Nothing Ear (1)

Swift, confident and quite dynamic sound ; Well-sorted control options

ANC influences sound so the sonic balance is subject to unsolicited change ; More fit-dependent than your average TWS

Whether or not you’re a big fan of the Nothing Ear will depend on whether you think getting two sounds for the price of one is a good thing or not

Relatively modest price ; Good sound quality ; Distinctive design ; Comfortable to wear while resting or working out

Some connectivity issues ; Design may be divisive

Sleek design ; Great app with new EQ ; Comfortable fit ; Good ANC

Not a massive step from the Ear (2) ; ANC isn't the best we've tried

If you're on the hunt for a new pair of wireless earbuds which don't break the bank, the Nothing Ear is a great pick. Packed with cool features and a sumptuous design, this will be a great addition to any audio setup.

Very comfortable ; Decent sound ; Responsive touch controls

Limited EQ options ; Transparency mode is weak ; Limited codec support

Easy-to-use touch controls ; Loads of useful features like Find My Earbud ; Active Noise Cancellation

The case takes ages to charge ; No manual EQ settings ; The design isn’t fully transparent

There was a lot of hype around the Nothing Ear (1) buds, but they’re not as special as we expected them to be. Despite that, they do pack in tonnes of features considering just how cheap they are, and they sound great too. You won't find a better pair...

Extensive feature set ; Enjoyable app ; Strong aesthetic

Tubby bass ; Timing issues ; Over-emphasised upper midrange

Nothing ventured, nothing gained: Nothing Ear (1) has the specifications to become a budget headphone contender, but the sound is a good step below class-leading

Unique transparent design stands out ; Comfortable to wear for long periods ; Great sound ; Wireless/fast charging ; Reliable for video and voice calls

Battery life could be improved ; Lots of competition ; Touch gestures limited (at time of review)

It's rare to find a pair of earbuds as accomplised as the Nothing Ear 1 in the affordable market segment. They look unique, sound great, and are reliable enough to use day-in day-out.

Noise cancelling takes a small step up ; Battery boost much appreciated ; Enjoyable tuning with plenty of personalisation via app

Not the biggest upgrade from the outgoing pair ; Cheaper Ear (a) not far behind on any front

As distinctive as ever, but now with ANC upgrades and EQ improvements. A modest yet welcome update on what were already capable and keenly priced wireless earbuds.

Active noise cancellation ; Wireless charging ; Affordable price point

Average audio quality ; Divisive design ; Slightly buggy

On paper, the Ear (1) outpace almost all the competition at the price point simply by virtue of including premium features like ANC and wireless charging. In practice, the good-but-not-great audio quality and battery life hold these back a little, as...

Punchy, enjoyable audio ; Distinctive design ; Lots of features for the price

Battery life merely OK ; ANC can still be flaky ; Not the tightest fit for running

An impressive first effort that delivers on features as well as price. Ear (1) falls short of perfect, even at a tempting £99, but ANC and water resistance help it stand out amongst budget alternatives.