Nothing Ear 2 Review

While its title may make it the topic of many jokes and puns, Nothing has performed moderately effectively as a know-how firm in its comparatively quick existence to date. What’s additionally commendable is its regular method to its product lineup, which began out with the respectable Nothing Ear 1 true wi-fi earphones in 2021. Now, with a few different merchandise launched alongside the best way – together with its first smartphone – comes the corporate’s first ever second-generation product, the Nothing Ear 2, which gives some noteworthy enhancements over its predecessor.

Priced at Rs. 9,999 in India, the Nothing Ear 2 guarantees some important enhancements over the Ear 1, together with help for the LHDC Bluetooth codec and an improved app expertise. Going up towards sturdy competitors from manufacturers reminiscent of OnePlus and Jabra, is the Nothing Ear 2 one of the best true wi-fi headset underneath Rs. 10,000 which you can purchase proper now? Find out on this assessment.

Nothing Ear 2 design and options

The radical and distinctive design of the Nothing Ear 1 was fairly spectacular again in 2021, and nonetheless seems good on the Nothing Ear 2 although it is not novel anymore. This new headset seems fairly just like the outdated one at first look, with the one notable distinction that units them aside being the ‘NOTHING ear (2)’ title printed on every earpiece stem. It’s a good selection to stay to this design, in my view, and it is nonetheless simply as eye-catching as earlier than.

For now, the Nothing Ear 2 is barely obtainable in a single color possibility – clear and white. Unlike the Nothing Ear Stick, the Ear 2 has a correct in-canal match, which ensures a correct seal with passive noise isolation, which is critical to make sure efficient lively noise cancellation.

Another massive change is within the controls; the sooner faucet gestures make method for a force-touch system, just like what’s on the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) and OnePlus Buds Pro 2. I’ve stated it earlier than and I’ll say it once more – that is significantly higher and extra correct than easy contact controls.

Usefully, these controls are additionally customisable via the companion app, and you’ll select to regulate playback and quantity, invoke the voice assistant, and swap between ANC and transparency modes. The earpieces even have in-ear detection to routinely play and pause music when placed on or taken off, however this did not work very reliably throughout my assessment, and I discovered it simpler to manually pause and play as wanted.

The Nothing Ear 2 has a smaller and extra handy charging case, however this does not affect battery life an excessive amount of

Apart from this, the Nothing Ear 2 earpieces are IP54 rated for mud and water resistance, whereas the charging case has a barely higher IP55 score – each are adequate to deal with splashes of water and a little bit of publicity to grime. Each earpiece has three microphones, which work collectively for ANC and voice performance. Included within the gross sales bundle of the Nothing Ear 2 is a USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable, and a complete of three pairs of silicone ear ideas of various sizes.

The charging case of the Nothing Ear 2 is visibly smaller than that of the Ear 1 and has a decrease battery capability, at 485mAh. However, Nothing states that optimisations and improved battery life on the earpieces cowl for this, providing comparable total battery life. I’ll get into the specifics of battery life later on this assessment, however the this case is much more handy and pocketable. Qi wi-fi charging (as much as 2.5W) is current as effectively, and you’ll all the time select to cost with an ordinary USB Type-C cable.

Nothing Ear 2 app and specs

The Nothing Ear 2 has 11.6mm dynamic drivers identical to its predecessor, however there are massive enhancements within the Bluetooth connectivity on the newer headset. The Ear 2 makes use of Bluetooth 5.3, with help for the SBC, AAC, and LHDC Bluetooth codecs. Usefully, there may be additionally help for Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and multipoint connectivity for as much as two audio sources concurrently.

LHDC is a 24-bit superior codec that permits the headset to obtain extra audio knowledge from a suitable supply system, thus bettering sound high quality. This codec is presently solely supported on choose Android gadgets, and in my case, I used to be solely capable of get it engaged on the Nothing Phone 1 (Review).

Attempts to make use of the LHDC codec with a OnePlus 9 Pro (which helps it) did not work, and I used to be restricted to the AAC codec, regardless of enabling the choice within the app and thru the cellphone’s developer settings. If you are utilizing the Nothing Ear 2 with an iPhone, you may be restricted to the AAC codec anyway. This did have an effect on sound high quality, which I’ll speak about intimately a bit later on this assessment.

The Nothing X app permits you to customise the Ear 2’s gesture controls, choose equaliser presets, and extra

From customisation and settings to varied tweaks, the Nothing X app (obtainable for iOS and Android) is the important thing to getting one of the best out of the Nothing Ear 2 headset. If you are utilizing this headset with the Nothing Phone 1, many of the core features of the app, together with having the ability to test battery ranges, toggle ANC mode, modify equaliser settings, and alter the gesture controls, may be performed throughout the cellphone’s UI. Strangely although, sure features reminiscent of activating multipoint connectivity can solely be used via the Nothing X app.

The app is effectively designed and gives loads of helpful options, together with setting equaliser presets, setting the ANC depth degree, and creating personalised profiles for the sound and ANC individually. Indeed, there’s so much to undergo, but it surely’s definitely worth the effort because it helps you arrange the headset to your liking.

Nothing Ear 2 efficiency and battery life

Ecosystem advantages are a giant deal now, and plenty of manufacturers are following Apple and Samsung’s lead in designing their merchandise to work effectively collectively. Nothing tends to have related concepts as OnePlus for apparent causes (Nothing founder Carl Pei beforehand co-founded OnePlus), and you’ll see a few of these philosophies in how the Nothing Ear 2 works with the Nothing Phone 1. Indeed, you may get one of the best expertise and the complete characteristic set should you’re utilizing the 2 gadgets collectively.

That stated, with just a few exceptions, you may get a reasonably healthful expertise even should you pair the Nothing Ear 2 with different smartphones. One of these is the superior LHDC codec, which I used to be solely ready to make use of with the Nothing Phone 1. Sound high quality is audibly higher with this codec in operation, and whereas LHDC is technically suitable with varied different gadgets, getting it to work could also be difficult relying on model compatibility on different gadgets.

(*2*)

You get an in-canal match with the Nothing Ear 2, which ensures noise isolation for the ANC to work correctly

When utilizing the Nothing Phone 1 as my supply system with high-resolution tracks streaming from Apple Music, the expertise was fairly spectacular, significantly when you think about that it is a Rs. 10,000 true wi-fi headset. Although the sound was initially to not my liking, I discovered that the default equaliser preset boosted the bass, and switching to the Balanced preset (the pure sonic signature of the Nothing Ear 2) made all of the distinction in bettering the sonic signature and constancy.

Listening to Lavender (Star One Remix) by Frenchfire, the Nothing Ear 2 was capable of sustain with the quick, progressive begin to this dance observe, flowing with its fast modifications and sudden bass assault somewhat easily. Some of its high-frequency digital parts sounded distinct and sharp, with the entire observe exuding a powerful sense of course that gave the soundstage a number of enchantment.

The low, catchy beat sounded equally clear, enjoying effectively with the busy particulars. The similar observe sounded nearly pretty much as good on the Nothing Ear 2 paired with a unique smartphone with the AAC codec in operation, at the least when it comes to the sonic signature retaining a balanced and all-purpose method. However, the element degree and the extensions sounded a bit extra distinct and hanging with the LHDC codec in operation.

I had lively noise cancellation enabled for a lot of my assessment, and there have been moments after I puzzled if it was certainly on. The soundstage and imaging on sure tracks reminiscent of E Samba by Junior Jack sounded very open and vast, nearly fooling me into considering I’d by chance turned on the transparency mode on the Nothing Ear 2.

Turning up the amount made every part sound higher, and I discovered that going to over the 90 p.c mark made for one of the best sound when it comes to element and assault. That stated, the extent of element and the deep punch within the lows at such excessive quantity did get tiring rapidly and I needed to drop it to an inexpensive degree. Fortunately, however the enjoyable issue within the sound did not go away even on the 50 p.c mark.

Active noise cancellation on the Nothing Ear 2, whereas acceptable for a headset priced underneath Rs. 10,000, is not distinctive by any means. Both indoors and outside, the sound discount wasn’t a lot, with loads of indoor sounds such because the whirring of a ceiling fan and hum of an air conditioner nonetheless barely audible. This was mixed with a somewhat sturdy vacuum impact with the ANC, which many may assume is an indication of fine noise cancellation despite the fact that it is truly the alternative.

The Nothing Ear 2 is significantly higher than its predecessor with regards to sound, however wants a Nothing Phone 1 for greatest outcomes

Of course, the Nothing Ear 2 does provide sufficient noise discount to make it simpler to hearken to something enjoying at even reasonable volumes, and the great soundstage may simply be capable to distract you from the unnerving feeling of the vacuum impact. Transparency mode did its job moderately effectively, however the additional amplification does get tiring after some time, and you will most likely simply need to take the earphones off.

Battery life on the Nothing Ear 2 is just like that of the Nothing Ear 1. The earpieces ran for round 4 hours on a single cost with ANC on, and the charging case added a little bit over 4 extra fees, for a complete runtime of round 22 hours per cost cycle. Given the smaller charging case, it is a respectable total determine, and you’ll lengthen this by fairly a bit by conserving ANC off.

Verdict

The Nothing Ear 1 was significantly spectacular due to what it provided at its launch worth of Rs. 5,999, even when the corporate ultimately adjusted it to a little bit over Rs. 7,000. In comparability, the Nothing Ear 2 does not come at an incredibly low price, and certainly does not even have to; it is an excellent pair of true wi-fi earphones that feels nearly proper for its worth of Rs. 9,999.

It goes up towards barely costlier competitors such because the Oppo Enco X2 and OnePlus Buds Pro 2, and manages to carry its personal when it comes to sound high quality and total efficiency. Perhaps the one disadvantage is that it wants a Nothing Phone for optimum efficiency, significantly the flexibility to make use of the LHDC Bluetooth codec. That stated, it is a good wanting pair of headphones and performs moderately effectively even with different supply gadgets, making it value contemplating when you’ve got a finances of Rs. 10,000.