The best thing about Nothing Ear (a) is they're yellow

We loved the Nothing Ear (Stick) that debuted in late 2022, appreciating its experimental form factor that paid homage to another pocketable constant: lipstick. A little over a year later, Nothing is putting another fun spin on earbuds, but this time with a fully in-ear set of earbuds that pack a pop of color — the Nothing Ear (a).

Nothing Ear (a)

The Nothing Ear (a) is a budget friendly pair of earbuds that pack premium features like ANC at a budget-friendly price and memorable pop of color.

Pros

• ANC is comprable to pro buds
• ChatGPT pinch to speak integration for Nothing phones
• Yellow color and transparent case make for a fun aesthetic
• Budget friendly at only $99

Cons

• Sound is warmer than flagship buds
• No wireless charging

$99 at Nithing

Design

Has me thinking of and playing The Beatles' Yellow Submarine

The fun, vibrant yellow is undoubtedly the most fun aspect about the Nothing Ear (a). Resembling the Bumblebee transformer and even matching the New York City yellow taxis, these are a fun alternative to the usual black and whites we see.

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The case itself also features Nothing's staple transparent design with exposed metal hinges, two dimples to match perfectly where the earbud stem meets the ear bulb. Additionally, there's what looks like a sticker I may or may not have tried to peel off, outlining the top lid with the Nothing dot matrix logo on the side. While subtle, it adds to the playfulness of both the buds and the case. The case is also refreshingly small and fits nicely in my palm and even comfortably in a front pocket.

The earbuds themselves magnetically sit atop their outlined slots, fitting — and looking — like legos. The black stems feature the dot-matrix logo in white, and a white dot marks the left bud while a red marks the right. From bud to case, color to form factor, everything about the Nothing Ear (a)'s design is refreshingly playful.

If yellow is a bit on the bright side for you, the Ear (a) do come in black and white, but the case still gives that toy-like aesthetic without