Apple AirPods 4 vs Nothing Ear (Open): Which one should you pick?

Are you on the hunt for a new pair of open-ear earbuds? If so, you’re in luck as our Apple AirPods 4 vs Nothing Ear (Open) comparison will help you make an informed choice.

For the uninitiated, the Nothing Ear (Open) has been the talk of the town for a while, although not the reasons Carl Pei and his team were hoping for. Why? We’ll get to that in a bit.

For years, the open-ear design in wireless earbuds has been heavily debated. The most common disadvantages include:

• Leakage of sound, since they are placed outside the ear canal
• Bulky designs that are uncomfortable to wear.

Despite these cons, Nothing decided to use patent-pending technologies and create a one-of-a-kind pair of wireless earbuds with an open-ear design that many have previously deemed ‘impractical’. According to the brand, their product is likely to ‘solve a big problem’ – keeping people connected to the world when they are listening to music.

But here’s the catch: to make the product future-proof, the earbuds have become rather pricey. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that people are looking for better alternatives with similar price tags.

A few weeks ago, Apple launched their open-ear AirPods 4 which retained the conventional AirPods look while improving upon the open-ear design of their predecessors. In addition, the AirPods 4 offer customers a choice between a standard variant and one with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) (the latter comes at a slightly higher price).

Now that we’ve given you a basic low-down on the two earbuds, scroll on for our detailed Apple AirPods 4 vs Nothing Ear (Open) comparison.

Apple AirPods 4 vs Nothing Ear (Open): Which device will be music to your ears?

Note: Since we haven’t experienced either of these products hands-on, our comparison is solely based on the features and specifications listed on their websites and brochures.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

Design

If it were a beauty pageant, the Nothing Ear (Open) would win the top prize and leave onlookers spellbound.

Nothing’s transparent design language has come a long way since the ear (1) earbuds. The Ear (Open) is, in essence, a successor to the Ear (Stick) launched a few years ago and ditches the conventional TWS earbuds design. The silicon-based arm not only follows the outer contours of the ear but also uses the battery as a weight to keep the device in place.

The audio driver, which is protected by a transparent outer shell, has a touch control panel and goes inside the ear. However, the absence of the silicon ear tips usually found in most earbuds is noticeable.

On the other hand, the AirPods 4 look similar to their predecessors – a short-stemmed design for the earbuds which come in a simple case. They don’t have the same appeal as the Nothing Ear (Open) but are squarely aimed at being practical – an easy-to-wear and handle design and a compact case. If you like practicality, you will prefer the AirPods 4.

For everyone else, the Nothing Ear (Open) is the clear winner in this round.

Winner: Nothing Ear (Open)

Audio performance

For the Ear (Open), Nothing has used a new patent-pending design for the driver setup that promises a wide soundstage regardless of the background noise. The 14.2mm drivers feature a titanium-coated polyethylene terephthalate diaphragm that is likely to keep all the tones balanced.

Meanwhile, Apple doesn’t share the technical details of its products. We don’t know about the driver size and the type of diaphragm used in the AirPods 4. Therefore, it is hard to differentiate between the two, at least on paper.

However, modern-day TWS earbuds are largely dependent on software tuning and codec compatibility. Whether you choose the Nothing Ear (Open) or the AirPods 4, you can tune either of them to your liking via the built-in equaliser settings that their companion apps offer. Both earbuds support surround sound and offer a low-latency game mode.

While the audio performance depends on individual preferences, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system on the AirPods 4 keeps ambient noise at bay. Since the Nothing Ear (Open) lacks the ANC, the AirPods 4 take this round.

Winner: AirPods 4

Smart features

Similar to its predecessors, the Nothing Ear (Open) provides a touch panel for quick access to basic playback controls. The Nothing X app on your phone offers additional equaliser tuning options and firmware updates. You can also enable dual connection (the ability to connect a pair of earbuds to two devices at once) from the app. For those with a Nothing or CMF smartphone, the Ear (Open) also lets you access ChatGPT via voice queries.

On the other hand, the AirPods 4 are only compatible with iPhones, iPads and Macs. While you can pair them with an Android phone*, you lose all of their smart features.

Hence, it is sensible to use the AirPods 4 only if you have an iPhone at your disposal. The new H2 chip promises better voice isolation during calls and hands-free access to Siri. The Adaptive EQ also allows the earbuds to constantly adjust the low and mid frequencies to amplify the sound details.

For those with an entire Apple ecosystem, the AirPods will seamlessly connect with your devices and intelligently change the source of audio streaming. The ANC variant can even detect if you are engaged in a conversation and adjust the volume accordingly. In case you lose your AirPods 4, the charging case can beam their location on the Apple Find My network and help you locate them.

While the AirPods 4 is the smarter pair of TWS earbuds to wear, their platform limitation is a big concern. As such, this round is tied between the AirPods 4 and Ear (Open).

*Only those with a Nothing or CMF smartphone can keep an eye on the battery stamina of the AirPods.

Winner: Tie

Battery life

Apple has made major improvements to the battery life of the stock AirPods.

The AirPods 4 promise up to five hours of playback in normal mode and up to four hours with the ANC enabled (the latter is applicable only on the ANC variant). The case, which adds 30 hours of backup, can be charged via a USB-C cable. However, if you opt for the ANC variant, the case can also be charged with a Qi-standard wireless charger or an Apple Watch magnetic charging puck.

Meanwhile, the Nothing Ear (Open) promises up to eight hours of playback and its case adds another 30 hours of backup. Users need a USB-C cable to charge the case. Sadly, there’s no support for wireless charging.

Although the AirPods 4 have an edge with their wireless charging support, the extra battery stamina on the Nothing Ear (Open) is more favourable for most users.

Winner: Nothing Ear (Open)

Price

The Nothing Ear (Open) is priced at HKD 1,199, which is steep for a pair of open-ear wireless earbuds.

In contrast, the basic AirPods 4 cost HKD 1,099. If you opt for the AirPods 4 with ANC, you will need to shell out HKD 1,499

While the ANC variant is pricey, the basic AirPods 4 offer better value for money than the Nothing Ear (Open).

Winner: AirPods 4

Nothing Ear (Open) vs Apple AirPods 4: Our verdict

Winner: Tie

In terms of appearances, the Nothing Ear (Open) is the more desirable pair of wireless open-ear earbuds to own. The unique design also translates to greater battery life, which is crucial if you plan on wearing your earbuds all day long. The universal compatibility with Android, iOS, macOS and Windows devices makes the Ear (Open) the more versatile choice.

However, Nothing’s latest offering comes with a higher price tag, which is where the AirPods 4 gain a significant advantage. Even if you opt for the ANC variant, you only pay a few dollars more for a host of added features.

Therefore, for those with an iPhone and an Apple ecosystem in place, the AirPods 4 are the more practical choice of earbuds.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Nothing and Apple)

This article first appeared here.