The Nothing Ear (a) is the cheaper 2024 sibling of the Nothing Ear: a pair of true wireless earbuds with up to 45dB active noise cancellation (ANC), LDAC Hi-Res Audio, dual connection and a claimed 42.5 hours of battery with the case. It is a sensible pick for someone who wants Nothing’s look and a solid ANC-and-LDAC feature list without the wireless charging and deeper EQ of the full Ear.
Short verdict: reviewers praise the Ear (a) for its ANC at the price, comfort and LDAC support, but they also find the sound a little less crisp and quieter than the Ear, and call mic processing and controls weak points. It is better for easy listening than for critical listening.
About this article: it is based on Nothing’s official India product page, its published specifications and reviews from GSMArena and MySmartPrice. We have not tested these earbuds ourselves, and every comment on sound, ANC, battery or calls is attributed to those publications. Specifications were checked on 29 October 2026. Nothing’s page lists only a few headline figures, so detailed numbers come from the reviews.
Quick verdict
- Best for: buyers who want ANC, LDAC and a distinctive design in a smaller, lighter package
- Skip if: you want wireless charging, a hearing-test sound profile, a detailed equaliser or the loudest, crispest sound
- Key strengths: 45dB claimed ANC, LDAC, 11mm drivers, three microphones per bud, IP54 buds, compact case
- Key limitations: USB-C charging only, basic EQ, sound described as a little muffled next to the Ear, aggressive mic noise suppression, case rating that sources report inconsistently
Key specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | Nothing Ear (a), 2024 model |
| Driver | 11mm dynamic driver with PMI and TPU diaphragm (GSMArena) |
| Active noise cancellation | Up to 45dB (official page) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 (GSMArena) |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC and SBC (MySmartPrice), and Hi-Res Audio with LDAC (official page) |
| Battery, earbuds | About 5.5 hours with ANC on, 9.5 hours with ANC off (GSMArena) |
| Battery, with case | About 24.5 hours with ANC on, 42.5 hours with ANC off (GSMArena) |
| Charging | USB-C only, no wireless charging (GSMArena) |
| Water and dust rating | IP54 earbuds; case reported as IPX2 by GSMArena and IPX5 by MySmartPrice |
| Microphones | Three per earbud with Clear Voice algorithm (MySmartPrice) |
| Weight | 4.8g per earbud, 39.6g case (MySmartPrice) |
| Connectivity | Dual connection (official page) |
| Colours | White, Black and Yellow (official page) |
The official India page confirms 42.5 hours of battery, 45dB ANC, Hi-Res Audio with LDAC, Bass Enhance, dual connection and the three colours. It does not say whether 42.5 hours is with the case or with ANC off, so the split above comes from GSMArena’s spec breakdown. Note the two sources disagree on the case’s water rating, so treat that detail as unconfirmed.
Check the current price of the Nothing Ear (a) on Amazon.in
Design, fit and controls
The Ear (a) keeps the Nothing identity, with a glossy stem, a transparent case lid and a yellow option. According to MySmartPrice’s Shubham Raheja, the buds are plastic, the case is polycarbonate and the ear tips are matte silicone. The weights listed there (4.8g per bud, 39.6g case) are modest, and the case is smaller than the Ear’s, per GSMArena. A smaller case is easier to carry, though this model gives up wireless charging.
MySmartPrice found the fit secure, with thin stems that do not tug, and said the centred weight kept the buds comfortable. That matters because an ANC earbud only works well when it seals. Because we have not tried the earbuds, we cannot say how they sit in your ears; it is worth using the in-box tips and checking the return terms on the listing.
Controls are pinch gestures on the stem. The MySmartPrice reviewer would have preferred tap controls on a dedicated surface with tactile feedback and wanted a pinch-and-swipe volume gesture. If you change volume often, you will likely do it from the phone.
Sound quality
The Ear (a) is tuned for what MySmartPrice describes as springy bass, without overwhelming vocals, and the reviewer found the soundstage decent. The stock EQ made some guitar solos sound listless, so the reviewer used a custom setting. Loudness was a complaint: he wished for more volume and linked it to the smaller driver.
GSMArena’s comparison with the full Ear is blunter. It describes the Ear (a) as a little muffled and not as crisp, with output about 10-15% quieter, though still adequate on its own. Its verdict was that the Ear (a) is a great option for the less picky buyer who cares about style and comfort. That is a fair way to frame the product: it is a pleasant listener, not an audiophile tool.
The sound customisation is simpler too. GSMArena lists presets named Balanced, More Bass, More Treble and Voice, plus Bass, Mids and Treble sliders, and says there is no Personal Sound Profile or 8-band equaliser. MySmartPrice adds that the app has a visualiser, ANC switching, a seal check and battery display, but no 3D spatial audio.
LDAC is the headline codec. It can carry more detail than standard Bluetooth when your phone supports it and the connection is stable. iPhone users will fall back to AAC, so the LDAC advantage applies mostly to Android.
Noise cancellation and transparency
MySmartPrice described the ANC as among the best at this price, with even suppression, and said it worked well on a five-hour flight without an uncomfortable sense of pressure. Transparency mode was good for voices at low volume, though the reviewer did not call it superhuman. Nothing’s own claim is up to 45dB, but that is a lab maximum rather than a promise for every environment.
One inconsistency to be aware of: MySmartPrice’s spec table lists four ANC levels (High, Mid, Low and Adaptive) while its text mentions three. We could not confirm the exact modes from the official page, so check the Nothing X app for what your unit offers.
Calls, battery and charging
Each bud has three microphones with a Clear Voice algorithm, according to MySmartPrice. In practice, the reviewer rated mic performance as average, said noise suppression was a bit too aggressive and reported that his voice often sounded tinny to recipients. If you take many calls, that is a real limitation to weigh.
On battery, the official headline is 42.5 hours, which is the case-assisted, ANC-off figure per GSMArena. With ANC on, GSMArena lists about 5.5 hours in the buds and 24.5 hours total. Its own test, with ANC on at 100% volume, lasted about four hours, roughly 25 minutes longer than the Ear in the same test. MySmartPrice measured an average of about six hours per session with a mix of ANC and transparency and LDAC on. These are different test conditions, so use them as ranges.
Charging is USB-C only. If you rely on a wireless pad at your desk, look at the full Nothing Ear instead.
See the Nothing Ear (a) on Amazon.in
Who should buy it
- Android users who want LDAC and ANC in a compact case
- People who value comfort and a distinctive design over audiophile performance
- Buyers moving from basic earbuds who want a first proper ANC pair
- Anyone happy to use phone volume controls and adjust the sound in an app
Who should skip it
- Heavy callers, given the mic criticisms in MySmartPrice’s review
- Listeners who want crisp detail and high volume, since GSMArena found it more muffled and quieter than the Ear
- Wireless-charging users
- People who prefer tap controls or want a rich EQ
- Anyone who already owns the Ear (2) or Ear, since GSMArena says the Ear (a) makes little sense for Ear (2) owners
Alternatives worth comparing
- Nothing Ear (3a): BGR reports a 12mm driver, Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, multipoint, an eight-band equaliser (per Expert Reviews) and call-recording features, and calls the upgrade from the Ear (a) a subtle sound improvement rather than a transformation.
- Nothing Ear: per GSMArena, it adds LHDC 5.0, wireless charging, an 8-band equaliser and a Personal Sound Profile, while claiming the same 45dB ANC.
- OnePlus Buds 3: MySmartPrice names it as the Ear (a)’s main competitor, describing it as more affordable but more generic in design.
If you are building a shortlist more widely, our guide to budget TWS earbuds in India sets out ANC and non-ANC options.
Buying tips and what to check
Variant. Our link points to the Amazon.in listing titled “Nothing Ear (a) 2024”. That title does not show a colour, and the official page lists White, Black and Yellow, so check the colour on the listing before you order. Do not assume it is the Ear (3a) or the full Ear.
Box contents and warranty. We could not confirm in-box items or warranty terms from the sources we used. Check the listing and Nothing’s India support pages.
Phone compatibility. LDAC needs a supporting phone; dual connection should be confirmed in the app after a firmware update.
Check the current price of the Nothing Ear (a) on Amazon.in, as we do not quote prices here.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Nothing Ear (a) have wireless charging?
No. GSMArena says the Ear (a) charges over USB-C only. The full Nothing Ear does support wireless charging.
How good is the ANC on the Nothing Ear (a)?
Nothing claims up to 45dB. MySmartPrice called the ANC among the best at the price and said it worked well on a five-hour flight. As with any claim, results depend on fit.
Does it support LDAC?
Yes. The official page mentions Hi-Res Audio with LDAC, and GSMArena says LDAC is the only high-resolution codec here (the Ear adds LHDC 5.0).
How long does the battery last?
Up to 42.5 hours is the ANC-off figure with the case, according to GSMArena. With ANC on, expect roughly 5.5 hours in the buds and 24.5 hours with the case. GSMArena measured about four hours at full volume with ANC on.
Are the earbuds water resistant?
The buds are rated IP54, which covers dust and splashes. Sources disagree on the case rating (IPX2 or IPX5), so do not treat the case as splash-proof without checking.
Is it good for calls?
MySmartPrice rated mic performance as average and found noise suppression too aggressive. Check current buyer feedback if calls are a priority.
Conclusion
The Ear (a) offers Nothing’s design, 45dB claimed ANC and LDAC in a smaller package, with trade-offs in sound crispness, calls and charging. If those compromises suit you, check the current price of the Nothing Ear (a) on Amazon.in and compare it with the Ear and Ear (3a) first.
