Compare Poly Voyager Free 20 Earbuds vs Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds

ANC was one of the strongest consensus points, repeatedly described as effective against office, commute, fan, and low-frequency noise.

ANC earns broad praise as strong for the price, though reviewers agree it is not at the very top level for voices or premium rivals.

Android compatibility was supported by app availability and Android, Pixel, or Samsung testing.

Android compatibility is strong through LDAC, Google Fast Pair, and Android-friendly pairing references.

The Poly Lens app is important and feature-rich on mobile, but desktop functionality and firmware workflows drew criticism.

The Nothing X app is one of the strongest software points, repeatedly praised for being intuitive, fast, customizable, and pleasant to use.

aptX support was not confirmed; the only evidence flags uncertainty around advanced codec support.

Low-lag or low-latency gaming support appears across reviews, but one reviewer measured latency around 100 ms and called Bluetooth latency still limited.

Auracast support is conflicting: one review says Bluetooth 5.3 brings support for upcoming Auracast, while another lists no Auracast future-proofing.

Bass was divisive: some reviewers heard strong or punchy low end, while others found it timid or lacking energy.

Bass is repeatedly described as punchy, warm, bass-forward, and adjustable, with a few reviewers noting it can be heavy out of the box.

Battery life was broadly praised, commonly around 8 hours with ANC and longer with ANC off or the case.

Battery life is usually considered solid for the price, especially without ANC, while ANC and LDAC reduce runtime noticeably.

Bluetooth support was strong overall, with Bluetooth 5.4, stable pairing, and good range mentioned despite setup quirks.

Bluetooth support is feature-rich with Bluetooth 5.3, but reviewer experiences range from sturdy connections to occasional stutters in busy areas.

Build quality was mixed: earbuds were described as solid or well built, while the case and hinges felt fragile.

Build quality is mostly good for the price, but transparent plastics and case surfaces raise scratch or wear concerns.

Hi-res playback evidence is positive through LDAC and Hi-Res certification claims, though no review gives direct built-in DAC analysis.

Control usability was mixed: push buttons prevent accidental touches but often push the buds into the ear and require pressure.

Button and stem control usability is broadly strong because the controls are customizable, intuitive, and reliable, with minor complaints about swipes or complex gestures.

The included cable drew criticism for being very short.

Case quality was split: reviewers liked magnets, size, and style, but several criticized plastic feel, loose hinges, and fingerprints.

Case quality is mixed: reviewers like the smaller pocketable form and magnets, but some call the case fiddly, scratch-prone, or less intuitive.

Charging was strong, with repeated fast-charge mentions plus USB-C and wireless charging positives.

Charging is convenient through USB-C and fast top-ups, but the most repeated limitation is the lack of wireless charging.

Codec support was a weak point because HP did not specify supported codecs in one review.

Codec support is strong for the price because reviewers repeatedly confirm SBC, AAC, and LDAC support.

Comfort was mostly strong, with multiple reviewers reporting long wear or low fatigue, although one had soreness after a couple of hours.

Comfort is a standout consensus point, with reviewers repeatedly saying the buds are secure and wearable for long sessions.

The design was generally liked for its sleek, professional, black-and-gold or lightweight look.

Design is a major point of praise, with reviewers repeatedly highlighting the transparent styling, yellow option, and distinctive Nothing look.

Dongle support is absent, and reviewers called out the missing USB dongle compared with more work-focused alternatives.

Fit was a recurring strength, aided by fit tests and tip choices, though fit still depended on ear size.

Ear tip fit is generally good, with sealing silicone tips and fit-test options, though some users may need to change sizes or adapt to the case angle.

Ear tip options were strong because multiple reviews confirmed four sizes or multiple tips.

Ear tip size options are adequate, with multiple reviews confirming three sizes or small/large extras around the preinstalled medium tips.

EQ customization was a repeated weakness, with reviewers wanting more than limited presets or a custom curve.

EQ customization is useful but limited: reviewers like the bass and three-band controls, while noting the flagship model has deeper tuning.

Find My-style location support appears in Poly Lens, but evidence is limited to last-known or location features.

Find My support is a useful app feature, repeatedly described as playing a sound or chime from a missing bud.

The only direct measurement evidence says the default response misses the reviewer’s preference curve, mainly in bass, low mids, and upper highs.

Hinge durability was a concern because reviewers found loose hinges on the charging case.

Included accessories were solid, with ear tips, charging case, and USB-C cable included.

Included accessories are basic but adequate, with reviewers mentioning the USB-C cable, paperwork, and extra ear tip sizes.

One review praised the earbuds for balancing different sounds, supporting strong instrument separation.

Instrument separation is praised in listening tests, with reviewers noting clear placement, background detail, and easy differentiation between instruments.

Integrated microphones are a core feature, with repeated references to three mics per bud or six noise-canceling microphones.

Integrated microphones are well supported by six-mic or three-mic-per-bud evidence and are tied to calls, ANC, and speech pickup.

LDAC support was not confirmed; the only evidence flags uncertainty around advanced codec support.

LDAC is one of the most consistently praised technical features, especially for Android and hi-res listening claims.

Maximum-volume clarity was limited by peaking and high-frequency distortion in one review.

Maximum-volume clarity trends positive, with reviewers noting strong clarity, headroom, or comfortable listening at lower volumes due to detail retrieval.

Noise reduction for calls was praised for reducing background noise and helping voices stay clear.

Microphone noise reduction is usually described as good at isolating speech or filtering environmental noise, with a few caveats in louder scenes.

Call quality was consistently positive, with reviewers hearing clear, understandable voice pickup.

Call quality is generally usable to good, with several reviewers praising clarity, though one found calls compressed and choppy.

Midrange clarity was generally a strength, with repeated comments about clear vocals and mids suited to calls and podcasts.

Midrange impressions are mostly positive, especially for vocals and clean mids, but the SoundGuys measurement notes some lower-mid under-emphasis.

Multi-platform compatibility was strong across phones, laptops, Windows, iPhone, MacBook, Android, and general Bluetooth use.

Multi-platform compatibility is good, with evidence for Android, PC, iOS, and flexible device switching rather than ecosystem lock-in.

Multipoint was a major work-use strength across phone and laptop pairings, though one reviewer noted switching delays.

Multipoint is a major strength, repeatedly described as easy, smooth, issue-free, or controllable from the app across two devices.

Passive isolation was decent to strong because the sealed tips fully plugged the ears before ANC was considered.

Passive isolation is helped by sealing silicone tips, and multiple reviewers say the buds block or isolate outside sound even before ANC.

Portability was helped by a slim case that fits in a pocket.

Portability is a clear strength, with multiple reviewers praising the smaller, lighter, and more pocketable case.

Preset EQ options were limited to Bass, Flat, and Bright and were often described as underwhelming or too similar.

Preset EQ quality is mixed because the app includes useful presets, but one reviewer found several preset options too extreme.

Sensors were useful for wear detection, call answering, and media pause/resume behavior.

Sensors and detection features are useful, especially in-ear detection and fit-test related behavior.

Sidetone adjustment scored poorly because one reviewer said the Free 20 lacked the ability.

Smudge resistance was poor, with multiple reviewers calling out fingerprints and scratches.

Setup and software simplicity were mixed: basic setup could be straightforward, but firmware and desktop support created friction.

Setup is simple, with reviewers praising quick pairing, easy app setup, fast firmware updates, and clear pairing controls.

One review referenced a fit test for audio leakage, suggesting leakage control depends on getting a proper seal.

Most reviewers described sound as good to excellent, especially for calls, vocals, and everyday music, though one found music compressed and shallow.

Reviewers consistently describe the Ear (a) as sounding good to excellent for its price, though one measurement-heavy review calls it merely good enough.

Soundstage depth was mixed, with one review finding it unexciting and another finding it immersive.

Soundstage impressions were mixed, ranging from solid but unexciting to spacious and immersive.

Several reviewers hear a wide or expansive presentation for an in-ear at this price, though one later comparison says some competitors stage wider.

Spatial audio scored low because one review explicitly said it is lacking.

Spatial audio is a weakness because the direct evidence says advanced or head-tracking spatial audio is not supported.

Stability was good, with reviewers noting no slipping, secure fit, and fit-test support.

Stability is strong for everyday use and workouts in most reviews, though one reviewer personally had a bud work loose.

Sustainability evidence is mixed: reviewers cite recycled materials and a low footprint, but also criticize non-replaceable batteries and lack of trade-in support.

Touch controls scored poorly because one review stated the earbuds have no touch controls.

Pinch or squeeze controls are usually responsive and preferred over tap controls, though some complex gestures can feel finicky.

Transparency mode was useful in some reviews but less consistent, with complaints about switching friction or weak amplification.

Transparency mode is mixed: some reviewers call it acceptable or above average, while others find it weak enough to remove an earbud for conversation.

Treble came through clearly in some reviews, but one reviewer heard high-frequency distortion at maximum volume.

Treble is generally described as detailed, clean, and expressive, with the main caution being that some treble-focused EQ settings can become bright.

USB-C is well supported for the case and charging cable.

USB-C charging is consistently confirmed and generally framed as the practical charging method for the case.

Value was strongest when discounted or judged against sound and ANC performance, but one review felt $150 was pricey.

Value is one of the strongest points of agreement, with reviewers repeatedly calling the Ear (a) unusually capable for $99 or less.

Voice assistant support is present through controls, though evidence focused on activation rather than deeper integration.

Voice assistant evidence is limited but positive, focused on configurable voice assistant access and Nothing’s ChatGPT pinch-to-speak integration.

Volume output was treated as a strength in hands-on use, though evidence was limited.

Volume output is adequate to loud for most use, but one reviewer says peak volume is only average rather than extremely loud.

Water and dust resistance was a positive feature across reviews, though one reviewer warned against running water.

Water and dust resistance is well covered, with reviewers citing IP54-class earbud protection and some case splash resistance.

The earbuds’ low weight was repeatedly tied to easy long-session comfort.

The direct weight-comfort evidence is very positive, tying the light 4.8 g earbud weight to easy all-day wear.