Nothing recently refreshed its audio line-up with an update to the first Ear (1) truly wireless earbuds. The Ear (2) costs Rs. 9,999, almost twice as much as the first TWS earbuds, which were released in 2021. This is a significant price increase, putting the brand’s TWS earbuds in the mid-range price category dominated by Oppo’s Enco series, OnePlus Buds Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Buds TWS earbuds.
The price increase brings with it some significant improvements, both external and internal. The Nothing Ear (2) promises improved audio delivery, active noise cancellation, more effective touch controls, and design durability. To put such claims to the test, we used the Nothing Ear (2) as our primary audio gear for over a week.
Let’s start with the specifications and features of the Nothing Ear (2) before we get into the sound delivery, ANC, and design details.
Nothing Ear (2) Specifications And Features
- Driver size- 11.6mm dynamic
- Diaphragm: Graphene + PU (Polyurethane)
- Codec: AAC, SBC, LHDC 5.0 (24-bit/192KHz)
- ANC- Up to 40dB (Frequency range- 5000hz)
- Earbud weight- 4.5g, Case weight- 52g
- Durability- IP54 buds / IP55 case water and dust resistance
- Bluetooth Version- 5.3
- Connectivity Features- In-ear detection, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, Dual Connection
- Microphones- 3 per earbud, Low lag mode (only functional with Nothing Phone)
- Battery Capacity: 33 mAh (buds) / 485 mAh (case)
- Charging- Fast charging with ANC off, Wired charging: USB Type-C, Wireless charging: Qi Certified up to 2.5
- Compatibility- Android 5.1 and above, iOS 11 and above
- Application Support- Nothing X
Nothing Ear (2) Sound Delivery- Clean and Detailed
The Nothing Ear (2) could be an excellent audio listening device for both serious and casual listeners. The audio produced by the 11.6mm dynamic drivers beneath is very detailed and lively. The LHDC V5.0 high-resolution codec allows the Ear (2) to stream music at 24-bit to a compatible device. In my case, I used the Nothing Ear (2) with an iPhone 13, a Galaxy S23 Ultra, and a Windows laptop, and the audio quality was consistent across all devices and platforms.
The Ear (2) produces clean audio, even with complicated tracks that feature multiple instruments playing simultaneously. The wide soundstage and good imaging ensure clear instrument separation in tracks such as “Taqdeer” by Doon Bhat and Rashmeet Kaur, which has a divine blend of both folk and modern instruments. I could hear all the different beats and audio signatures distinctly, along with clean vocals. The same was also experienced in “Sol” by Alef when the earbuds ensure a warm and impressive low-end grunt. The earbuds also did justice to Above & Beyond’s Sun in your eyes by beautifully producing the rising crescendo. The individual beats in the second half of the track felt super engaging and immersive.
However, you may experience harsher treble in some tracks. Still, these issues can be easily resolved by using the companion smartphone app – Nothing X. The app includes a plethora of options for customizing your audio experience. If you are listening to a podcast or watching a movie with mostly dialogues, you can switch to the vocals profile in the app’s native equalizer. More on the app and its features in the below paragraph.
Nothing X Smartphone Application
Moving on, the smartphone companion app, Nothing X, is one of the best-coded TWS earbuds apps I’ve seen in a long time. For iOS, the app has a very user-friendly UI, good feature support, and well-placed controls. The home page displays the earbuds’ real-time battery status as well as the most important features- Equalizer, Noise control, and Touch controls. A tap on the settings icon in the top right corner brings you to the page of supported features. Here you can access all of the controls found on the most expensive TWS earbuds.
The list includes:-
- In-ear detection
- Personalized ANC
- Low lag mode
- Personal sound profile
- Dual connection
- Eartip fit test
- Find my earbuds
- TWS earbuds device details
All the aforementioned features in the Nothing X app worked flawlessly during our testing with multiple devices including an iPhone, some Android devices, and Windows laptops.
Rich Personalization Features- Sound and ANC
The Nothing X app includes a Sound Personalization mode along with four audio profiles and an equalizer to provide sound tailored to individual hearing abilities. Powered by sound tuning software, the mode performs some tests (plays beep sounds at various frequencies and artificial background noise) to establish a personal sound profile based on what you hear most often.
In theory, the mode enhances speech and makes audio more immersive for a better vocal experience. And, in practice, it works. I took the 5-minute test and heard an improved audio delivery. The sound felt more immersive and melodic with the recommended profile. Once you complete the test, you can choose to stream the audio according to your preference by playing an audio sample. For my hearing ability, the recommended sound profile offered the best sound listening experience.
In short, the Nothing X application is smart enough to improve your audio listening experience by making some fine sound adjustments to the audio output. Similarly, noise cancellation can also be customized for a more immersive sound experience.
Nothing Ear (2) ANC And Microphone Performance
The ANC on the Nothing Ear (2) is quite effective and powerful. It effectively reduces outside noise to provide a more immersive music-listening experience; however, there is one disadvantage. The ANC comes with a constant white noise, which can be distracting and cause fatigue during long listening sessions. The Nothing X app provides some granular controls for customizing the ANC to your liking.
It’s also worth noting that turning on the ANC has a significant impact on the battery life of the Nothing Ear (2). If you spend a lot of time on voice calls, the Nothing Ear (2) is also a good pair of TWS earbuds. The microphones on the individual buds provide adequate, if not exceptional, voice output.
Distinctive Design Strategy Works In Nothing’s Favour
If I show you five different TWS earbuds in the sub-15K price range, I’m sure you’ll gravitate towards the Nothing Ear (2) based solely on its appearance. Nothing’s futuristic design sense makes an immediate and indelible impression. The transparent case and see-through buds are unique to the world (of course, the Nothing Ear (1) started the trend), and provide a distinct appearance to both the case and the earbuds. Overall, the Ear (2) is the answer if you want a pair of distinctive TWS earbuds.
In-ear fit And Comfort
The Ear (2) also excels in terms of comfort and in-ear fitment. The TWS earbuds provide a secure in-ear fit and do not fall out when running on a treadmill or doing free exercises. I can also attest to how comfortable they are to wear. Because of their lighter weight and soft silicone tips, these TWS earbuds can be worn for extended periods without causing discomfort. Nothing offers three extra ear tips and an ear tip fit test (smartphone app) to help you find the best in-ear fit for different ear types.
Touch Controls And Durability
The Ear (2) has a stem-based TWS earbud design with press controls that are well-implemented and more efficient to use than the traditional swipe-based touch controls found on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro series TWS earbuds. Furthermore, the Ear (2)’s charging case is IP55 rated, which should provide some protection if the case is damaged by water. The earbuds, on the other hand, are IP54 rated for water and dust resistance.
Nothing Ear (2) Battery Life
The battery life of the Nothing Ear (2) is slightly less than that of the competition, especially when the ANC is enabled. With ANC enabled these TWS earbuds can provide 4 hours of music playback and up to 6 hours with ANC disabled. The case can add four full playback cycles, increasing the battery life to up to 22 hours, which is adequate but not as good as the competition.
Fast charging comes in handy, as just 5 minutes of charging (with a compatible charger) can provide you with 4 hours of playback time. The Nothing Ear (2) also supports wireless charging, though the 2.5W speed may put your patience to the test.
Techarc Verdict
The Ear (2) is the most refined product from the Nothing brand that we have tested since its inception. The new TWS earbuds are a significant improvement over the Ear (1). Because of the higher price, the brand has been able to push some significant upgrades, such as better overall audio delivery, powerful ANC, and a very comfortable design with improved durability and touch controls. The soundstage and instrument separation is top-notch, bringing these TWS earbuds very close to more expensive alternatives like the Galaxy Buds2 Pro in terms of pure audio performance.
The Ear (2)’s battery life could have been slightly better. This is one area where the competition still has a significant advantage. Overall, the Ear (2) is an excellent choice if you own the Nothing (1) handset or any latest Android device. Apple iPhone users should also consider these earbuds because, thanks to the well-designed Nothing X companion app, they offer far better value for money than the pricey Airpods.
