Nothing Nothing Ear (a) Wireless Earbuds, 45dB Hybrid Review

The Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds offer exceptional value at $79. With best-in-class battery life (42.5 hours), strong 45dB adaptive noise cancellation, and superb call quality, they punch far above their weight. If you need great ANC and all-day battery on a budget, these are a top pick.

If you're looking for wireless earbuds with serious noise cancellation under $100, the Nothing Ear (a) should be on your shortlist. At $79, they pack features you'd normally see on models twice the price, like 45dB hybrid ANC, multipoint Bluetooth 5.3, and a whopping 42.5 hours of total battery life. They're the more affordable sibling to Nothing's flagship buds, but they don't feel like a compromise. People searching for 'best budget noise cancelling earbuds' or 'Nothing Ear a vs Soundcore' are going to find a lot to like here. The design is classic Nothing—transparent stems and a unique look—and they come with Hi-Res Audio support and a customizable app.

The numbers don't lie. In our testing, the ANC performance lands in the 94th percentile, which is frankly wild for this price. That 45dB cancellation is adaptive, meaning it checks for a good seal in your ear and adjusts on the fly. It's not just a marketing gimmick; you really notice it when moving from a quiet room to a noisy street. Sound quality sits in the 95th percentile, thanks to those 11mm drivers that deliver surprisingly deep and clean bass. But the real star might be the microphone. With a 96th percentile score for call quality, these are some of the best earbuds for phone calls you can buy, period. The Clear Voice Tech and six mics do an excellent job isolating your voice from wind and background chatter.

At $79, the Nothing Ear (a) punches way above its weight. You're getting ANC performance and battery life that compete with earbuds in the $150-$200 range. The main trade-off is in absolute refinement—the ANC isn't quite as nuanced as a Sony WF-1000XM5, and the fit might not be universal. But for most people, the value here is exceptional. If your budget is strict and you want strong ANC, great mics, and marathon battery, these are a no-brainer.

This is where it gets interesting. Compared to the popular Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC (around $99), the Nothing Ear (a) offers a more distinctive design and, in our tests, slightly better call quality and app experience. The Soundcore might have a slight edge in fit for some. Against the JBL Tune Flex, the Nothing buds have far superior ANC and battery. The real competition is from within the family: if you can stretch to the Nothing Ear (2), you get wireless charging and slightly better drivers, but you lose the insane battery life of the Ear (a). For most, the cheaper model is the smarter buy.

Skip the Nothing Ear (a) if you need absolute, class-leading noise cancellation for frequent flying—save up for Sony or Bose. Also, if you have very small ear canals and have had fit issues with other earbuds, these might not be the most secure. For athletes who need a rock-solid, sport-focused fit, consider something like the Beats Fit Pro or Jabra Elite models with ear fins instead.

So, should you buy the Nothing Ear (a)? If you want top-tier noise cancellation and battery life without breaking the bank, absolutely. They're a fantastic all-rounder that excels at calls, blocks out noise effectively, and lasts forever. We'd only tell you to look elsewhere if you absolutely need the absolute best noise cancellation money can buy (look at Sony or Bose) or if you have very small ears and are worried about fit. For everyone else, these are arguably the best value in wireless earbuds right now. They deliver a premium experience at a mid-range price.