After months of hype, Nothing – Carl Pei’s new tech venture – has finally unveiled its first product. And we’ve got all the details you need about it.
The Nothing ear (1) are affordable true wireless earbuds that feature a transparent design and claim to offer a premium user experience.
Commenting on the launch, CEO and co-founder of Nothing Carl Pei said: “Nothing ear (1) is a breath of fresh air in a cluttered and indifferent market, setting the tone for our connected digital world to come. It marries advanced technology, precise engineering, and ground-breaking design at an unbelievable price.”
We’ll have to see whether the earbuds live up to his words, but we won’t be waiting too long before official verdicts start to pore through.
Who are Nothing?
Nothing is a new venture from OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, and their first product are the the ear (1) are wireless earbuds. Based in London, Nothing is focused on merging technology and design.
Their aim is to create smart tech that ‘removes the barriers between people and technology’, and the ear (1) is their first step at achieving that goal.
You can head to their website to find out more about them.
How much does the Nothing ear (1) cost?
From a cost perspective the Nothing ear (1) are relatively inexpensive – $99, €99 and £99. That’s quite significantly less than the likes of Apple, Bose and Sony and would mark Nothing’s competition as among those in the budget market.
Availability for Nothing ear (1) begins 31st July 2021 at 2pm UK time via a limited drop on nothing.tech.
General availability starts on 17 August 2021 in 45 countries and regions, both at nothing.tech and select retailers, such as availability in Selfridges, online and in-store.
What do the Nothing ear (1) look like?
Nothing has encouraged much pre-release speculation about what the earbuds would eventually look like. Our first proper view reveals they are distinctive transparent in look – not quite as transparent as some promotional material indicated, but they do feature a stem that’s completely transparent, with the microphones, magnets and circuit board in full view.
That speaks to the company’s idea of “the raw beauty” of technology and “stripped down aesthetic features”. The model name is engraved into the earbud’s stem with the colours used a minimalist mixture of red, black and white.
Each earbud weighs 4.7g, features pressure-relieving vents for added comfort and comes with three customisable liquid silicone tips for finding that best fit.
What features do the Nothing ear (1) have?
The Nothing ear (1) boasts up to 34 hours playtime with the case, dropping to 24 hours with noise cancellation on. That’s similar to the Sony WF-1000XM4 and better than the likes of the AirPods Pro and QuietComfort Earbuds.
There’s support for active noise cancellation, putting them among the likes of the Urbanista London, Amazon Echo Buds 2 and Beats Studio Buds.
The ear (1) uses three high definition mics for ANC, with ‘Light mode; for moderate noise cancellation and Maximum mode employed for noisier environments. Transparency mode filters in more of your surroundings, while attention has been paid to calls with the specially developed Clear Voice Technology that aims to reduce background noise.
The case has a 570mAh battery, and fast-charging is supported with a ten-minute charge providing 6 (with ANC on) and 8 (with ANC off) hours of battery. The case also supports wireless charging for those with a compatible Qi wireless mat.
Other features include the ear (1) app, which will have Find My Earbud, EQ settings, Gesture Control customisation and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. In-Ear Detection pauses/plays music when the earbuds are removed from the ear, while there’s fast pairing with Android devices and sweat and water splash resistance (though Nothing has not confirmed what level).
From an audio perspective the earbuds have big 11.6mm driver, with Nothing collaborating with Teenage Engineering to achieve a performance with balanced bass, mid, and treble performance.
We’ll be looking to put the Nothing ear (1) through their paces, with a full review in the offing.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.