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

I use them every day.

Nothing Ear Open review; earbuds in a case
(Image: © Future / Nothing)

Our Verdict

A smart design, comfy fit and solid sound quality for a good price, the Nothing Ear (open) are near perfect entry-level open sound earbuds. Some could find the design too chunky.

For

  • Comfortable fit
  • Unique design
  • Deep, rounded audio

Against

  • A little chunky

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

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).

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

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.

Image

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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The Verdict
8

out of 10

Nothing Ear Open

A smart design, comfy fit and solid sound quality for a good price, the Nothing Ear (open) are near perfect entry-level open sound earbuds. Some could find the design too chunky.

Editor, Digital Arts & 3D

Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creative Bloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and video game titles Play and Official PlayStation Magazine. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on digital art, VFX and video games and tech, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5.

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