Nothing Ear (open) review: my first open sound earbuds are almost perfect

Open sound earbuds have been on my list of must-have gadgets for some time now, and the new Nothing Ear (open) are almost perfect. As someone who cycles 20km a day to the Creative Bloq office and back home, an audio solution to relieve the journey is a must but I've always shunned earbuds for safety reasons - I really need to hear that BMW driver aggressively tailgating me.

Nothing's first open sound earbuds feature the kind of design and technology mix I've come to expect from this disruptive brand. The earbuds feature a 'Sound Seal System' that makes use of directional speakers to reduce sound leakage while featuring a hooked over-ear design, which means there's no painful earbud directly wedged into my ear and I can hear my surroundings. On paper, ideal, and a perfect fit with my Nothing Phone 2 (but these also work with Apple).

With this release Nothing is going up against established brands like Shokz and Bose, but for a little less. While those brands stick rigidly to the black 'oval' look that all seem very similar, Nothing has adapted its clear, angular design for these new earbuds.

Nothing Ear (open) review: how it works

Open sound earbuds are designed to enable you to hear your music and calls perfectly while also picking up on sound around you, including conversations. It's a clever new-ish idea that I've been keeping one eye on for some time as it means I can safely cycle and walk while also hearing cars or people in my surroundings.

It works by using directional speakers to keep 'sound leakage' to a minimum while reverse sound waves are pushed out of the rear acoustic ports and 'superimposed on the sound from the front acoustic ports' to cancel out sound waves. The upshot is I can hear my music, but no one else can, and I can also hear everyone around me.

If you want to cancel out your surroundings then the traditional earbuds like the recently released Nothing Ear and Ear (a) that offer noise cancelling technology to remove outside audio, perfect for flights and bustling train journeys, are better.

Nothing Ear (open) review: design and specs

In the box are a pair of earbuds, the slim curved oblong charging case, a USB-C cable, user guide as well as the standard safety and warranty information docs. The Nothing Ear (open) features some novel tech and design choices, for example the earbud has a stepped driver design to ensure the audio is closer to the ear. You find more specs in the box to the side.

The design overall is neat and light. This approach begins with the charging case, which is just 19 mm thin, and deftly fits into a pocket. The case features Nothing's familiar transparent design, with a clear lid showcasing the curled earbuds inside. The buds are easily dropped into place too, which is satisfying.

The earbuds are very light, weighing just 8.1 grams each. The main bud is a small long block attached to a familiar round bud, connected to a bendy, thick-ish lead that has a cylinder on the end. It slips over the ear perfectly, and the speaker sits on the outside of the ear. These are comfy and secure.

This three-point design is an adaptation of the 'ear hook' concept that has been around for some time, but Nothing's take on the idea is clever, light and secure. In fact, once on I keep putting a finger to my ear to ensure these are still in place. It's perhaps not as forward looking as Bose's costly clip design, but then Nothing's release is half the price.

There is a 'chunkiness' to the overall look, possibly from the angular design and thicker plastic and rubber ear hook, but it's offset somewhat by the transparent casing that reveals the tech inside. Some may prefer the clip designs of Bose or the slimmer look of Shokz, but these are more affordable than Bose and more secure than Shokz. The Nothing Ear (open) also only comes in white, which is not an issue for me but I know some prefer a choice.

Nothing Ear (open) review: performance

The audio is good. I am genuinely taken aback the first time I place the Nothing Ear (open) buds over my ears and start playing music. The audio quality is excellent, balanced and rich with bass where it needs to be but also enables me to hear sound from my environment. Over the jangle of The Feelies and the distortion of Dinosaur Jr. I can hear footsteps around me, chatter and general noise, but without ruining the music.

Nothing has its own Advanced Equaliser tools in the Nothing X app that I've been using for some time now. There is a simple setting that enables you to adjust bass, treble, voice and more or go into the Advanced settings to really tinker and get the sound you need. It's a great app, but also for the majority of needs I find the Nothing Ear (open) work perfectly out of the box (case?).

For those who need it, Nothing has integrated ChatGPT into its app and use, so you can text or ask the AI questions using the Nothing Ear (open).

I've been using the Nothing Ear (open) for a week now, using them on my cycle to the office as well as at my desk - ideal for keeping up to speed with office chat and listening to my playlist. I've covered the audio quality already, and the other aspect of open ear devices is the approach to how they sit on the ear. Nothing's approach brings back the old Motorola hands-free 'ear hook' approach, but gives it a nuanced revamp.

Nothing Ear (open) is simply very comfortable. The lightness of the design is incredible, and after a few minutes I forget they were there. More so, there's no tight feel or nicks, and they work fine with glasses. Topping it off, the Nothing Ear (open) hasn't fallen off. I tried, I really did, I sat at my desk and shook my head and despite a bump cycle they've yet to slip off. If you're a keen runner, I'd recommend Nothing Ear (open), for example.

It takes some getting used to the controls, as each bud features four programmable inputs on the body of the earbud, for example double pinch declines calls and forwards tracks, while pinch and hold controls volume.

In use I've found the Nothing Ear (open) battery lasts just shy of the promoted eight hours of usage, perfect for two or three days commute. (The charging case holds a 30 hour charge.) These also have the industry standard IP54 rating, meaning these are splash resistance.

Nothing Ear (open) review: who's it for?

The new Nothing Ear (open) is designed for those who want to hear music and make calls without needing to stop or pause music or audio playback. It also means you can hear the environment around you, making this a safer way to enjoy music while out in public.

The downside is you can hear everything around you, so if you like to close off distractions and noise when on flights, for example, you'll need traditional earbuds or headphones. Personally, I'll be packing both types of earbuds.

Nothing Ear (open) review: buy it if

• You want a safer way to listen to music
• You want good audio quality
• You love great product design

Nothing Ear (open) review: don't buy it if

• You like noise cancelling earbuds
• You prefer 'slimmer' designs
• You want other colours

Nothing Ear (open) review: also consider

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

These come in four colours and feature a unique 'clip on' design. But the same design is not or everyone. And these are Bose, so there's a high price tag.

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Shokz OpenFit

Decent sound quality and a good fit over the ear, the Shokz brand is pitched at runners but they will suit most people. Not as secure as the Nothing Ear (open).

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