What makes them so different? In a world where wireless earbuds are so cheap, the Ear(a) aim to stand out from the crowd with their fun design and affordable price. But with so many options vying for your attention, it’s natural to wonder if these fun little earbuds are worth fitting in your ears. Wait, I have the answer. I put my AirPods in the drawer and put the Ear(a) in my ears every day for two weeks, so you have no doubts. Let’s read on to find out if you should spend your money on the Ear(a) or skip it.
The yellow ear (A) has a quirky, playful vibe
Like every single product from Nothing, the Ear (A) is transparent, as if the timeline would break if they came out with something you couldn’t see. This has become a signature design element for the brand, and it’s hard to imagine a Nothing product without this transparent aesthetic. Jokes aside, the transparent design itself is eye-catching, and the new yellow color is the icing on top.
The yellow buds shine like sunshine in your ears, adding a playful and vibrant touch to your everyday outfit. The bit of transparency in the design allows the yellow to really pop, creating a striking contrast that is impossible to ignore. White and black are also available, but yellow is my favorite, and while black looks the most classy, I find it a little boring compared to the other two colors.
The design of the Ear(a) is not just about aesthetics – it is also about functionality. The earbuds are lightweight and ergonomically shaped to fit comfortably in your ears. The transparent stems not only look good but also make it easy to hold and adjust the buds when needed. The indents on both buds, exactly where you need to press or tap to control them, make things a lot easier than trying to figure out where to tap.
The shape of the case is different from the usual square mold that Nothing had and has chosen again for the Ear, though it also has some fun with its transparent lid. It’s essentially a rectangular frame that sits around the bubble that the buds rest inside. It’s compact, cute, and is also yellow on the inside (it will basically be the same color as the earbuds, so it could also be black or white)
While everyone will appreciate its cute funky aesthetic, one idea that is most noticeable is the red and white dots on the inside of the case. These dots match the red and white dots on the earbuds themselves, making it very easy to know which bud goes where. So, no more hassles trying to figure out which side is which – just connect the dots.
One thing that has been bothering me for the past few days is that the earbuds and case are made of plastic and get scratched easily. It’s been only two weeks since I got it, and there are scratches on it that I can’t ignore; only time will tell how it will look after a few months. Another thing is that it gets stained easily, so you’ll have to clean it often.
But are they comfortable, that is the question
When it comes to earbuds, comfort is key – after all, who would want to wear something that feels like a pebble in their ear? Well, as said earlier, the Ear(a) are quite comfortable, so much so that you will forget you are even wearing them.
The earbuds come with silicone ear tips in different sizes, so you can find the perfect fit for your particular ears. P.S. You can also run a fit test in the companion app, Nothing X, to check if the fit is perfect. Once you find the right size, the buds will sit comfortably in your ears, providing a secure and comfortable fit that won’t budge, even if you’re nodding your head to your favourite songs. And because they’re so lightweight, you won’t feel cumbersome or tired even after hours of listening.
The buds have an IP54 dust and water-resistance rating, so you can wear these during your sweaty workouts or get drenched in sudden rain without worrying about any damage. Be careful with the charging case, though – with an IPX2 rating, it’s not as invincible as the buds themselves. So, maybe keep these away from any impromptu pool parties or water fights (unless you’re feeling extra adventurous, of course).
Quality sound
If you’ve read so far, you might think that the Ear(a) is more about substance than style. But oh, how wrong you’d be! Put these on, and you might be surprised at how good they sound, especially considering their affordable price. The audio bohemians at Nothing have done a credible job of tuning the 11mm drivers, delivering a sound that’s both clear and balanced. Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?
Starting with the bass, the Ear(a) delivers a punchy low-end that will make you nod your head and tap your toes. But don’t worry, it’s not the kind of heavy bass that overwhelms everything else – it’s just the right amount to add some depth and richness, and you’ll realize that when listening to tracks like The Weeknd’s “Starboy” or Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”, the bass hits you at just the right time, but you’ll still be able to hear every nuance of the vocals.
The mids and highs are also well represented, with good detail and clarity. You’ll hear the intricate finger-picking in Jose Gonzalez’s “Heartbeats” and the soaring instrumentals in your favorite rock anthems. The soundstage and imaging are decent for earbuds in this price range, offering a fairly immersive listening experience.
While the Ear(A) sounds well controlled and natural, the low-end can sometimes get a little too boomy as soon as you try to extract more bass from it (yes, you can do this by turning on Bass Enhance or choosing a Bass preset). Some people may find the sound a little muffled in the lower mids, especially when listening to bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and electronic dance music.
It might sound like I’m paying too much attention, but the highs can also be a little harsh when the volume is turned up to the highest, and there’s no support for advanced codecs if that’s something you’re worried about. Still, the Ear(a) is a great earbud that will satisfy people with a wide range of music tastes, from the complex prog-rock of Pink Floyd to catchy pop tunes. Taylor Swift,
What do you want to hear – outside conversation or music?
There’s nothing more annoying than the constant chatter of the outside world while you’re trying to enjoy your favourite songs. This is where the noise cancelling feature comes in, and the Ear(a) is pretty good at cancelling it out.
The Ear(a) has three levels of ANC sensitivity so you can adjust the level of noise cancellation based on the environment around you. Need to completely block out the world? Crank it to the highest. Or, if you’re in a slightly quieter environment, I’d still suggest keeping it on the highest if you’re a little more sensitive to background noise. While the earbuds effectively cancel out noise indoors, they do let you in some outdoors, but once you turn up the music, you’ll hardly hear any noise.
If you want to hear outside noise clearly, you can turn on Transparent mode, but it doesn’t really work. Outside noise sounds blurry, and you can hear better in normal mode. There’s nothing that says it’s making Transparent mode better, but it’s still not worth using.
Let’s talk about optimization
The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds have a companion app called Nothing X that lets you customize the listening experience. The app is easy to use and has a clean and simple design.
The ear(a) earbuds have touch controls, so you can play, pause, skip songs, change the volume and switch between noise cancelling and transparency modes by tapping or holding the earbuds. The controls work well and are easy to use. The earbuds pause music when you remove them from your ears and resume playing when you put them back in, so you don’t miss a thing.
The Nothing X app lets you change even more settings, like adjusting the noise cancelling or changing the equalizer to make the sound more to your liking. You can also easily choose from the sound presets provided. There is also a bass boost option called “Bass Enhance”, and as the name suggests, you can increase the bass up to 5 levels from here.
These buds have ChatGPT
All earbuds, including the Ear(a), can activate your phone’s digital assistant, but the Ear(a) goes a step further and lets wearers activate ChatGPT. So how do you do this? Well, you’ll need to go to the Nothing X app, and then choose ChatGPT Now instead of Google Assistant, press the earbud stem and ChatGPT will start speaking in your ears.
It is intuitive and works as advertised. Whether you need a quick answer to a question or just want to chat with an intelligent virtual assistant, you can do it. But ChatGPT cannot help you with basic tasks, like making calls, sending messages, setting alarms, or other things you can do hands-free with Google Assistant. So, this is a compromise you have to keep in mind when using ChatGPT as your digital assistant. Also, ChatGPT sounds a bit tinny inside the buds.
While ChatGPT came as an Ear and Ear (A) exclusive feature, Nothing has now updated all of its earbuds to enable the ability to implement ChatGPT.
Lasts long
The Nothing Ear (A) offers a reliable battery life, providing up to 5.5 hours of playback with ANC enabled and up to 9.5 hours with it turned off. The charging case holds additional charge, giving you a total of 24.5 hours with ANC and 42.5 hours without ANC, which is enough for a full day of listening.
The case supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly recharge the buds when the battery runs low, making the Ear(A) a convenient option. Sadly, there is no option to charge them wirelessly.
Should you buy Ear(a)?
The Nothing Ear (A) is a really good option for those looking for affordable wireless earbuds with a unique style and great performance. Their attractive design, comfortable fit, and excellent sound quality make them stand out in a crowded market.
While there are a few compromises, like the lack of wireless charging and a slightly less durable case, the Ear (A) makes up for it with its playful vibes, quality sound, and an affordable price of Rs 7,999.
If you are tired of the same old boring earbuds and want something that looks as good as it sounds, then the Nothing Ear (A) is definitely worth a look. These colourful little buds are sure to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.
Our rating: 4/5
