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The company says, “Nothing is here to make tech fun again.” Nothing has become a hard-to-ignore brand because it likes to use funky, skeletal designs and has a unique way of selling itself. The London company has only been around for three years, but it has already made a name for itself with the Nothing Phone and two sets of wireless earbuds: the Nothing Ear (1) and the Ear (stick).
We liked how easy the Ear (1) was to use, how many features it had, and how confident it looked, but we weren’t sure if it could really make great sound. Even though this was a strong start, we couldn’t help but think that Nothing could do better. This is the test for the Ear (2), a product that the company says has been totally redesigned to make the sound better. “Better sound. Make things clearer. “Just better,” says one of Nothing’s signs, which is a pretty strong claim.
Nothing Ear (2) Specifictions
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds |
| Battery Life | Up to 5.7 hours of continuous use |
| Charging Case | Supports wireless charging and provides an additional 34 hours of battery life |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, compatible with Android and iOS devices |
| Controls | Touch controls for music playback, calls, and voice assistant |
Nothing Ear 2: Design
Teenage Engineering, a unique company that specializes in the production of musical instruments, was responsible for the design of both the buds and the case, which is translucent. The case can be carried in a pocket without too much difficulty and will only cause a slight bulge in the pocket. It has a very large magnetic lid and an imprint for your thumb, so you can tell that it was made with some thought. Even though there is a very little amount of lateral hinge play, the problem is not too severe. This one, like the vast majority of clear plastics, appears to be particularly vulnerable to scratches. You can buy this earbuds from its official website
Nothing Ear 2: Connection
The Nothing Ear (2) uses the LHDC 5.0 codec (not to be confused with LDAC) to send audio at sample rates of up to 24 bits wide and 192 kilohertz. This codec is not used by many Bluetooth devices, but it might work with Android 10 and later. The Ear (2) also has a mode for low-latency games and lets iPhones use the SBC and AAC codecs. The Nothing X app has a setting that lets you connect to two devices at once, so if your phone rings, you can answer it on your laptop instead.
Sound and Noise Cancelling
The Nothing Ear 2 earbuds sound much more balanced and refined than their original, which makes them a lot more fun to listen to.The Ear 1s, on the other hand, were just muddy and had too much sound. Once to stop or play, twice or three times to skip tracks. Squeeze and hold to change the noise canceling, and double-squeeze and hold to change the volume.
They work well, but changing the volume isn’t as easy as it is on some competitors, which use swipes. The semi-transparent charge case looks cool and feels good, but it is a little bigger than the best on the market. With noise cancellation on, the earbuds can be used for four hours. The bag can fully charge the earbuds about 4.5 times.
Nothing Ear 2: Battery and Charging
The battery life has also been improved. With the case, the Ear (2) can be used for 36 hours, while the earbuds alone can be used for 6.3 hours. The cheaper Panasonic RZ-S500W can only play for 6.5 hours with the headphones and 13 hours with the case. The more expensive JBL Live Pro 2 TWS can play for 8 hours with the headphones and 30 hours with the case. We looked into Nothing’s claim that the buds’ fast charge gives them eight hours of battery life from a 10-minute session and found it to be true if they are charged from the right source.
Price and Availability
Affordable for wireless earbuds with ANC, wireless charging, multipoint compatibility, and high-resolution playback, the Nothing Ear (2) can be had for $149 (or £129 or €149). They are available from Nothing everywhere.
Ear (2) are my go-to headphones since they have a better design, fit, and sound quality than the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 ($149/$139/€149), which are a close competition in terms of price and features. The Nothing’s Own Ear (Stick), which does not have a closed back and costs $99 (£99, €99), is the cheapest choice. The Nothing Ear (1) is still for sale, and it costs $149 (or £149 or €149).
Final Words
We were excited to see if Nothing could build on the strong base that Ear (1) had set up. The Ear (2) are a stylish pair of wireless earbuds with a lot of features and a smart design. However, the sound is too sharp and will get old after a while.
Yes, they’re well-made, very comfortable, and definitely affordable, but there are better options at this price point that sound much better. For example, the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS or Panasonic’s excellent (and cheaper) RZ-S500W Award-winners have better balance and class.
Nothing Ear (2) review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Lightweight
- Wireless charging
The Bad
- ANC can cause in-ear pressure
FAQS
This is a very bad battery life for wireless earbuds in 2023. Most pairs can last five to six hours with ANC, and some can last seven hours or more. With ANC on, the charging case gives you an extra 18 or so hours of battery life. The case for the headphones can be charged over USB-C or wirelessly.
Other than that, the Nothing Ear 2 earpieces have a dust and water proof rating of IP54, while the charging case has a slightly better rating of IP55. Both are good enough to handle splashes of water and a little bit of dirt.