Nothing, a brand that generally follows through on its hyped-up products, is back with its third pair of earbuds: the Nothing Ear (2). With an asking price of RM599 a pop, it isn’t cheap by any means – but thankfully, the Ear (2) does deliver when it comes to sound quality.
Two years down the road, it is nice to see (or rather, hear) how Nothing has listened to customer feedback and fixed many of the major complaints about its predecessor, the Nothing Ear (1). You get better water resistance, Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, and improved noise cancellation.
When placed side by side, it can be difficult to tell the Ear (1) and Ear (2) apart. The newer case shaves off some heft and size while leaving its transparent shell behind. Instead, you get a white plastic back flanked by the transparent shell at the corners.
The charging case now supports Qi wireless charging at 2.5W, and retains the dimple to maintain its “fidget spinner” identity.
Opening the charging case will reveal the lighter earbuds. You will need to get up close and personal to see where changes have been made; for example, the microphones on both earbuds have shifted to the top instead of being at the bottom of the stem.
The Ear (2) earbuds are now IP54 rated, which means there is protection against splashes and better dust protection, even if you are unable to go swimming with this pair. Fitness enthusiasts will find these suitable for sporting activities since sweat won’t stop them from functioning.
One major design change can be observed in its controls, with the Ear (2) adopting physical buttons at the stems, eliminating any need for second-guessing. All the controls can be customised using the Nothing X app, from changing tracks and volume level to noise cancellation.
You also get three ear-tip sizes (S, M, and L) in the box.
Performance
The Nothing Ear (2) ups the ante by offering rich audio detail and balanced tuning. The driver size remains the same at 11.6mm, but this does not mean you will experience a similar performance.
On the contrary, bass levels are well presented thanks to the more powerful driver magnets and larger dual-chamber design. This allows additional detail in the low end without overpowering the entire listening experience.
When it comes to the midrange, the Ear (2) offers crisp and clear representation. Do bear in mind that not everyone has sensitive ears or is musically inclined, making this more suited to the mass market than audiophiles. (Audiophiles will not even look at this segment of earbuds in the first place.)
Active noise cancellation (ANC) continues to be a talking point when it comes to wireless earbuds, and the Ear (2) offers above-average ANC for its price. In a noisy restaurant during lunchtime, ANC blocks out virtually everything – so much so that you might think you were in your own room!
There are four ANC levels to select from: high, mid, low, and adaptive. It makes sense to stick with high in most circumstances, while the adaptive level – where external microphones filter audio from your surroundings and adjust accordingly – still needs work. It’s fine with the steady hum of machinery or traffic noise in the background, but when you have conversations going on, you will still be able to hear those.
There’s also a transparency mode that comes in handy, especially when you are out for a walk or run around the neighbourhood. It allows you to remain alert to your surroundings while listening to your favourite tunes.
Connectivity and EQ
Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, aka Dual Connection, lets you use the Ear (2) with more than a single device simultaneously, giving it an edge over the Ear (1).
It has also received Hi-Res Audio certification and implemented LHDC 5.0 technology. Of course, high-resolution audio only makes sense with a corresponding source, but with most people sticking to streaming services such as Spotify, you would not be taking full advantage of its capability.
Retaining a degree of simplicity, the Nothing X app (available for both Android and iOS) boasts a customisable EQ, allowing you to alter the bass, mid, and treble settings to your liking. While it does not offer in-depth customisation options, it is still better than before.
The app also comes with a unique sound-profile option that can be accessed via a hearing test, for which you will need to spare about five minutes. This test is aimed at detecting hearing deficiencies in the listener to offer a unique EQ setting.
Still, the overall standard EQ setting is balanced enough to most listeners’ preferences.
Nothing claims the Ear (2) comes with up to four hours of non-stop playback with ANC enabled, while the case provides up to another 22.5 hours of power – roughly 90 minutes less battery life compared to the Ear (1).
However, the tables are turned when ANC is disabled, when you get up to 6.3 hours and 36 hours of battery life, respectively.
Charging is performed via the USB-C port, and you can use the included USB-C to USB-C cable. Alternatively, wireless charging works like a charm, although do expect the charging speed to be slower.
All in all, the Nothing Ear (2) keeps up with the times by offering support for the LHDC 5.0 codec alongside SBC and AAC (although LDAC and aptX remain conspicuously absent); offers a balanced and refined sound; has a flexible app that gets the job done; as well as physical controls for easy access, and a decently calibrated three-microphone array for clear, hands-free communication.
If you are already using the Nothing Ear (1), there is no pressing need to upgrade to this newer option. But if you are in the market for your very first pair of earbuds, there is very little that could go wrong with the Nothing Ear (2).
Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer only to have circumstances mould him into a programmer in a past life. He has since moved on to write about consumer electronics and other topics.