Headphones Ear (Open) Nothing are tackling a booming market: that of true wireless with open architecture. While manufacturers have long sought to isolate users from their sound environment, this new generation of products aims to reconnect them to it. The Ear (Open) are mainly intended for indoor use, where it is important to remain attentive to what is happening around you. Outdoors, however, especially in noisy environments such as city streets, their open design makes listening difficult. However, in the great outdoors, these headphones find their place, allowing you to listen to your music while remaining connected to the sounds of the environment.
With its transparent and compact design, Nothing is part of a line of visually distinct and modern products. The Ear (Open) case, which reveals the earphones, is very compact with only 19 mm in height and a weight of 63,8 grams. This aesthetic approach has also inspired other manufacturers (Galaxy Buds3 Pro Samsung), who also adopt this design principle.
Exceptional comfort and ergonomic design
Weighing 8,1 grams per earbud, the Ear (Open) rank among the most comfortable headphones. Even during prolonged use or a sports session, they prove to be stable and comfortable to wear, even for people who wear glasses. Thanks to their certification IP54, these headphones are splash and dust resistant, while ensuring a perfect fit, even during sudden movements.
In terms of controls, Nothing has opted for the side pinch, an alternative to the classic touch. This configuration is both precise and reliable, avoiding handling errors. All controls, with the exception of the single press (play/pause or pick up/hang up), are customizable via the application Nothing.
Amazing audio quality and advanced customization
The Ear (Open) offer a particularly successful sound experience. Despite their open architecture, which naturally limits the acoustics of the bass, these headphones manage to deliver a rich and well-balanced sound. The soundstage is wide and airy, fully exploiting the open design for pleasant listening, where each instrument finds its place. The bass, without reaching an exceptional power, is still present thanks to the optimized management of low frequencies.
The highs, meanwhile, are well present and detailed, although sometimes a little too pronounced, which can be tiring during prolonged listening sessions. Thanks to the 14,2mm dynamic speakers, the midrange provides excellent rendering of vocals and nuances in the songs. As for sound customization, the Nothing X app offers a Eight-band parametric equalizer, allowing you to precisely adjust each frequency. For headphones costing 150 euros, this attention to detail is impressive.
Call performance and battery life
Nothing didn't stop at music listening. With AI trained on 28 million voice samples, the Ear (Open) ensure clear and intelligible phone calls, even in noisy environments. Although some artifacts may appear, the reduction of ambient noise is effective. However, the open architecture limits the clarity of conversations in noisy places, where it becomes difficult to hear the other person properly.
The Ear (Open) have an advertised battery life of 8 hours, which was even slightly exceeded during testing with a volume of 50-60%. The charging case, equipped with a 635 mAh battery, allows the earphones to be recharged several times (at least 4). However, the lack of wireless charging may be a drawback for some users.
Verdict
The Nothing Ear (Open) surprise with their atypical design and their ability to deliver quality sound, despite the constraints of open architecture. Their unmatched comfort, distinctive design and competitive value for money make them a solid option for those looking for open true wireless headphones. Although they are not suitable for all situations, especially outdoors, they stand out as one of the best alternatives on the market, if not the best in this category, thanks to their versatility and excellent value for money.
Find Nothing Ear (Open) on Amazon.fr