The Ear (1) was Nothing's first publicly released product, launching the company's audio product line in 2021. It introduced Nothing's transparent design language and established design principles that would influence the company's products and services in the years that followed.

“It is the starting point that will define the artistry, confidence and craftsmanship that will carry our products and services for years to come.” - Carl Pei, Nothing, 11 May 2021^[1]

Ear (1)'s model number is B181 and Pokémon codename is Aipom.

Nothing launched the Ear (1) on 27 July 2021, with the product priced at £99 / $99 / €99 / INR 5,999. Availability began with a limited drop on 31 July 2021 at 14:00 BST through nothing.tech, followed by open sales on 17 August 2021 across 45 countries and regions.^[2] Prior to its launch, Nothing announced a retail partnership with Smartech and Selfridges. The Ear (1) was planned to be available at Selfridges London through Smartech and at Selfridges.com when it launched.^[3] In September 2021, Nothing introduced a weekly restock schedule for Europe, North America and Australia, with the first restock taking place on 14 September. Subsequent restocks were scheduled every Tuesday, with shipping times expected to be approximately one week.^[4] The Ear (1) was initially released in white. Nothing introduced the Ear (1) Black Edition on 1 December 2021, featuring a smoky transparent case and black earbuds while retaining the same hardware and features as the original version. Limited online and in-store drops began on 8 December, followed by open sales on nothing.tech from 13 December.^[5] The Ear (1) was also available for purchase at the Nothing Kiosk, which opened in London in December 2021.^[6] In October 2022, Nothing announced a 50% price increase to $149, citing a rise in costs.^[7]

Ear (1) was succeeded by Ear (2).

Both the case and earbuds featured clear plastic, establishing the transparent design language that became characteristic of Nothing's products. The Ear (1) weighs 4.7g per bud, with a 0.34cc chamber and an 11.6mm dynamic driver. The buds support Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC and AAC codecs.

The Ear (1) allowed for playback control, volume adjustment and other functions via touch controls such as single tap, double tap and sliding on the stem.

The Ear (1) could be managed through the Ear (1) Companion App, which provided customisation for touch gestures, ANC and EQ adjustments, as well as firmware updates.^[8] There were also a number of easter eggs available in the app, such as customising the case light and displaying a prototype “Ear (0)”.^[9]