{"data":{"slug":"nothing-ear-a","type":"earbuds","brand":"Nothing","name":"Ear (a)","aliases":["Nothing Ear a","B162"],"release_date":"2024-04","url":"https://arkivo.dev/earbuds/nothing-ear-a","specs":{"series":null,"model_numbers":["B162"],"gtins":null,"announce_date":null,"status":"available","predecessor":null,"successor":"nothing-ear-3a","launch_price_usd":null,"launch_price_eur":null,"markets":["US"],"colors":["Black","White","Yellow"],"manufacturer_url":"https://us.nothing.tech/products/ear-a?Colour=Black","spec_sheet_url":"https://checkout-my.nothing.tech/products/ear-a","manual_url":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0586/3270/0077/files/ear_a_EN.pdf?v=1714993262","eprel_registration_number":null,"warranty_years":null,"segment":"music","form_factor":"in_ear","bud_shape":"stem","single_bud_use":null,"rgb_lighting":null,"drivers":[{"type":"dynamic","role":null,"size_mm":11,"count":null}],"driver_type":"dynamic","driver_size_mm":11,"drivers_per_side":null,"driver_diaphragm_material":"PMI + TPU","frequency_response_hz":null,"impedance_ohm":null,"sensitivity_db":null,"sensitivity_reference":null,"max_sample_rate_khz":96,"max_bit_depth_bits":24,"adaptive_eq":null,"sound_personalization":false,"onboard_eq":null,"eq_bands":3,"eq_presets":["Balanced","More Bass","More Treble","Voice"],"volume_limit_db":null,"virtual_surround":null,"head_tracking":null,"anc":true,"anc_type":null,"anc_mic_count":null,"anc_adaptive":true,"anc_levels":3,"anc_claimed_attenuation_db":45,"transparency_mode":true,"transparency_adjustable":null,"adaptive_audio_mode":null,"conversation_detection":null,"wind_noise_reduction":true,"measured_frequency_response_notes":"Default response has elevated sub-bass, recessed 200 to 500 Hz mids and reduced output above 8 kHz relative to the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve.","measured_bass_amount_db":null,"measured_treble_amount_db":null,"measured_target_deviation_db":null,"measured_response_consistency_db":null,"measured_thd_pct":null,"measured_leakage_db_spl":null,"measured_noise_isolation":null,"measured_attenuation_overall_db":null,"measured_attenuation_passive_db":null,"measured_microphone_notes":null,"measured_microphone_lfe_hz":null,"measured_microphone_hfe_hz":null,"measured_microphone_noise_handling_db":null,"measured_latency":null,"measured_latency_bluetooth_ms":null,"measured_latency_2_4ghz_ms":null,"measured_latency_game_mode_ms":null,"measured_battery_life":[{"anc":null,"codec":null,"hours":8.816666666666666}],"measured_battery_life_h":8.816666666666666,"measured_battery_life_with_case_h":null,"measured_charge_time_min":null,"measured_weight_g":null,"microphone_count":6,"microphone_count_total":6,"voice_pickup_sensor":null,"microphone_noise_reduction":null,"voice_call_bandwidth":null,"mute_button":null,"sidetone":null,"chipset":null,"connection_types":["bluetooth"],"bluetooth_version":"5.3","bluetooth_codecs":["AAC","SBC","LDAC"],"bluetooth_profiles":["RFCOMM","SPP","HFP","A2DP","AVDTP","AVCTP","AVRCP"],"bluetooth_le_audio":false,"auracast":null,"multipoint":true,"multipoint_device_count":2,"multipoint_ldac":null,"paired_device_memory":8,"automatic_device_switching":null,"fast_pair":["google_fast_pair","microsoft_swift_pair"],"audio_sharing":null,"wireless_range_m":null,"wireless_receiver":null,"receiver_connector":null,"simultaneous_2_4ghz_bluetooth":null,"low_latency_mode":true,"latency_claimed":null,"latency_claimed_min_ms":null,"compatible_platforms":["android","ios"],"platform_connections":null,"feature_requirements":[{"feature":"LDAC high-resolution audio","requirement":"Compatible Android source with LDAC enabled and high-definition audio enabled in Nothing X. For high-bitrate streams the maker recommends disabling Dual Connection."},{"feature":"Nothing X configuration","requirement":"Android 5.1 or later, or iOS 13 or later according to current Ear (a) support."},{"feature":"Google Fast Pair","requirement":"Supported Android device with Google Play services 11.7 or later, Android 6.0 or later."},{"feature":"Automatic Low Lag Mode","requirement":"Game Mode on a compatible Nothing phone. Other users can enable Low Lag Mode in Nothing X."}],"official_license":null,"battery_capacity_mah":46,"battery_user_replaceable":null,"battery_life_claimed":[{"mode":"anc_off","codec":"AAC","spatial_audio":null,"with_case":false,"hours":9.5},{"mode":"anc_off","codec":"AAC","spatial_audio":null,"with_case":true,"hours":42.5},{"mode":"anc_on","codec":"AAC","spatial_audio":null,"with_case":false,"hours":5.5},{"mode":"anc_on","codec":"AAC","spatial_audio":null,"with_case":true,"hours":24.5},{"mode":"transparency","codec":"AAC","spatial_audio":null,"with_case":false,"hours":5.5},{"mode":"transparency","codec":"AAC","spatial_audio":null,"with_case":true,"hours":24.5},{"mode":"call","codec":null,"spatial_audio":null,"with_case":false,"hours":5.2},{"mode":"call","codec":null,"spatial_audio":null,"with_case":true,"hours":23}],"battery_life_max_h":9.5,"battery_life_anc_on_h":5.5,"battery_life_anc_off_h":9.5,"battery_life_with_case_h":42.5,"battery_life_with_case_anc_on_h":24.5,"talk_time_h":5.2,"charge_time_0_100_min":80,"charging_notes":"Charge the earbuds in the closed case. Use USB-C to charge the case, with a 5 V / 1.5 A or higher adapter. The maker reports 80 minutes for an earbud charge in an unplugged case and 90 minutes for an empty earbuds-and-case set charged together. Ten minutes gives up to 3.2 hours of earbud playback with ANC off, or 2 hours with ANC on. The separate case-inclusive quick-charge claim is 10 hours with ANC off and 6 hours with ANC on in support, while the product-page footnote says 9.5 hours with ANC off. These are maker laboratory estimates, not case-only charge times.","quick_charge_min":10,"quick_charge_playback_h":3.2,"case_battery_capacity_mah":500,"case_battery_user_replaceable":null,"charging_port":"usb_c","case_charge_time_min":null,"wireless_charging":false,"wireless_charging_standards":null,"wireless_charging_max_w":null,"case_speaker":null,"case_screen":null,"case_audio_transmitter":null,"control_types":["pressure"],"volume_control":"pressure","gesture_controls":["Single pinch: play/pause or answer/end call","Double pinch: skip forward or reject call","Triple pinch: skip back","Pinch and hold: switch ANC/transparency"],"customizable_controls":true,"voice_assistant":null,"wear_detection":true,"sensors":null,"heart_rate_sensor":null,"skin_temperature":null,"hearing_aid_feature":null,"medical_clearances":null,"hearing_test":false,"loud_sound_reduction":null,"health_features":null,"ear_tip_sizes":["S","M","L"],"ear_tip_materials":["silicone"],"stabilizers":null,"fit_test":true,"ip_rating":["IP54"],"case_ip_rating":["IPX2"],"water_resistance_depth_m":null,"companion_app":"Nothing X","companion_app_platforms":["android","ios"],"firmware_updatable":true,"find_my_networks":null,"precision_finding":null,"live_translation":null,"weight_g":4.8,"dimensions_mm":null,"case_weight_g":39.6,"case_dimensions_mm":null,"hi_res_audio":["hi_res_audio_wireless"],"communication_certifications":null,"fcc_ids":null,"other_certifications":null,"in_the_box":["Pair of earbuds","Charging case","Ear tips in sizes S, M and L","USB Type-C cable","Safety and warranty information","User guide"],"cables_included":[{"type":"USB Type-C","length_m":null,"count":1}]},"variants":[{"model_number":"B162","model_numbers":["B162"],"markets":["US"],"colors":["Black"],"wireless_charging":false,"case_weight_g":39.6,"in_the_box":["Pair of earbuds","Charging case","Ear tips in sizes S, M and L","USB Type-C cable","Safety and warranty information","User guide"]}],"sources":[{"url":"https://us.nothing.tech/products/ear-a?Colour=Black","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["manufacturer_url","status","markets","colors","variants"],"notes":{"status":"Current US maker page with Black selected offers Add to bag. No current price is represented as launch MSRP.","colors":"Current maker selector offers Black, White and Yellow. The sole represented reference configuration is Black.","variants":"Reference is the current maker US Black selector, hardware model B162 from the original maker manual. No B171 Ear or later Ear (3a) variant is represented. Exact Black merchant SKU and GTIN are not invented."}},{"url":"https://checkout-my.nothing.tech/products/ear-a","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["spec_sheet_url","segment","form_factor","bud_shape","drivers","driver_type","driver_diaphragm_material","max_sample_rate_khz","max_bit_depth_bits","anc","anc_adaptive","anc_levels","anc_claimed_attenuation_db","transparency_mode","wind_noise_reduction","microphone_count","microphone_count_total","connection_types","bluetooth_version","bluetooth_codecs","bluetooth_profiles","multipoint","multipoint_device_count","fast_pair","low_latency_mode","battery_capacity_mah","case_battery_capacity_mah","charging_port","wireless_charging","charge_time_0_100_min","control_types","customizable_controls","wear_detection","ear_tip_sizes","fit_test","ip_rating","case_ip_rating","companion_app","companion_app_platforms","firmware_updatable","weight_g","case_weight_g","hi_res_audio","in_the_box","cables_included"],"notes":{"spec_sheet_url":"Original full manufacturer Ear (a) specifications remain public on this regional maker page. Hardware belongs to B162, distinct from B171 Ear and later Ear (3a). The current US Black offer supplies regional availability.","form_factor":"Maker product views and supplied sealing tips identify an in-ear stem design. No hook is pictured or listed, but a negative stabilizer claim is not inferred from this alone.","drivers":"Maker identifies an 11 mm dynamic driver and PMI + TPU diaphragm. A separate explicit physical driver quantity was not found, so the count and derived per-bud quantity remain unknown.","max_sample_rate_khz":"Up to 96 kHz / 24-bit over LDAC with a compatible source device. This is Bluetooth codec support, not acoustic frequency response or lossless playback.","max_bit_depth_bits":"Up to 24-bit / 96 kHz over LDAC. The source phone must support and enable LDAC.","anc_levels":"Three selectable strengths, Low, Mid and High. Adaptive is separate and not counted as a fourth fixed strength.","anc_claimed_attenuation_db":"Up to 45 dB maker claim. The page also gives a 5000 Hz cancellation bandwidth, without locating the 45 dB maximum at a specific frequency. No measured overall attenuation is inferred.","anc_adaptive":"Adaptive ANC adjusts cancellation strength to surrounding noise. Smart ANC separately compensates ear-canal leakage. Neither proves automatic blending with transparency or adaptive sound EQ.","wind_noise_reduction":"Clear Voice Technology describes a redesigned talk microphone and extra stem airway for wind passage. This is physical call-wind handling, not a separately selectable wind mode.","microphone_count":"Maker explicitly lists Clear Voice Technology with three microphones per bud, six across the pair. Case microphones and vibration sensors are not included.","microphone_count_total":"Maker Other features explicitly lists three microphones per bud. The six physical microphones across the pair are counted once, without adding ANC logical functions as extra microphones.","battery_capacity_mah":"Published 46 mAh per earbud. The maker does not label typical versus rated capacity. No energy or voltage is derived.","case_battery_capacity_mah":"Published case battery-cell capacity 500 mAh. No USB output capacity or battery voltage is inferred.","charge_time_0_100_min":"Disclaimer 10 directly states 80 minutes for the earbuds to charge inside a case that is not connected to external power. Nothing lab conditions are 25 C and Nothing Power 45 W for the separate externally powered test. The 90-minute combined earbuds-and-case result is not stored as case-only timing.","case_weight_g":"Design specification states charging case 39.6 g, separate from 4.8 g per earbud and 49.2 g combined. Rounded 40 g in secondary specifications does not override the maker.","weight_g":"Maker 4.8 g for one earbud. A specific tip size is not stated.","wireless_charging":"Manufacturer comparison explicitly marks Ear (a) wireless charging No. B171 Ear wireless charging is not transferred.","control_types":"Maker names pinch controls. The original guide labels a force sensor. Broad touch-control translations on another region do not change the pressure-control mechanism.","in_the_box":"Exact Ear (a) standard list. Ear tips S, M and L include the fitted medium pair. No external power adapter is listed.","charging_port":"USB Type-C charging is for the case. It does not establish wired audio playback.","hi_res_audio":"Maker explicitly names Hi-Res Wireless Audio certification under the LDAC section. No separate wired acoustic Hi-Res certification is inferred."}},{"url":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0586/3270/0077/files/ear_a_EN.pdf?v=1714993262","kind":"manual","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["manual_url","model_numbers","gesture_controls"],"notes":{"manual_url":"Original maker-hosted Nothing Ear (a) English product guide, one-page folded sheet. Model B162 is printed on the title panel. English operations, pairing, charging and wear-detection panels were visually inspected because the PDF outlines most English text.","gesture_controls":"Original OPERATIONS panel shows force-sensor pressure controls. Custom volume and voice-assistant assignments are separate Nothing X options. Fitted tips are medium."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726182764305-What-is-the-battery-life-of-Ear-a","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["battery_life_claimed"],"notes":{"battery_life_claimed":"Exact Ear (a) support table separates earbuds-only and case-inclusive music runtimes. ANC on and transparency are each 5.5 h / 24.5 h. The call rows represent ANC-off 5.2 h / 23 h. Separate ANC-on/transparency talk claims are 4 h / 18 h, but the call enum cannot distinguish that condition, so they are stated here rather than duplicated as indistinguishable rows. Nothing laboratory conditions are 25 C, AAC music playback, 50 percent volume and default other features. The source applies these test conditions to the table without specifying a call codec, so AAC is omitted from call rows."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726182885393-Does-Ear-a-support-fast-charging","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["quick_charge_min","quick_charge_playback_h"],"notes":{"quick_charge_playback_h":"Dedicated maker support states up to 3.2 h earbuds-only with ANC off after 10 minutes. Its ANC-on earbuds-only claim is 2 h. Test conditions are AAC, 50 percent volume, default other features and 25 C. The separately stated case-inclusive 10 h / 6 h figures are not substituted for earbuds-only playback.","quick_charge_min":"10 minutes corresponding to the ANC-off 3.2-hour earbud claim. The published support text does not state the initial case state for this standalone claim."}},{"url":"https://checkout-my.nothing.tech/products/ear-a","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["charging_notes"],"notes":{"charging_notes":"Product-page Disclaimer 10 to 12 separates 80-minute buds and 90-minute combined timing, gives adapter guidance 5 V / 1.5 A or higher, and uses Nothing Power 45 W at 25 C. The adapter rating is not device input power. Disclaimer 12 gives 9.5 h case-inclusive after 10 minutes, conflicting with the 10 h headline and dedicated support article. Both source statements are retained without guessing a reconciliation."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726190280721-Does-Ear-a-support-LE-Audio","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["bluetooth_le_audio"],"notes":{"bluetooth_le_audio":"Exact maker FAQ explicitly says LE Audio is unsupported. Bluetooth 5.3 by itself does not establish LE Audio or Auracast. A SoundGuys sentence predicting Auracast from Bluetooth version is not treated as device support."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726184417937-How-many-devices-can-Ear-a-be-paired-with","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["paired_device_memory"],"notes":{"paired_device_memory":"Maker states a maximum of eight saved source-device records, distinct from two concurrent Dual Connection devices."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726233497489-How-do-I-adjust-the-volume-on-Ear-a","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["volume_control"],"notes":{"volume_control":"Assign Pinch and hold or Double pinch and hold to volume in Nothing X. Once held, volume changes by a step every 0.9 seconds. Phone controls alone are not counted."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726188190225-What-is-Ear-a-made-of","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["ear_tip_materials"],"notes":{"ear_tip_materials":"Exact maker support explicitly names silicone tips. Plastic housing and stainless-steel hinge are also named, without a suitable separate schema field."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726159847057-How-many-equaliser-settings-does-Ear-a-have","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["eq_presets"],"notes":{"eq_presets":"Four exact named sound effects plus a custom setting. Bass Enhance intensity and ANC strengths are separate controls."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726219572881-How-do-I-use-the-LDAC-feature","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["feature_requirements"],"notes":{"feature_requirements":"LDAC FAQ recommends adaptive bitrate and, for a higher-quality stream, disabling Dual Connection. It does not categorically prohibit all concurrent LDAC/multipoint use, so multipoint_ldac is not set false. Current compatibility FAQ gives iOS 13 minimum, stronger than legacy full specifications iOS 11. Low-lag and Fast Pair conditions come from the original product page. An under-120-ms headline differs from the as-low-as-120-ms disclaimer, so no exact numeric latency is stored."}},{"url":"https://support.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/23726160252817-Which-devices-are-compatible-with-Ear-a","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["compatible_platforms"],"notes":{"compatible_platforms":"Current exact maker support says Android 5.1 and later, iOS 13 and later. This is documented compatibility, without inferring other platforms from generic Bluetooth capability."}},{"url":"https://www.soundguys.com/nothing-ear-a-review-114747/","kind":"review_site","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["eq_bands","hearing_test","sound_personalization","measured_battery_life","measured_frequency_response_notes"],"notes":{"eq_bands":"Reviewer explicitly identifies a three-band equalizer, separate from the advanced equalizer on B171 Nothing Ear. Reviewed app version 2.3.16 and earbud firmware 1.0.1.41.","hearing_test":"Exact review explicitly says no hearing test compared with B171 Ear. This is the tested Ear (a) feature set, not a claim about unspecified future firmware.","sound_personalization":"The reviewed Ear (a) does not offer the hearing-test sound profile of B171 Ear. No later model capability is transferred.","measured_battery_life":"SoundGuys tested B162 Ear (a) over two weeks, firmware 1.0.1.41, app 2.3.16, visibly Yellow. One charge ran 8 h 49 min, converted to hours. Battery paragraph does not identify ANC setting, codec, host or playback level, so these conditions are left unknown. The iPhone/AAC anecdote is not assumed to be the battery test. Case runtime 42.5 h is a maker claim, not a measured result.","measured_frequency_response_notes":"Reviewer original default-response chart and discussion against SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. Firmware 1.0.1.41, app 2.3.16. No approximate chart amplitude is entered as an exact numerical metric."}},{"url":"https://nothing.community/d/9003-a-new-nothing-audio-line-up","kind":"press_release","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["release_date"],"notes":{"release_date":"Official Nothing launch post separates April 18, 2024 preorders from April 20 Soho Click and Collect and April 22 online availability. April 2024 is stored as the release month. The review April 18 date is not assumed to mean ordinary retail release."}},{"url":"https://checkout-my.nothing.tech/products/ear-a","kind":"manufacturer_page","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["feature_requirements"],"notes":{"feature_requirements":"Product-page Disclaimers 8, 15 and 16 give Nothing phone Game Mode, dual-connection and Google Fast Pair conditions. ChatGPT integration is not stored as universal assistant support."}},{"url":"https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/nothing/ear-a-truly-wireless","kind":"review_site","accessed":"2026-10-08","fields":["sound_personalization"],"notes":{"sound_personalization":"The public Differences section explicitly describes no custom sound profile based on hearing. Tested edition is White B162 Ear (a). All colors share the documented model hardware, but test configuration remains named. Paid numerical results and hidden data are not accessed."}},{"url":"https://www.soundguys.com/nothing-ear-3a-review-159720/","kind":"review_site","accessed":"2026-10-23","fields":["successor"],"notes":{"successor":"SoundGuys calls the Nothing Ear (3a) the successor to the Nothing Ear (a)."}}],"fields_filled":77,"updated":"2026-10-23"},"meta":{"api_version":"1","docs":"https://arkivo.dev/api"}}