Whereas its identify would possibly make it the topic of many jokes and puns, nothing has performed fairly effectively as a know-how firm in its comparatively quick existence so far. What’s additionally commendable is its regular strategy to its product lineup, which began out with the first rate 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 The second-generation product, the Nothing Ear 2, gives some notable enhancements over its predecessor.
Priced at Rs. 9,999 in India, the Nothing Ear 2 guarantees some vital 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 similar to OnePlus and Jabra, the Nothing Ear 2 is the perfect true wi-fi headset beneath Rs. 10,000 that you would be able to purchase proper now? Discover out on this overview.
Nothing Ear 2 design and options
The unconventional and distinctive design of the Nothing Ear 1 was fairly spectacular again in 2021, and nonetheless seems good on the Nothing Ear 2 even though it is not novel anymore. This new headset seems fairly just like the previous one at first look, with the one notable distinction that units them aside being the ‘NOTHING ear (2)’ identify printed on every earpiece stem. It is a good choice 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 simply out there in a single colour choice – clear and white. Not like the Nothing Ear Stick, the Ear 2 has a correct in-canal match, which ensures a correct seal with passive noise isolation, which is important to make sure efficient energetic noise cancellation.
One other large change is within the controls; the sooner faucet gestures make approach for a force-touch system, much like what’s on the AirPods Professional (2nd Gen) and OnePlus Buds Professional 2. I’ve stated it earlier than and I am going to say it once more – that is significantly higher and extra correct than easy contact controls.
Usefully, these controls are additionally customizable by the companion app, and you may 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 mechanically play and pause music when placed on or taken off, however this did not work very reliably throughout my overview, 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.
Aside 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 ok to deal with splashes of water and a little bit of publicity to filth. Every earpiece has three microphones, which work collectively for ANC and voice performance. Included within the gross sales package deal of the Nothing Ear 2 is a USB Sort-C to Sort-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. Nonetheless, Nothing states that optimizations and improved battery life on the earpieces cowl for this, providing comparable total battery life. I am going to get into the specifics of battery life later on this overview, however this case is much more handy and pocketable. Qi wi-fi charging (as much as 2.5W) is current as effectively, and you may all the time select to cost with a typical USB Sort-C cable.
Nothing Ear 2 app and specs
The Nothing Ear 2 has 11.6mm dynamic drivers similar to its predecessor, however there are large 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 Quick Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and multipoint connectivity for as much as two audio sources concurrently.
LHDC is a 24-bit superior codec that allows the headset to obtain extra audio information from a appropriate supply system, thus enhancing 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 Telephone 1 (Evaluate).
Makes an attempt to make use of the LHDC codec with a OnePlus 9 Professional (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 telephone’s developer settings. In the event you’re 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 am going to discuss intimately a bit later on this overview.
The Nothing X app permits you to customise the Ear 2’s gesture controls, choose equalizer presets, and extra
From customization and settings to varied tweaks, the Nothing X app (out there for iOS and Android) is the important thing to getting the perfect out of the Nothing Ear 2 headset. In the event you’re utilizing this headset with the Nothing Telephone 1, a lot of the core capabilities of the app, together with having the ability to verify battery ranges, toggle ANC mode, alter equalizer settings, and alter the gesture controls, could be performed throughout the telephone’s UI. Unusually although, sure capabilities similar to activating multipoint connectivity can solely be used by the Nothing X app.
The app is effectively designed and gives loads of helpful options, together with setting equalizer presets, setting the ANC depth stage, and creating customized profiles for the sound and ANC individually. Certainly, there’s so much to undergo, but it surely’s well worth the effort because it helps you arrange the headset to your liking.
Nothing Ear 2 efficiency and battery life
Ecosystem advantages are an enormous deal now, and lots of manufacturers are following Apple and Samsung’s lead in designing their merchandise to work effectively collectively. Nothing tends to have comparable concepts as OnePlus for apparent causes (Nothing founder Carl Pei beforehand co-founded OnePlus), and you may see a few of these philosophies in how the Nothing Ear 2 works with the Nothing Telephone 1. Certainly, you may get One of the best expertise and the complete function set for those who’re utilizing the 2 gadgets collectively.
That stated, with only some exceptions, you may get a reasonably healthful expertise even for those who pair the Nothing Ear 2 with different smartphones. A kind of is the superior LHDC codec, which I used to be solely in a position to make use of with the Nothing Telephone 1. Sound high quality is audibly higher with this codec in operation, and whereas LHDC is technically appropriate with varied different gadgets, getting it to work could also be difficult relying on model compatibility on different gadgets.
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 Telephone 1 as my supply system with high-resolution tracks streaming from Apple Music, the expertise was fairly spectacular, notably when you think about that this can be a Rs. 10,000 true wi-fi headset. Though the sound was initially to not my liking, I discovered that the default equalizer 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 enhancing 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 monitor, flowing with its fast adjustments and sudden bass assault quite easily. A few of its high-frequency digital components sounded distinct and sharp, with the complete monitor exuding a robust sense of course that gave the soundstage plenty of attraction.
The low, catchy beat sounded equally clear, enjoying effectively with the busy particulars. The identical monitor sounded virtually pretty much as good on the Nothing Ear 2 paired with a distinct smartphone with the AAC codec in operation, not less than by way of the sonic signature retaining a balanced and all-purpose strategy. Nonetheless, the element stage and the extensions sound a bit extra distinct and placing with the LHDC codec in operation.
I had energetic noise cancellation enabled for a lot of my overview, and there have been moments after I questioned if it was certainly on. The soundstage and imaging on sure tracks similar to E Samba by Junior Jack sounded very open and extensive, virtually fooling me into pondering I might unintentionally turned on the transparency mode on the Nothing Ear 2.
Turning up the quantity made every part sound higher, and I discovered that going to over the 90 % mark made for the perfect sound by way of 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 affordable stage. Fortuitously, however the enjoyable issue within the sound did not go away even on the 50 % mark.
Lively noise cancellation on the Nothing Ear 2, whereas acceptable for a headset priced beneath Rs. 10,000, is not distinctive by any means. Each 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 quite sturdy vacuum impact with the ANC, which many would possibly suppose is an indication of fine noise cancellation although it is truly the other.
The Nothing Ear 2 is significantly higher than its predecessor in the case of sound, however wants a Nothing Telephone 1 for finest outcomes.
After all, the Nothing Ear 2 does provide sufficient noise discount to make it simpler to take heed to something enjoying at even reasonable volumes, and the great soundstage would possibly simply have the ability to distract you from the unnerving feeling of the vacuum impact. Transparency mode did its job fairly effectively, however the additional amplification does get tiring after some time, and you will in all probability simply wish to take the earphones off.
Battery life on the Nothing Ear 2 is much 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 bit over 4 further expenses, for a complete runtime of round 22 hours per cost cycle. Given the smaller charging case, this can be a first rate total determine, and you may lengthen this by fairly a bit by maintaining ANC off.
Verdict
The Nothing Ear 1 was notably spectacular due to what it provided at its launch worth of Rs. 5,999, even when the corporate finally adjusts it to a bit over Rs. 7,000. As compared, the Nothing Ear 2 would not come at a surprisingly low value, and certainly would 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 dearer competitors such because the Oppo Enco X2 and OnePlus Buds Professional 2, and manages to carry its personal by way of sound high quality and total efficiency. Maybe the one disadvantage is that it wants a Nothing Telephone for optimum efficiency, notably the power to make use of the LHDC Bluetooth codec. That stated, it is a good trying pair of headphones and performs fairly effectively even with different supply gadgets, making it price contemplating you probably have a funds of Rs. 10,000.