Nothing Ear (open) review: A different beat

Nothing’s design philosophy has always been about revealing what’s usually hidden. The Ear (open) follows that tradition beautifully. The buds and the top of the case are partially transparent, giving a glimpse of the internal mechanics, an aesthetic that somehow feels both futuristic and nostalgic.

nothing ear open

At just 19 mm thin, the case is impressively compact. It’s one of the slimmest I’ve seen, slipping easily into pockets or small handbags. The buds sit snugly inside the case in a way that feels natural. You open the lid, and they’re right there, ready to go.

When you first wear them, they feel unlike any other earbuds. Instead of sealing off your ear canal, the Ear (open) rests just outside it. The design uses a 50-degree tilt, it positions the speaker at a sweet spot between the upper and lower folds of your ear. It sounds strange in theory, but in practice, it works effortlessly.

The buds feel almost weightless at just over eight grams each and stay secure thanks to a clever three-point balance system. I’ve always had concerns with the fit of earbuds, most either feel too tight or threaten to fall off the moment you move. But with the Nothing Ear (open), I didn’t have those worries evenonce. The open design sat securely and naturally, staying put no matter what I was doing and that included walking, working, or playing with my dog. It felt like Nothing finally cracked the code for people who love wireless earbuds but hate constantly adjusting them.

The nickel-titanium ear hooks add a gentle flexibility that helps them adapt to different ear shapes. Even after hours of wear, there was no soreness or pressure. The matte texture, transparent stems, and lightweight build make them easy to wear for long stretches without fatigue. They blend design with comfort in a way that feels almost effortless, staying true to Nothing’s philosophy of making tech that looks good and feels human.

Sound quality

The biggest question with open-style earbuds is always the same: how’s the sound? When your ear isn’t sealed, bass and detail often get lost. Nothing seems to have tackled that challenge head-on. The 14.2 mm dynamic driver inside each bud isn’t placed in a straight line like in most earbuds—it uses a stepped driver design that brings the sound closer to your ear. The titanium-coated diaphragm gives high frequencies a crisp finish while keeping distortion low.

Listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, I was struck by how airy and natural the vocals sounded. The soundstage feels wide, almost like standing in a room with live instruments instead of listening through a closed chamber. The bass, while not as heavy as you’d get from sealed in-ear models, has surprising presence. Nothing’s Bass Enhance algorithm boosts low frequencies intelligently, keeping the sound lively without muddying the mids.

nothing ear open

On tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s Humble, the beats carried a satisfying punch without drowning out the vocals. Acoustic songs such as John Mayer’s Stop This Train revealed how clean and expressive the mids are. The titanium-coated diaphragm also keeps the treble smooth yet bright, so cymbals and guitar strings have the right sparkle without harshness.

One pleasant surprise is how private the sound feels. Open earbuds often leak sound, but the Ear (open) manages to contain it well. Even at moderate to high volumes, people nearby couldn’t hear much. The result is an open, natural listening experience that still feels personal.

If you enjoy customising sound, the Nothing X app gives a lot of control. The Advanced Equaliser lets you tweak not just bass and treble but also the finer aspects of tone and range. You can even share your EQ profiles with others through QR codes.

Overall, the sound signature is clean, dynamic, and easy to enjoy across genres. These might not satisfy those chasing heavy bass drops, but for most listeners, the balance feels just right.

Everyday use

The real charm of the Ear (open) lies in how practical they are. With these, I could hear music and still be aware of what was happening around me. While walking, I could catch the sound of traffic, while working, I could still talk to colleagues without pausing my playlist. This awareness makes them ideal for daily life, especially if you dislike the isolation of traditional earbuds.

The controls are simple and responsive. You pinch once to play or pause, twice to skip, three times to go back, and press and hold to change the volume. The touch feedback feels light and consistent, and the gestures can be customized through the app.

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Battery life is impressive for an open design. You get up to eight hours on the buds and around thirty hours with the case. A quick ten-minute charge gives about two hours of playback, which is handy when you’re in a rush.

On calls, the AI Clear Voice Technology does an excellent job. With dual microphones and smart noise filtering, it cuts through ambient noise effectively. I took a few calls outdoors, even on a breezy day, and the person on the other end said my voice was clear. The side microphone placement also helps reduce wind noise, which many earbuds struggle with.

For gaming, there’s a Low Lag Mode that brings latency down to about 120 ms when paired with a Nothing phone. The feature works on phones too via the app, though performance might vary slightly.

Dual Connection is another thoughtful addition. You can connect the earbuds to two devices at once, like your laptop and phone, and switch between them automatically when you get a call or notification.

ChatGPT integration

Nothing has started integrating ChatGPT across its devices, and the Ear (open) is part of that plan. Once set up through the Nothing X app, you can activate ChatGPT using your voice and ask quick questions, get answers, or dictate short notes.

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That said, the full experience is limited to users with Nothing phones running Nothing OS. On other Android devices or iPhones, you’ll still get most of the standard features, but not the hands-free AI integration. Still, this glimpse into the brand’s direction is interesting—it’s clear Nothing wants to build more than just hardware.

Connectivity and durability

The Ear (open) supports Bluetooth 5.3 and connects quickly and reliably. During my testing, I didn’t experience any random disconnections or lag. It supports Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair for instant pairing and works with AAC and SBC codecs. While there’s no support for high-end codecs like aptX or LDAC, the sound quality feels consistently stable.

With an IP54 rating, the earbuds can handle dust and splashes, so they’re perfectly fine for workouts or light rain.

Should you buy it?

The Nothing Ear (open) is not your typical pair of earbuds. It looks different, feels different, and sounds different too, in a good way though. The open design keeps your ears free, lets you stay aware of your surroundings while still enjoying music or calls. It’s perfect for people who find regular earbuds uncomfortable or worry about them falling off. I’ve always struggled with earbud fit, but these stayed securely in place no matter what I was doing.

Sound quality is clean and balanced, though not as bass-heavy as some might prefer. But that’s the trade-off for an open design, and for most users, it won’t feel like a loss. The call quality is solid, and the battery life is dependable enough for daily use.

At Rs 17,999, the Nothing Ear (open) is definitely on the expensive side. You’re paying for design innovation and comfort more than raw audio power. If you want something unique, stylish, and genuinely comfortable for long hours, this is worth the investment. But if you just want the best sound for your money, there are cheaper options that will serve you well.