Nothing Ear (1) vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The Verdict
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC delivers substantially better value at $79, outperforming the Nothing Ear (1) in nearly every practical measure. Battery life reaches 7 hours with ANC enabled versus 4 hours, and the 50-hour case total dwarfs the 24-hour total. Soundcore includes LDAC codec support for hi-res audio, multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, and a personalized HearID sound profile, features completely absent from Nothing's offering. Both feature 11mm-range drivers and IPX4 water resistance, but Soundcore's 98.5% adaptive ANC edges out Nothing's dual-mode approach. Call quality benefits from Soundcore's six microphones per bud compared to Nothing's unspecified setup. Nothing Ear (1) emphasizes design minimalism and in-ear detection convenience, plus proprietary app customization. However, Soundcore's Bluetooth 5.3 versus 5.2, wireless charging inclusion, and multipoint pairing provide tangible advantages for real-world use. At a $20 price difference, Soundcore justifies its recommendation through superior battery endurance, codec flexibility, and connectivity features that justify the feature-rich approach. Nothing appeals only to design-first buyers accepting trade-offs for aesthetics.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Nothing Ear (1) if…
- →Iconic transparent design with unique aesthetic
- →ANC and wireless charging at just $99 is outstanding value
- →Comfortable and lightweight at 4.7 g per earbud
Buy the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC if…
- →ANC, LDAC, multipoint, AND wireless charging for just $79 — insane value
- →50-hour total battery with case is class-leading
- →98.5% noise reduction is competitive with earbuds at three times the price
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Nothing Ear (1)
Pros
- Iconic transparent design with unique aesthetic
- ANC and wireless charging at just $99 is outstanding value
- Comfortable and lightweight at 4.7 g per earbud
- Squeeze gesture controls are intuitive and precise
- Qi wireless charging case adds convenience
Cons
- 4-hour ANC battery life is quite short
- No multipoint Bluetooth connectivity
- ANC is mild — doesn't match premium competitors
- Limited codec support — AAC and SBC only
- Transparent case shows dust and scratches easily
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Pros
- ANC, LDAC, multipoint, AND wireless charging for just $79 — insane value
- 50-hour total battery with case is class-leading
- 98.5% noise reduction is competitive with earbuds at three times the price
- HearID hearing profile customization improves audio quality
- Lightweight at 5 g per bud — barely noticeable in-ear
Cons
- Build quality and case feel budget compared to premium brands
- Call quality is acceptable but not exceptional
- Soundcore app is functional but cluttered with upsells
- Sound quality is good but lacks the refinement of Sony or Apple
Full Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Ear (1) | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | ||
| Type | in-ear | in-ear |
| Weight | 4.7 g (each) | 5 g (each) |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 4 hrs (ANC on), 5.7 hrs (ANC off), 24 hrs total with case (ANC off) | 7 hrs (ANC on), 10 hrs (ANC off), 50 hrs with case |
| Charging | USB-C, Qi wireless | USB-C, wireless charging (Qi) |
| Drivers | 11.6mm dynamic driver | 11 mm composite driver |
| Features | Active Noise Cancellation with two modes (Light and Maximum), Transparency Mode, In-ear detection for auto play/pause, Nothing app with EQ customization, Squeeze gesture controls on stems | Adaptive ANC with 98.5% noise reduction, LDAC hi-res audio, Multipoint Bluetooth pairing, HearID personalized sound profile, Wireless charging case, 6 microphones per bud for clear calls |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wired option | ||
| Codecs | AAC, SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | ||
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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