor that outclasses the Nothing Ear in sound and build, making it a better pick for audiophiles. If ANC is your only priority, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the benchmark, but it costs significantly more.

Where the Nothing Ear carves out a niche is in the design department. Nobody else looks like this. For someone who values aesthetics as much as audio, that matters. But compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which offers a more secure fit and better overall balance of features at a similar price, the Nothing Ear feels like a harder sell unless you're already bought into the Nothing ecosystem.

At $220, the Nothing Ear earbuds are in a tough spot. You're paying a premium for that unique design and solid ANC, but you're sacrificing battery life and call quality to get it. The Soundcore P31i delivers comparable ANC and much better battery for a fraction of the price, though you lose the high-res audio and the head-turning looks. If you can find these on sale, they become a more interesting proposition, but at full retail, the value just isn't there for most people. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro often dips close to this price and offers a more complete package.

The Nothing Ear earbuds are one of those products that grab your attention before you even hear them, thanks to that transparent design language Nothing is known for. At around $220, they're priced to compete with heavy hitters like the Sony WF-1000XM6 and AirPods Pro, and they come with a spec sheet that looks great on paper: 11mm ceramic drivers, hi-res audio support, and adaptive ANC. For commuters and music listeners hunting for a stylish pair of true wireless earbuds, the promise of studio-quality sound and 40-plus hours of total battery life is hard to ignore.

But specs only tell part of the story. In our testing, the Nothing Ear earbuds deliver a mixed bag. The active noise cancellation is a genuine bright spot, landing in the 75th percentile of all earbuds we've tested. It's effective enough to hush a noisy train car or a busy office. The sound profile out of the box is decent, though it sits in the lower third of our database at the 31st percentile. You'll want to dive into the companion app to tweak the EQ if you're after something more refined.

Fit and finish are where things get a little shaky. The build quality and comfort both rank below average, and the battery life is a real letdown, sitting all the way down in the 4th percentile. If you're someone who forgets to charge their case every night, these might leave you stranded more often than you'd like. Still, for the right person, that striking design and solid ANC might be enough to overlook the rough edges.

Skip the Nothing Ear if you need earbuds that can keep up with workouts or long days away from a charger. The insecure fit and bottom-of-the-barrel battery life make them a headache for gym-goers and travelers. If call quality matters for your workday, look at the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Sony WF-1000XM6 instead. Audiophiles who want great sound without fiddling with an EQ should also steer clear and check out the Technics EAH-AZ100.

The Nothing Ear earbuds are a classic case of style over substance. That's not entirely a bad thing. If you love the look and you're willing to live with mediocre battery life and a fit that might not work for everyone, the ANC and customizable sound might be enough to win you over. But for most people, there are better all-around options at this price.

Should you buy these? Only if the design genuinely speaks to you and you don't rely on your earbuds for calls or all-day listening. They're not bad earbuds, they're just outmatched by the competition in too many key areas. If you can snag them at a discount, they're a fun, fashionable accessory. At full price, they're a tough recommendation.