Nothing has announced its first product, the Nothing ear true wireless earbuds. The product will be launching on July 27 and cost £99.
It’s never a good idea to judge a product by the way it looks, but some looks are hard to ignore. Such is the case (literally) with the all-new Nothing ear (1) true wireless earbuds. These new earbuds carry a minimalistic transparent case that lets the tech inside be peeked - a surefire way to draw some attention.
Once you’ve got over the clear plastic skin, you’ll also notice that the head of the earbuds is very similar to the much-loved shape found on Apple AirPods Pro. Unlike Apple’s premium product, which currently lists on Amazon at £189.99, Nothing is bringing its earbuds in for under £100 - just. At £99, the Nothing ear (1) offers a real challenge to Apple. The same goes for the tech inside, too.
In theory, at least, Nothing seems to back up its bold aesthetic choice with a compelling, Apple-beating spec sheet. Sound is provided by 11.6mm drivers, and connectivity is covered off by Bluetooth 5.2. Active noise-cancellation is found on board, as are touch controls, and the case supports Qi charging.
The battery life is cause for minor celebration, too, running for a supposed six hours without ANC, five hours without. Combined with the case, Nothing states that the ear (1) have up to 34-hours of listening time. These stats comfortably beat out the AirPod Pros, which offer only four and a half hours with ANC. Couple with the case, AirPod Pros have up to 24-hours of playback in them.
So, on paper, this transparent throwback to early nineties tech isn’t all about the looks. The real test will come when it’s in the hands (or ears), but until then, Apple appears to have yet more competition heading its way.
The Nothing ear true wireless earbuds will be launching on July 27 and cost £99.
What is Nothing?
Nothing is a London-based tech firm co-founded by Carl Pei, formerly of OnePlus fame and fortune. The Nothing ear (1) true wireless earbuds will be the bands first release.
In a press release from May 2021, Pei described the ethos behind Nothing as follows:
“Our mission is to remove barriers between people and technology to create a seamless digital future that looks, lives, and feels like nothing.”
Strangely enough, in this statement Pei seems to acknowledge that the all-new Nothing ear (1) will feel like something; after all, cool as they may be, the basic design is nothing new. However, as the bracketed digit suggests, the Nothing ear (1) is the first go - we should expect more iterations in the future, perfecting the formula:
"The greatest visions are not realized with the flip of a switch, but instead through countless small successes. ear (1) is just the start. [The] ear (1) combines notes of transparency, iconic form, and refined functionality. It is the starting point that will define the artistry, confidence and craftsmanship that will carry our products and services for years to come. Everything that is ear (1) is there with purpose.”
We look forward to seeing what Nothing has to offer in the coming years.