Nothing Ear (1) - Affordable Wireless Earbuds

The Unveiling of Nothing's Ear (1) Earbuds

Over five months have passed since Carl Pei initially announced the arrival of Nothing. Perhaps the passage of time feels accelerated, or it could be due to the company’s gradual release of information. Regardless, the complete reveal of the Ear (1) feels long-awaited.

A Strategic Build-Up

For a new consumer hardware company, this approach has proven remarkably effective, leveraging the pre-existing recognition associated with Pei’s involvement with OnePlus. We have previously reported on several announcements made between February and the present, and have addressed the discussions surrounding the brand’s name.

The extensive stream of information released by Nothing has left little to surprise. A recent interview with Pei disclosed the earbuds’ price point of $99 USD, alongside details regarding their noise cancellation capabilities. An image of the transparent charging case and its battery performance – 24 hours with ANC enabled, and 36 hours without – was also revealed through a StockX auction.

A Focus on Design and Iteration

The primary element remaining to be unveiled was the earbuds themselves, a significant detail, admittedly. Pei has consistently emphasized the importance of aesthetics as a key differentiator for Nothing. However, the company’s initial imagery presented a somewhat ambiguous message.

Nothing clearly demonstrated a commitment to extensive iteration throughout the development process. Pei explained that these iterations contributed to a delay in the original launch schedule. The company aimed to create a product that stood apart from existing market offerings.

Furthermore, achieving transparency in the design introduced additional complexities. The internal components and adhesives needed to be visually appealing, matching the quality of the exterior.

Distinctive Aesthetics

The Ear (1) earbuds are immediately recognizable; nothing else quite matches their design. In terms of form factor, they bear a resemblance to AirPods, featuring a long stem extending from the earbud itself. The stems showcase the majority of the product’s transparency.

The earbud segment is opaque white, likely to conceal less visually appealing internal components. Each stem incorporates a touch panel and a single color dot – red and white – to differentiate between the left and right earbuds. This is a subtle reference to RCA cables.

The Nothing logo is printed along the length of the stem, utilizing a dotted text style inspired by circuit board printing – an aesthetic consistently employed in the company’s marketing materials. Two magnetic dots on the opposite side facilitate connection to the charging pins within the case.

The Charging Case and Technical Specifications

The charging case is constructed from transparent plastic, featuring dots to secure the earbuds. A large, concave circle provides a secure grip while holding the case. A white section runs through the case’s center, presumably concealing internal electronics.

The earbuds utilize 11.6mm drivers and feature audio tuning by Teenage Engineering, who also contributed to the design. They support Bluetooth 5.2 and offer three listening modes: Active Noise Canceling, Light Mode, and Active Transparency.

Additional features include a built-in chirp function for locating lost earbuds through the companion app.