Nothing as a gadget production company is taking the internet and market by storm. Established by former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, his strategy and marketing have led Nothing to a whole new level.
Compared to rivals such as Apple, OnePlus and Samsung, Nothing has got a lot of approval from reviewers with its sleek marketing tactics. With Nothing Ear 1 earbuds being the company’s first official product followed by Nothing Phone 1, it recently unveiled Nothing Ear 2 earbuds, which we believe might be in direct competition with Apple’s AirPods, at least in Nepal.
Before giving you our verdict, let’s find out in detail about Nothing Ear 2.
Specifications
| Dimensions | Ear bud Height: 29.4 mm Width: 21.5 mm Depth: 23.5 mm Weight: 4.5 g Case Height: 55.5 mm Width: 55.5 mm Depth: 22 mm Weight: 51.9 g |
| Noise cancellation features | Active noise cancellation features (ANC) Up to 40 dB Personalised ANC Environment adaptive ANC Transparency mode Frequency range: 5000 Hz |
| Audio codecs | AAC, SBC, LHDC 5.0 |
| Water resistance rating | IP54 buds / IP55 case water and dust resistance |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 |
| Sound driver size | 11.6 mm dynamic |
| Diaphragm | Graphene + PU (Polyurethane) |
| Press controls | Single press: Play/pause, answer/hang up calls Double press: Skip forward, reject calls Triple press: Skip back Press and hold (left & right earbuds): Switch between active noise cancellation and transparency mode |
| Battery life | Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion battery Capacity: 33mAh (buds) / 485mAh (case) Playback with ANC off: Up to 36 hours with case and 6.3 hours with buds only Playback with ANC on: Up to 22.5 hours with case and 4 hours with buds only Talk time with ANC off: Up to 20.5 hours with case and 3.5 hours with buds only Talk time with ANC on: Up to 17.5 hours with case and 3 hours with buds only |
| Charging time | Fast charging with ANC off: 10 mins for 8 hours Wired charging: USB Type-C Wireless charging: Qi Certified up to 2.5W |
| Companion App | Nothing X app |
| Price (Expected) | Rs 19,000 |
Design
Nothing Ear 2’s design is similar to Nothing Ear 1. The buds look identical to Ear 1 with slight changes like the branding from Ear 1 to Ear 2. Except that, the position of the mics is changed. The case has a bit of change with its compact size — the dimple on the top and hinge is smaller than that of Ear 1’s case. It has a metal built with a stronger magnet. The white patterned plastic is now plain having less chance of scratches. Other than that, the case has the same LED light, the same USB type-C port and the same pairing button.
It has a dual-chamber design with an improved diaphragm made up of graphene and polyurethane. The IP rating is also changed from Ear 1, which had an IP54 rating. Nothing Ear 2 has IP54 buds and IP55 case water and dust resistance.
Features
Nothing Ear 2 is packed with features similar to Ear 1 but with a slight change in its features like the earbuds control. Ear 1 had touch control, which was already the best, but now, Ear 2 has pinch controls. The pinch controls have four sensors and four press control features.
With Nothing Ear 2 buds, users can single press and easily play/pause their music or answer/hang up calls. Double pressing allows for skipping forward or rejecting calls and changing tracks, while triple pressing enables skipping back. Double pinch and hold help in increasing or decreasing the volume. It also allows the user to switch between active noise cancellation and transparency mode by pressing and holding either the left or right earbud.
It has wear detection, meaning it can pause the music itself after you take the buds out of your ears and will play back after you put it on again.
It has a unique dual connection feature allowing you to connect two different devices at the same time. For example, you can connect it to your phone and laptop. While watching a video or playing games on your laptop, if a call rings on your phone, you can answer the call using the buds and talk instantly. As the call ends, the buds will reconnect back to your laptop and you can continue watching videos or playing games directly.
It can be controlled fully with the Nothing X app and you can have your own personal sound profile. The equaliser in the app allows you to choose between options such as balanced, more bass and more treble voice or have your real-time custom profile. The app and the buds with algorithms analyse your sensitivity to different frequencies dynamically adapting to your hearing and the content you are listening to, in real-time. Every part of every song, video or game, is completely tailored to your preference.
Users also have the option of personalised active noise cancellation (ANC) in Nothing Ear 2. They can now switch between three levels of ANC or let Ear 2 take control of the sound. The adaptive mode detects distractions in the environment before the users do, making it a useful feature. The ANC can silence the background or unwanted noise of up to 40 dB.
The Nothing X app also has a “Find my buds” feature in case your buds get misplaced or stolen. That is not a new feature but is very handy as many people tend to lose buds very often.
Sound
Nothing Ear 2 is equipped with an 11.6 mm dynamic driver, which delivers clear and powerful sound. The diaphragm is made of graphene and polyurethane (PU), which provides a lightweight and rigid construction that allows for accurate and detailed sound reproduction. The earbuds also support multiple Bluetooth codecs, including AAC, SBC, and LHDC, which ensure a high-quality wireless listening experience.
It is designed to deliver a truly authentic sound experience. Hi-res audio certified for playback up to 1 Mbps, the earbuds support frequencies up to 24bit/192 kHz, ensuring that sound details are protected and playback is faithful to the artist’s intentions. LHDC 5.0 codec is also supported, providing high-resolution streaming over Bluetooth without compromising on quality.
Battery and others
Nothing Ear 2 earbuds are equipped with a rechargeable li-ion battery that boasts impressive battery life. The buds themselves have a capacity of 33mAh while the charging case has a capacity of 485mAh. When the ANC is turned off, users can enjoy up to 36 hours of playback time with the case, or 6.3 hours of playback time with the earbuds alone.
With the ANC turned on, the playback time is reduced to 22.5 hours with the case and 4 hours with the earbuds alone. For talk time, users can enjoy up to 20.5 hours with the ANC off the case and 3.5 hours with the earbuds alone. With the ANC on, the talk time is reduced to 17.5 hours with the case and three hours with the earbuds alone.
Nothing Ear 2 earbuds also offer convenient charging options. With fast charging enabled and ANC off, users can charge the earbuds for 10 minutes and enjoy up to eight hours of playback. For wired charging, the earbuds use a USB Type-C cable. Additionally, the charging case is Qi certified and supports wireless charging up to 2.5W, offering users a hassle-free charging experience.
Nothing Ear 2 earbuds offer seamless connectivity with Bluetooth version 5.3 and support several Bluetooth profiles for compatibility with a wide range of devices. They are compatible with Android 5.1 and above and iOS 11 and above, making them a versatile option for users of both platforms.
Nothing Ear 2 might be soon available in Nepal with an expected price of Rs 19,000.
Verdict
Nothing Ear 2 has improved a few things from the previous model, Ear 1. In the expected price range, with all the new features added and competing in the market, Ear 2 might do pretty well. It is in direct competition with earbuds higher than its price range like Apple’s EarPods, Samsungs Galaxy Buds, Beats Studio Buds and Huwaie Freebuds.
