Nothing B173
The 12.4mm dynamic driver and custom tuning deliver a bass-forward sound profile uncommon at this price point. The transparent stem design and compact 71g charging case offer a distinctive look and pocketable portability. These wired earbuds are best for budget-conscious listeners who prioritize style and punchy audio over call quality or fitness features.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Nothing B173 is a stylish, comfy wired earbud with below-average sound and genuinely bad call quality. It's all about the look. Only worth it if you find it at the low end of its bizarre price range and don't care about audio performance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The transparent design is a genuine conversation starter. 74th
- Comfort is surprisingly good for long listening sessions.
- The wired connection means zero latency for gaming.
- It's one of the most affordable ways to get the Nothing aesthetic.
Cons
- Call quality is rough, your voice will sound muffled.
- Sound performance is flat and uninspiring.
- Build quality feels plasticky and less durable than competitors.
- Connectivity issues are baffling for a wired product.
The proof
Performance
Comfort is the one bright spot here, landing well above average. You can wear these for a while without fatigue. But that's where the good news mostly ends. The sound is mediocre, the mic quality is a real letdown for calls, and the connectivity score is one of the worst in our database. For a wired set, that's a head-scratcher. The build quality also feels a bit cheap, which tracks with the budget positioning.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.2 lbs |
vs Competition
Stacked against the Technics EAH-AZ100 or Sony WF-1000XM6, the B173 gets absolutely smoked on sound, ANC, and features. But those are wireless champs. A fairer fight might be against other budget wired options, where the B173 still lags in core audio but wins on unique design. The Soundcore P31i offers better overall performance for the money, but it won't turn heads like these do. You're making a clear trade-off between fashion and function.
| Spec | Nothing B173 | Technics EAH-AZ100 EAH-AZ100-K | Sony WF-1000XM6 | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0010 | Apple AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | - | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | - | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Wireless | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | - | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 28 | 24 | 26 | 18 | 24 |
| Water Resistance | - | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | IPX4 | IP57 |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing B173 | 31.8 | 14.2 | 35 | 31.1 | 48.7 | 73.8 | 13.4 | 9.9 |
| Technics EAH-AZ100 EAH-AZ100-K Compare | 97.4 | 97.5 | 81.4 | 99.1 | 82 | 73.8 | 99.2 | 81.4 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 Compare | 97.4 | 99.8 | 81.4 | 89.2 | 79.2 | 73.8 | 99.2 | 81.4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Compare | 97.4 | 97.5 | 98.9 | 93.5 | 76.9 | 94.7 | 99.7 | 90.3 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra 896637-0010 Compare | 97.4 | 91.9 | 81.4 | 97 | 48.7 | 94.7 | 98.1 | 90.3 |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 Compare | 97.4 | 83.9 | 98.9 | 91.5 | 79.2 | 94.7 | 99.7 | 99.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing is all over the map, with a wild spread from $123 to over $25,000 from different vendors. Obviously, ignore the insane high end. At the lower end of that range, you're paying for the design and the brand, not the audio performance. It's not a good value if sound quality or calls matter to you. If you just want wired buds that look cool and feel comfy, and you find them near that $123 mark, it's a defensible, if not smart, purchase.
Amazon 1 offer From $149
Price History
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Overview
The Nothing B173 is a weird one. It's a wired earbud in a world gone wireless, and that alone makes it stand out. The design is pure Nothing, transparent and eye-catching, but the specs tell a story of style over substance. It's not trying to be a flagship killer. It's a budget-conscious accessory that nails the look but stumbles on the basics.
Common Questions
Q: Does the wired design mean better sound quality?
Not in this case. While wired connections eliminate Bluetooth compression, the B173's sound profile is still mediocre, scoring in the 31st percentile. A good wireless bud will easily outperform it.
Q: Are these good for taking work calls?
No, the microphone quality is one of the weakest points, scoring in the 14th percentile. Your voice will likely sound distant and unclear to the person on the other end.
Q: How durable are the Nothing B173 earbuds?
Build quality is below average, landing in the 35th percentile. The materials feel a bit cheap, so they might not survive a lot of rough handling or accidental drops.
Who Should Skip This
Anyone who needs reliable call quality should skip these without a second thought. The mic performance is a real weak spot. Also, if you want rich, detailed sound, look elsewhere because the audio profile is flat and uninspiring.
Verdict
Buy these if you love the Nothing design language and need a cheap, comfy wired backup pair. They're a fashion statement first, earbuds second. For anyone who takes calls, cares about music quality, or wants something that feels built to last, there are much better options out there.
