Brand New Ear (1) Earbuds from NOTHING Tech

The former head of One Plus, a smartphone maker, is now the head of Nothing. That’s Carl Pei. He raised $22 million to fund his startup, the one he decided to name “Nothing” and launch with earbuds. His vision: “Nothing’s mission is to remove barriers between people and technology to create a seamless digital future,” says Pei in a press release. “We believe that the best technology is beautiful, yet natural and intuitive to use. When sufficiently advanced, it should fade into the background and feel like nothing.”

That’s an unusual take on technology, but it’s not a bad idea. For instance, how many times have you been held hostage by a smartphone that won’t work, a software app that locks up your device, or a Windows Update that makes your files disappear? Carl Pei wants to make tech so transparent that it fades into the background of your life rather than frustrating you. That’s why he calls his company “Nothing.” So the tech that Nothing turns out needs to be transparent, natural, and helpful; not annoying or difficult to use. One could even say the tech needs to be invisible.

In the case of Nothing’s first product, the “Ear (1)” earbuds, Carl Pei wants you to enjoy the audio you’re hearing, not the tech that brings it to your ears.

Here are some quick facts about the new earbuds.

What other specs make these earbuds amazing?

Each earbud is color-coded so you know which is left and right. The driver is a generous 11.6 mm that delivers rich bass. Further, the batteries offer 4.5 hours of listening on a single charge, while the charging case can recharge the batteries for up to 34 hours of listening. The charging case is Qi compatible, meaning you can charge the case and the Ear (1) wirelessly with a Qi charger. For those who prefer a wire, the device can also be charged with a USB cable.

Ear (1) uses three microphones that enable automatic noise cancelation. You can set the degree of cancelation to maximum when you’re in a noisy environment, or to a more moderate setting when ambient noise is less intrusive. There’s also a transparency setting that lets you hear outside sound so you can stay in touch with what’s happening around you. Ear (1) is rated IPX4, which gives the earbuds protection against sweat and splashes.

It’s safe to assume that Nothing will offer a conventional one-year warranty on Ear (1). Like most warranties, it will protect you against defects in manufacturing. Unfortunately, it will not protect against damage from accidents like drops or spills. Upsie gives you the coverage most manufacturers’ warranties don’t.

It’s easy to protect your new or used product with Upsie, and here’s how the extended earbud warranties work:

Upsie gives you 60 days after your purchase of a new or used consumer electronic device to get an Upsie warranty; or for smartphones, 120 days. On the other hand, you have a full 11 months for new TVs, major appliances, and fitness equipment. Upsie backs its plans with the highly-rated protection plan provider, Centricity. Visit Upsie.com to see what’s covered.

For plans including accidental damage, coverage begins for most products on day 31 after the warranty purchase date.

All new devices must come with at least a 90-day manufacturer warranty, and all used or refurbished devices must come with at least a 30-day seller warranty. Upsie plans overlap with the manufacturer’s warranty and take over the coverage after it expires.

Call the service center 24 x 7 x 365 to make a claim. This number is located under your My Account page. A live person will answer the phone to help you.

Upsie offers four types of repairs: Local, ship it in, in-home repair (for large items only), and replacement if a repair is not possible. The Upsie reps will help you choose the one most convenient for you.

Upsie has become the premier provider of extended warranties for consumer technology products. Most companies charge far too much for the services they offer, and they fill their contracts with limitations, terms, and conditions that leave consumers wondering why they even bought an extended warranty. Upsie is changing the extended warranty industry, and are happy to provide protection that ordinary manufacturers’ warranties just can’t compete with.

If you’re on the fence and wondering whether you should buy an extended warranty for your Ear (1) or any other consumer tech product, give Upsie a call at 1-877-844-7745.