Nothing Ear (2) Review: Is (2) Better Than (1)? 🤔

So when the Nothing Ear (1) was released, I tested it, and it was BAD! And then I waited 3 months and bought another retail unit, and it was REALLY GOOD!

So will that be the case for this new Nothing Ear (2)? And is it better than the Nothing Ear (1)? Well, let’s find out!

 

Unboxing

So the unboxing process was very similar to the Nothing Ear (1) where there are the visuals of the earbuds in front of the box. Then there’s a red color tab that goes around the box to start the whole unboxing.

Now, opening the box, there’s a sleeve where there is a QR code for you to download the Nothing X app where in there, there’s the user guide and the safety and warranty info. 

Then you’ll find the earbuds case. 

Underneath, towards the right, there’s a smaller box which contains the USB-C to USB-C cable. Then finally towards the left, there are the ear tips in small and large size, and yes, it is finally called ear tips, not ear plugs.

 

Hardware

Now, let’s talk about the hardware without diving into the whole specs sheet to give you the exact dimensions; looking at both side by side, at a glance, it looks pretty similar in size, where the previous Ear (1) is just a tiny bit larger, but not very noticeable.

Looking at the top, the circular indentation on the Nothing Ear (2) is slightly smaller this time around. And yes, it still has that cute little Mickey Mouse logo when you flip the cover-up.

Then the USB-C port and the pairing button are on the right on both. 

Then at the back, the base of the Nothing Ear (2) is towards the outer part of the case, instead of it being inside on the previous Ear (1). This probably has to do with making the earbud’s case less slippery or it has to do with the wear and tear of this area, well we shall find out when I use these earbuds for several months.

Like the previous Ear (1), it opens via a hinge in front and it still feels very solid, so from a case’s perspective, I would say that I prefer the Ear (2)’s case for its slightly compact form factor and also it is about 5.5 grams lighter than the previous Ear (1), which is quite noticeable indeed. 

Then the earbud’s sizes on each are identical, and while the speaker is also at same 11.6mm in size, but it is 0.2 grams lighter, and this time around, Nothing says that it has a unique dual chamber design, which produces clearer and brighter high and low frequencies, and this also thanks to the combination of polyurethane and graphene material. 

Yeah, who knew that materials science could make such a difference when it comes to listening pleasure? And yes, more on the sound quality later.

But, since the earbuds are a tiny bit lighter, will it affect how well it stays in the ears? Well, the only way to find out is through the usual #SAWANMODETEST, check that out on my YouTube video!

Then it has an improved IP54 rating for the buds and IP55 for the case, which is also dust resistant compared to just the IPX4 rating on the Nothing Ear (1).

 

Controls

So if you are familiar with the controls on the previous Ear (1), then you will immediately feel at home with the controls on these. 

And if this is your first Nothing earbuds, all of the controls, like skipping tracks, switching between noise cancellation modes, and adjusting volume, are all through the pinch or press controls.

So I am glad that Nothing kept its pinch or press controls as opposed to touch controls, which I never liked because it causes a lot of accidental touches, especially when I was working out.

 

Sound Quality

Now, what about sound quality then? Well, here’s where the Ear (2) really shines. Firstly, these earbuds take personalization to a whole new level with their Personal Sound Profile feature, where the equalizer adjusts in real-time to optimize audio content to how you want to hear it. 

But first, you need to get the right fit, otherwise, the #SAWANMODETEST earlier would totally fail. And don’t worry, it’s not as weird as it sounds, it means making sure the ear canal is sealed for the best audio quality and comfort, as you don’t want any unwanted sounds slipping in there.

Once you have the perfect fit, it is time for the hearing test powered by Mimi, and in case you did not know who or what Mimi is – it’s a hearing test app that is certified for medical devices, where it is the highest level currently available for the non-hospital hearing test function.

There is also the hearing estimation based on your age, and then you’ll listen to a range of sounds at different frequencies and you can choose whether or not you hear a beep or not, where you’ll need to press and hold it within the app.

So it’s like playing a game but playing it with your ears, and I find it pretty cool, and this will create your very own Hearing ID, which is like a fingerprint for your hearing.

After analyzing your Hearing ID, the Ear (2) earbuds will adjust the equalizer settings in real time to compensate for any hearing sensitivities. That means every song, video, or even game is completely personalized to your ears. It’s like having your own personal sound engineer 24/7 whenever you put the earbuds on.

And I have to say that I was really mind-blown by the sound difference when I toggled the Sound Personalization on and off, and I wished that every other earbuds implements this feature.

Then if you want, you can add the other EQ on top of your personalized sound to give you that better tweak of sound, where for me, I have added the More Bass feature for me to get the perfect overall sound.

Then the Nothing Ear (2) is also Hi-Res Audio Certified, with frequencies up to 24 bit/192 kHz

You can hear every single detail in your music, from the twang of the guitar strings to the subtle hum of the bass. And it is also LHDC 5.0 codec compatible; hence it takes the overall audio transmission to a whole new level with up to 1Mbps!

So do all of these super cool-sounding technologies equate to having a really better-sounding earbuds than the Nothing Ear (1)? And the answer is a HUGE Yes

Because it was exceptionally clear not only when it comes to music but also listening to Audiobooks or even Podcasts as well, which made using the earbuds such an enjoyable experience.

Just to single out some of the songs that you can listen to you to get an idea of how it sounds:

Firstly, Kat Edmonson’s vocals on “What A Wonderful World” was so perfect and clear, swimming across all the instruments coming from every corner of the song.

Then to test out some hard-hitting drum and bass, I tried Block & Crown’s “Hit The Drum” and it was amazing with everything balancing perfectly, with no distortion at its highest volume!

Next, I switched to Polyphia’s “Playing God” and every single guitar harmonics and the nylon strings were cutting through like butter, with the drums and bass guitar complimenting them very well.

However, if you love a more rock or metal kind of genre, you might need to tweak the sound a little as it may not sound good for the first time, depending on the tracks that you like to listen to.

 

Microphones

Following along with sound quality, let’s talk about the microphones on the Nothing Ear (2), because if you are tired of sounding like you’re talking through a potato on the phone, then the similar Clear Voice Technology will give you the clearest connections yet, as there are three mics and better AI noise-reduction algorithm.

And the best part is that the microphones have been repositioned to give the Ear (2) even better wind noise resistance. So, whether or not you’re out for a jog or standing in the middle of a hurricane (just kidding!), your voice will still come through crystal clear. 

 

Connection

Now, another significant update on the Nothing Ear (2) is the Dual Connection, where you can finally connect up to two devices at the same time and switch seamlessly between calls and music playback. 

So picture this – if you’re grooving to your favorite tunes on your laptop and then suddenly your phone rings. What do you do? Well, now you don’t have to choose which one you want to get your earbuds connected with because you can immediately pick up the call. And once you are done, you can continue to jam on your laptop without missing a beat.

And since it has a Bluetooth Version 5.3  connection, it is improved significantly with a new antenna structure, and based on my test, I did not have any issues with stability with total seamless listening, especially on phone calls too. So there are no more awkward pauses or “Can you hear me now?” during important calls.

Then just so you know, it also has Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair as well.

 

Personalized Active Noise Cancellation

Speaking of personalized listening, the Active Noise Cancellation or ANC also has a personalized feature, which is tailored to the exact shape of your ear canal. So it’s like having your own private concert without the overpriced tickets or crazy crowds. 

Then the ANC reaches up to 40 dB, similar to the previous generation, which I did not have any complaints on the Ear (1), so it was good but probably not the best I have heard compared to the expensive flagships like Sony’s WF series or Apple’s latest AirPods Pro, but it was overall very decent.

And with the Adaptive Mode, the Ear (2) adjusts the noise cancellation levels based on the environment. So you don’t have to fiddle with the volume when you have that on. So it’s like magic but with science!

 

Battery Life

Now, when it comes to battery life, the Ear (2) has a new flagship chipset, where it can enjoy up to 36 hours of music playback with the case, but with ANC turned off, so that’s two hours more than the previous Ear (1).

And based on my test, I got close to 22 hours with the case, with ANC turned on and volume at maximum (since I am pretty deaf…) and about 4 hours just with the earbuds alone.

 

Charging

Next, let’s talk about charging; it has fast wired charging, where with just 10 minutes of charging can give you up to 8 hours of use, which was very sweet indeed. Then there’s also wireless charging, similar to the Ear (1) as well.

 

App

Then finally, let’s talk about the Nothing X app; after many updates on the app previously, it has been very stable compared to when it was first launched. And in there, you can switch between the noise cancellation modes, turn on the Personalised ANC, and Adaptive Mode, and customize the controls and equalizer settings and more.

And all the features mentioned earlier, like the Personal Sound Profile and the Ear Tip Fit Test, are all configured through the app, which is available on Android and iOS devices as well. 

 

Conclusion

So what is my verdict on the Nothing Ear (2)? Well, my friends, sometimes a sequel can be better than the original, like “The Empire Strikes Back”, “The Dark Knight”, or even “Shrek 2”.

And while the price is not being announced as of the making of this review, I am confident that Nothing will NOT make you pay a ridiculous price for this as how it was on the Nothing Ear (1)!

 

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and as mentioned in my YouTube video…

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