They have been announced since spring: the first headphones from Carl Pei’s new company, which bears the pertinent name Nothing. The Ear 1 headphones should not only stand out with their design, but also change the sound. But what do the in-ear headphones offer?
Carl Pei. For one or the other, the doorbell may ring in the upstairs room when the name is mentioned. And that’s not by chance, because until the end of last year Pei was part of OnePlus , which he founded together with Pete Lau in 2013. The hard cut came in September and since 2021 the 31-year-old has owned a new company called Nothing. Unlike OnePlus , it does not focus on smartphones, but on headphones. At least so far.
The startup has now presented its very first product: the Nothing Ear 1. The pair of wireless in-ear headphones make a lot of promises: In addition to a stylish design, they also offer a low price, which is supposed to hurt the competition.
NOTHING EAR 1: DESIGN GOES THROUGH
Some want it cubic, others colorful or just plain in white. Nothing wants something else: namely transparent. And that doesn’t mean communication, but the look of the Ear 1. The wireless headphones are transparent so that you can take a look inside. Some of them are even set off in color, including red and white or black. Nothing also produces the case in a transparent, black and white plastic. By the way: the individual listeners noted a white and a red dot. This shows you at first glance which headphones belong in which ear. In terms of design, Nothing at least manages to stand out from the competition and the crowd.
The shape of the headphones is simple: an oval head with rubber caps that are placed in the ear. A small, flat web leads along it, which not only ensures a better grip, but also guarantees coupling with the smartphone through built-in Bluetooth sensors.
HEADPHONES FROM CARL PEI: REAL “SOUND OF CHANGE”?
Nothing packs all kinds of functions into the Ear 1 and, above all, has a delicacy up its sleeve. But one after the other. The headphones weigh 4.7 grams and are equipped with an 11.6 millimeter dynamic driver, which should ensure a coherent and bass-heavy sound. You can set your music individually using the associated iOS and Android app; an equalizer and other control functions are available. The Nothing Ear 1 also offers the option of regulating the volume directly via the housing: if you swipe up or down, the music becomes louder or quieter.
Nowadays, Active Noise Canceling (ANC) should not be missing either. You can choose between two modes: moderate and maximum. There is also a transparency mode that lets you perceive your surroundings as well as the music. To activate it, press your finger on the headphones for a few seconds.
The battery life is promising: According to our own statements, the headphones only need to be charged for 10 minutes and then last for 12 hours. The case offers an additional runtime of 7.5 hours. The Nothing Ear 1 can be charged either wirelessly via a Qi charger or via the supplied USB- C cable.
As already mentioned, the startup’s headphones offer one special treat: the “Find my Earbuds” function. If you lose headphones or if the distance to the charging case is too great, a high-pitched beep will ensure that you can find it again. Ultimately, the Nothing Ear 1 is protected against small amounts of sweat and water in accordance with IP4X. A test has to show how good the new headphones really are.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Nothing Ear 1 also appear on the German market. The ANC headphones should cost just 99 euros, which is noticeably below the price of the competition. The headphones will be available from July 31st on the Nothing website . However, Pei is taking over the sales strategy from OnePlus: The Nothing Ear 1 are initially only available in limited numbers.
