Introduction

The market of true wireless earbuds is getting crowded with new technological innovations and advancements taking place on a daily basis. The Ear 1 wireless earbuds, which are the first product to come from a new company called “Nothing”. Nothing is created by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei and aims to build out an entire family of products in the future. Their earbuds have entered the technology market being a quality 1st-gen product from a brand new company.

Nothing earbuds made an obvious attempt to stand out in its transparent casing, parts, and circuit boards peering out from within. This pair of buds are both well-made and attractively affordable making them one of the best budget earbuds available. It also boasts active noise cancellation (ANC), microphones with stellar phone call quality, and music performance that has shaken some of the top competitors.

Design that is definitely different

Nothing Ear 1 showcases a completely unorthodox design with the see-through plastic on the earbud’s stems is undoubtedly its signature feature. Other than its transparent design you can see the voice / ANC microphones, touch sensors, and a red (right) or white (left) dot to indicate which ear that bud is for. On the side facing the ear, you can see circuitry, magnets, and the pins where the earbuds connect to the charging case.

The design appears to be very important to Nothing as they are trying to make a statement by making technology less obvious and more seamless. The earbuds have a unique style that gives them an edge over their competitors. It also features oval-shaped replaceable ear tips for additional comfort and convenience.

Nothing ear 1 with something special in the sound quality

Nothing earbuds feature a balanced but powerful sound quality. It manages to present a lively soundstage that’s under control but never too muted or flat. This feature is mostly available in high-end and expensive earbuds but Nothing has included that too in its list. Nothing’s companion mobile app is available for both Android and iOS and has simple EQ adjustments for more treble, more bass, and voice.

Nothing Ear 1 has active noise cancellation too which is good for the money as it offers multiple modes. There are two levels for it, Light and Maximum. Light can help you dodge the distracting sounds of home and your immediate surroundings, but if you are out in public, Maximum will be noticeably more effective and helpful.

Battery life that stands apart

The battery estimates for the listening time have seemed on point for Nothing Ear 1. It promises 4 hours of battery life with ANC on and 5.7 hours with it off. The charging case makes the battery stand out, with grand totals of 24 hours with ANC or 34 hours without. The numbers look good and justify their value as compared to the rivals.

Other notable features of Nothing earbuds

Nothing has paid great attention to not just the obvious factors but other details too. Each bud is lighter than those more expensive options and the case is wider but slimmer than most charging cases. Another interesting feature is that the case itself seems to have its own Bluetooth profile, separate from the buds. The case can also be charged through USB-C or Qi wireless charging which is another interesting addition at this price.

The earbuds are rated IPX4 for sweat and dust resistance, so they can handle your daily workouts and other activities. The buds also have touch controls, and you can slide your finger up and down the stem for volume control, while a single tap will play/pause and a triple tap will skip a track. This makes controlling super easy and fun. The Bluetooth connectivity of 5.2 works well and stays strong throughout.

Nothing ear 1 price - The best budget earbuds?

The technology market is giving us an option to buy cheap pairs of wireless earbuds that happen to deliver results just as good as the expensive ones. At $140, the ear 1 are some of the cheapest wire-free noise-canceling earbuds you can get. The brand is offering a lot of other high-end features that make it the best budget earbuds. Nothing has made sure that the price of the new buds stays firmly within budget for everyone.

Threat to samsung buds and AirPods Pro ?

Nothing’s idea of a unique earbuds design has already aced the market and made it stand out from the likes of Apple AirPods, Samsung Galaxy Buds, and their clones. Not just its transparent design but a surprisingly low cost and great features have made it compete as the best budget wireless earbuds. Samsung's cheapest noise-canceling pair the Galaxy Buds Pro starts at $219, while Apple's AirPods Pro retail for $399. Just by looking at the price and the list of features Nothing Ear 1 is offering for that cost, makes it a winner.