Nothing Headphones With Built-in ChatGPT Are Now $50 Off.
The Nothing’s Ear(a) headphones launched at $109, which always seemed a bit steep for a mid-range model trying to exceed expectations. But at their current price of $58.98, the lowest price to date (according to price tracking sites ), they’re in a price range where the design, sound quality, and software finally justify the price.
The Ear(a) earbuds are unmistakably Nothing, with a transparent casing that reveals their inner workings. They fit snugly in your ears without requiring much effort, and the IP54 rating means sweat, dust, and light rain won’t be a problem. The casing itself is IPX2-rated, so it’s splash-proof, but that’s about it.
The main advantage of these headphones is their sound quality. 11mm dynamic drivers deliver rich bass that remains relatively balanced. Low frequencies are powerful, especially at moderate to high volumes, and don’t overpower vocals or guitars, according to a PCMag review . Additional settings can be adjusted in the Nothing app, with preset equalizer modes or manual adjustments to bass, mids, and treble. Codec support is quite high for the price: AAC, SBC, and LDAC are supported via Bluetooth 5.3, as is multipoint connection of two devices simultaneously. Noise cancellation is effective for the price, especially in the default High mode. It effectively reduces low-frequency rumble and background noise, although competitors from Sony and Bose outperform them in this regard.
Control is via pinch gestures, which become more convenient once you get the hang of it. Playback, calls, track changes, and noise cancellation are all handled without having to reach for your phone, and the app allows you to customize most gestures. There’s even a ChatGPT feature with pinch-to-talk if you’re using a Nothing phone. Battery life is approximately 9.5 hours with ANC off or 5.5 hours with it on, and the case extends this to approximately 33 or 19 hours, respectively. These numbers will drop with higher-quality codecs or listening at high volumes, but they’re still quite competitive.