Nothing is the gig founded by Carl Pei, formerly of OnePlus. The company’s first product was Nothing Ear (1), a strikingly different-looking pair of earbuds which launched in 2021 and whose very name seemed to anticipate the arrival of this week’s newcomer, Nothing Ear (2). So, how good are the new earbuds and should you buy them? Read on.
Nothing Ear (2): Design
The new headphones look very similar to the original Ear (1) model. The case is slightly changed and the earbuds are a touch lighter, but it’s clearly the same industrial design that’s at play here. This is no bad thing. The Ear (1) package was a real head-turner, utilizing what has become Nothing’s trademark: transparent components. The case is clear plastic as before, though now with a flatter lid, and with a smaller dimple in it. This is still big enough to stick your thumb or finger in—a surprisingly satisfying tactile experience. The case is wireless-chargeable, as it was on the first-gen version, though there’s a USB-C to USB-C cable to charge by wire.
The stem of each earbud is also see-through. Put the older and new buds next to each other and it’s easy to thin they’re the same and indeed they do fit in each other’s cases okay. Don’t worry, if you have both, you can tell them apart by squinting at the earbud stalk where it states which model you’re looking at.
As before, there’s a red dot on the right earbud, white on the left, so you won’t try and put them back in the wrong half of the charging case (something I still do accidentally try to do with AirPods Pro once in a way).
In the ear, they look distinctive and stylish. Nothing was right not to mess with a winning design formula here. Similarly, Nothing has stuck with the same controls as before: you squeeze the earbud to change tracks and so on. This is the same mechanic that Apple uses on the AirPods Pro and it works well here.
There are less visible design changes, such as an improved IP rating. Where the first-generation made no claims for dust protection, the new buds do, offering an IP54 rating. The new earbuds also include LHDC. LHDC is the Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec which is designed to allow hi-res audio streaming over Bluetooth, and was exclusively revealed when I talked to founder Carl Pei for Forbes.
Nothing Ear (2): Fit and Controls
Like last time, there are three pairs of silicone ear tips to help ensure decent noise-isolation. The mediums are on the earbuds, the small and large in the box. The Nothing X app is your friend here, offering a fit test so you know you’ve got the best size tips in place. That app also offers a personalization feature that tests your hearing with a series of beeps and adjusts the audio output accordingly. Some other brands have similar features, such as Apple, Sony and Nura: Nura’s is easily the most advanced and effective.
Once I’d decided on the right size, I found the fit was good, staying in place securely and with no discomfort even after wearing for long periods of time. Earbuds can feel like they’re putting too much pressure on your ears, but that’s not the case with these.
Controlling the earbuds has been improved with a switch to the mechanism used on the Ear (Stick). This replaces taps with squeezes, similar to the Apple AirPods Pro, and works better, I’d say. It’s consistent, reliable and reduces accidental interactions. There are sound effects which accompany each squeeze, so you know it’s been recognized.
Like AirPods, these earbuds have ear detection so they pause playback as you remove one, resuming as you replace it.
Nothing Ear (2): Audio quality
Carl Pei told me that one of the changes Nothing saw after the success of its first products was a greater willingness for manufacturers to work with it, resulting in better quality components and the chance to design items rather than using off-the-shelf options.
So, there are notable upgrades in how these buds are made, making high-resolution support possible with LHDC 5.0. The range of smartphones capable of LHDC support is limited, however and right now you need an Oppo or Huawei handset, or the Nothing Phone (1).
Sound quality is really excellent with this, with great levels of detail, though other codecs are supported, too, and still sound good.
Compared to the original Nothing Ear (1) buds, there’s a more balanced sound, overcoming the way the mid-notes could be too prominent on the first-gen model. And things are certainly at their best with the personalized audio.
Then there’s noise cancellation, which has been improved this time around—though it was pretty good on the first model. That personalization helps here, too, and external noises are suitably muted. It’s not on the same level as Apple AirPods Pro second generation, but it’s still good.
Nothing Ear (2): Pricing
For $149, these are affordable headphones with lots of features—even if the launch price back in 2021 for the first pair was $50 less. Mind you, when Nothing launched its Nothing Ear (Stick) earbuds, which lack noise-cancelling, the company cannily increased the Ear (1) price to $149, allowing the Stick to be the entry-level version for $99. So, the new price is hardly a surprise, though it does put it almost on the same level as the third-generation AirPods.
Nothing Ear (2): Battery life
There’s an uptick here compared to the Nothing Ear (1), with over six hours in the buds and another almost 30 hours in the case. Nothing claims a ten-minute charge delivers eight hours of playback, which feels about right. In other words, there are some earbuds that do even better life between charges, but these numbers are pretty good and easily enough for most users.
Nothing Ear (2): Verdict
The new earbuds from Nothing look similar to the first model, that is, terrific. Sure, most of the time you won’t see them because they’ll be in your ears, but it’s good to know that people looking at you should find them distinctive and attractive. They fit well in the ear.
There’s been a significant update in features in the new version, especially with the personalized audio system turned on, and the capability for high-resolution audio.
Sound quality is definitely better overall, and specifically with noise-cancellation. These earbuds are a real upgrade and while they may not beat AirPods Pro, there’s quite a price differential between Apple’s and Nothing’s earbuds to factor in.