The Nothing Ear is the brand’s 2024 flagship pair of true wireless earbuds, with a see-through stem design, up to 45dB active noise cancellation (ANC), a wireless-charging case and support for both LDAC and LHDC high-resolution Bluetooth codecs. It is a good fit for Android users who care about sound customisation and codec support, and a weaker fit for anyone whose first priority is the strongest possible noise cancelling.
Our short verdict: the Nothing Ear is a feature-rich, comfortable-to-wear pair with a deep equaliser and a hearing-test sound profile, but reviewers describe its ANC as good rather than class-leading, and the looser fit gives modest passive isolation. If you want a cheaper way into the same family, Nothing’s own Ear (a) and Ear (3a) are covered later in this article.
How this article was made: it is based on Nothing’s official India product page, published specifications and independent reviews from GSMArena, Tom’s Guide and Trusted Reviews. We have not tested these earbuds ourselves, so every comment on sound, noise cancelling or battery life below is attributed to those publications. Specifications were checked on 29 October 2026. Nothing’s India page lists only a handful of headline figures, so the deeper numbers come from the reviews, and we say so where that applies.
Quick verdict
- Best for: Android users who want LDAC or LHDC, an 8-band equaliser, a personalised hearing-test profile and wireless charging
- Skip if: your main need is the strongest ANC for flights, gyms or noisy offices, or you want the lowest possible price
- Key strengths: 45dB claimed ANC, LDAC and LHDC support, IP54 earbuds with an IP55 case, wireless charging, a detailed Nothing X app
- Key limitations: ANC performance is only good according to reviewers, ANC changes the sound balance, short stems make pinch controls awkward for some hands, and ANC-on battery life is around five hours per charge
Key specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | Nothing Ear (2024 model, sold plainly as Nothing Ear) |
| Driver | 11mm dynamic driver with ceramic diaphragm (GSMArena, Tom’s Guide) |
| Active noise cancellation | Up to 45dB (official page), with Off, Transparency or High/Mid/Low/Adaptive levels (Trusted Reviews) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC and LHDC 5.0 (Tom’s Guide, GSMArena) |
| Hi-Res Audio | 24-bit Hi-Res Audio (official page) |
| Battery, earbuds | About 5.2 hours with ANC on, 8.5 hours with ANC off (GSMArena, Tom’s Guide) |
| Battery, with case | About 24 hours with ANC on, 40.5 hours with ANC off (GSMArena) |
| Fast charge | 10 minutes for up to 10 hours of listening, ANC off (GSMArena) |
| Charging | USB-C and 2.5W wireless charging (GSMArena, Tom’s Guide) |
| Water and dust rating | IP54 earbuds, IP55 case |
| Microphones | Three per earbud, with Clear Voice call processing (Trusted Reviews) |
| Multipoint | Supported (Trusted Reviews) |
| Controls | Pinch gestures on the stems, with customisable actions |
| Colours | Black and White (official page) |
| Compatibility | Android and iOS (official page) |
The official India page confirms the headline figures: 40.5-hour battery, 45dB ANC, 24-bit Hi-Res Audio, the black and white colours and Android/iOS use. It does not spell out whether 40.5 hours includes the case or whether ANC is on. GSMArena’s spec breakdown shows 40.5 hours is the figure with the case and ANC switched off, which is why it should not be read as an everyday number.
Check the current price of the Nothing Ear (Black) on Amazon.in
Design and fit
The Ear keeps Nothing’s transparent look: a clear-edged stem and a case you can see through. That is partly decoration, but it also makes the pair easy to recognise in a pocket full of black earbuds. The earbuds use pinch gestures on the stem rather than touch panels. Pinch controls are less prone to accidental taps, which is useful if you adjust your earbuds often, but Tom’s Guide found the short stem fiddly for some people and awkward for larger hands. Play/pause and answer/end call are fixed, while the other gestures can be reassigned in the Nothing X app, according to Trusted Reviews.
Fit matters more than most buyers expect, because it decides how much noise cancelling you actually get. GSMArena found the Ear sits looser than the Galaxy Buds 2 or Sony WF-1000XM5, which it called more comfortable but less isolating. Trusted Reviews similarly described the Ear as more fit-dependent than the average true wireless pair. The practical lesson: try the three silicone tip sizes in the box and use the in-app ear-tip fit test before judging the ANC.
The IP54 rating on the earbuds covers dust ingress and splashes, so sweat and light rain are fine. The case is IP55 according to the reviews, a little better against water jets, but this is not a swim-proof or shower-proof rating. Do not submerge either part.
Sound quality and codecs
The 11mm driver uses a ceramic diaphragm. In practice, what matters is how it behaves with the tuning and codecs. Tom’s Guide’s Lee Dunkley found the sound balance impressive and noted that bass was not sacrificed despite the smaller driver. Trusted Reviews described the sound as energetic and balanced, with good detail and soundstage and a bass that has impact but lacks real heft.
GSMArena’s reviewer was more critical of the default tuning, saying the treble was over-boosted and became fatiguing on longer sessions, though EQ adjustments fixed that. That is a useful pointer: the Ear rewards a few minutes in the app. The Nothing X app offers an 8-band equaliser, four presets, five Bass Enhance stages and a hearing-test-based Personal Sound Profile, according to GSMArena and Trusted Reviews. Reviewers disagreed on the profile: Tom’s Guide preferred the Recommended setting at 100% and called it effective, while GSMArena found 100% overwhelming and synthetic. Treat it as something to try at a moderate intensity rather than a switch to leave on.
The codec list is one of the Ear’s selling points. LDAC (up to 990kbps, 24-bit/96kHz) and LHDC 5.0 (up to 1Mbps, 24-bit/192kHz) both need compatible phones to work. Many Android phones support LDAC, while LHDC support is more limited. iPhones use AAC, so iOS users will not benefit from either high-resolution codec. Tom’s Guide said it preferred LDAC for its extra treble detail. For most casual listening on Spotify or YouTube, the codec difference is smaller than the effect of a good EQ and a proper fit.
Noise cancellation and transparency
Nothing claims up to 45dB of ANC, up from 40dB on the Ear (2) according to GSMArena. A decibel figure is a laboratory-style maximum, not what you will hear on a train, so it is best read alongside the reviewers’ findings. GSMArena called the ANC very good against constant noise but not impressive in a quiet office, and said it noticed no real difference compared with the Ear (2) in side-by-side use. Tom’s Guide rated it good rather than great: at the gym the reviewer could still hear the PA system and a nearby rowing machine, and judged it behind the AirPods Pro 2 for workouts.
Trusted Reviews raised a different point: switching ANC on changes the sound character, with extra bass emphasis and a calmer presentation. Tom’s Guide made a similar observation about richer but more fatiguing bass. If you listen with ANC on all day, this matters more than the headline decibel figure.
Transparency mode was described by Tom’s Guide as effective without boosting other sounds, and wind noise was not a problem in its tests. That makes it a usable mode for crossing roads or listening for announcements.
Battery and charging
The 40.5-hour headline assumes ANC off and the case used for refills. With ANC on, the published numbers are about 5.2 hours in the earbuds and 24 hours with the case. GSMArena’s own test, at 100% volume with ANC on, lasted about four hours, so expect the lower end of the range if you listen loudly. Tom’s Guide said the 5.2-hour ANC figure is not quite as strong as some of the best cheap earbuds, but is an improvement over the Ear (2).
Charging is flexible. The case charges over USB-C or on a Qi wireless pad, and Nothing claims 10 minutes in the case gives up to 10 hours of listening with ANC off. This is the main hardware advantage over the Ear (a), which GSMArena says has no wireless charging.
Calls, app and extras
Each earbud has three microphones with Clear Voice processing, according to Trusted Reviews, though that review gives no call test results and neither does Tom’s Guide. If calls are a priority, check recent buyer feedback rather than relying on the spec sheet. Multipoint connection is listed as supported, so you can keep the earbuds linked to a phone and a laptop, and Trusted Reviews also mentions a low-lag mode for video and games.
One feature to read carefully: GSMArena reports a built-in ChatGPT pinch function that requires specific Nothing phones (Phone (1), Phone (2) or Phone (2a)). If you do not use one of those, you should not count on it.
See the Nothing Ear (Black) on Amazon.in
Who should buy it
- Android owners with LDAC- or LHDC-capable phones who want to use the high-resolution codecs
- Listeners who enjoy tuning sound through an 8-band EQ, Bass Enhance and a hearing-test profile
- People who want wireless charging and a case that doubles as a design object
- Buyers who want a lightweight, comfortable earbud rather than a heavy, isolating one
Who should skip it
- Frequent flyers and gym-goers who want the strongest ANC, since reviewers place it behind the AirPods Pro 2
- iPhone users, who will not get LDAC or LHDC and may prefer Apple’s own earbuds
- Anyone with large hands who dislikes short-stem pinch controls
- Buyers who need a very secure fit for running, given GSMArena’s comments on the looser fit
- Anyone who mainly wants a budget pair and does not need wireless charging or the full codec list
Alternatives worth comparing
- Nothing Ear (a): the cheaper sibling. GSMArena lists the same 45dB ANC claim, LDAC only, Bluetooth 5.3, 42.5 hours with the case (ANC off) and no wireless charging, and found it a little more muffled and about 10-15% quieter than the Ear.
- Nothing Ear (3a): a newer budget model. BGR reports a 12mm driver, Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, multipoint, 42 hours with the case (ANC off) and no wireless charging.
- Apple AirPods Pro 2: Tom’s Guide judged them stronger than the Nothing Ear for ANC during workouts, but they are designed around iPhones.
Buying tips and what to check
Check the exact listing. Our link goes to the Amazon.in listing titled “Nothing Ear (Black) True Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth 5.3, Up to 45 dB ANC, Up to 40.5 hrs Playback, IP54 Earbuds & IP55 Case, Hi-Res Audio (LDAC/LHDC)”. That matches the plain Nothing Ear in black. It is not the Ear (a), Ear (3a) or the white colour option, so confirm the colour and model name on the page before ordering.
Check the box and the warranty. We could not confirm the in-box contents or warranty terms from the sources we used. Look at the listing for the included charging cable and ear tips, and check Nothing’s India support page for warranty and service-centre details before relying on either.
Check your phone. LDAC and LHDC need support on the phone side and a stable connection to be useful. Update the Nothing X app and the earbud firmware first, and try the fit test.
Check the current price of the Nothing Ear on Amazon.in, since prices change often and this article does not quote one.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Nothing Ear support wireless charging?
Yes. According to GSMArena and Tom’s Guide, the case supports 2.5W wireless charging in addition to USB-C. The cheaper Nothing Ear (a) does not, per GSMArena.
Is the 40.5-hour battery claim realistic?
It is a maximum. GSMArena’s figures show 40.5 hours is with the case and ANC off. With ANC on, the published numbers drop to about 5.2 hours in the buds and 24 hours with the case, and GSMArena measured about four hours at full volume with ANC on.
Is the Nothing Ear good for iPhone?
It works with iOS, according to Nothing’s page, but iPhones use AAC, so the LDAC and LHDC strengths do not apply. Some app features may also differ by platform, so check before relying on them.
How strong is the noise cancelling?
Nothing claims up to 45dB. Reviewers describe it as good, not best-in-class: GSMArena found it very good against constant noise, and Tom’s Guide said it falls behind the AirPods Pro 2 in the gym.
Is the Nothing Ear waterproof?
No. IP54 earbuds and an IP55 case are protected against dust and splashes, but not submersion.
Can I use it with two devices at once?
Trusted Reviews lists multipoint support, so it can stay connected to two devices. Confirm this in the Nothing X app after updating.
Conclusion
The Nothing Ear is for people who value tuning options, codec support and a distinctive design over raw noise cancelling. Reviewers praise the sound balance and app, but they also note average-to-good ANC, a looser fit and an ANC-on battery life of around five hours. If that trade-off suits you, check the current price of the Nothing Ear (Black) on Amazon.in and compare it with the Ear (a) before deciding.
