Nothing is a consumer electronics manufacturer based in London, England. Founded by Carl Pei, who is also the co-founder of OnePlus, the manufacturer is currently on a roll with new products like the Nothing Ear 2 earbuds.
The Ear 1 was the stick model that did have some flaws but was quite well-received in the market by users of all ages. The Ear 1 model originally debuted for under $100 in the market and paved the way for the Ear 2.
Later, the manufacturer released a lighter pair of earbuds, priced under $100. For now, the Ear 2 earbuds are similarly priced to the Ear 1 (Stick) under $150. However, this is higher priced than the Ear (Stick).
Users feel that the Ear 2 and the Ear 1 look almost the same, we certainly disagree on that. Because if you look at both of them, they do have some salient differences that are quite evident to the eyes.
However, even if you do not feel so, the maker has done some massive changes to the inside of the model, which is the most important thing to know. This must entail refined audio and enhanced noise cancellation.
The Ear 1 is an extremely lightweight pair of earbuds. They have produced it with comfort in mind. However, it does not come with ear tips that can sit inside the ear canal. It means that the sound isolation is affected, and the external sounds can get inside when you are wearing them.
The Nothing Ear 2 earbuds come with an ergonomic, and comfortable design, and are a powerful pair of true wireless buds. They have a similar design to the original Ear 1 wireless earbuds, designed with higher quality materials, with improved connectivity, and cleaner sound.
They look amazing, but they offer overly quiet sound, several connectivity issues, and bad noise cancellation. Both the models, the Ear 2 earbuds and the Ear 1 earbuds have seen several updates in them.
The earbud’s active noise cancellation can be better, but the transparency mode needs a lot to be desired. In this post, we will read about how they stack up both inside and out. The pricing of the models is high, and we can learn more to get a better picture.
Without further ado, let us get started.
 |  |
|---|---|
| Nothing Ear 2 | Nothing Ear 1 |
| PROS | PROS |
| Lightweight & comfortable fit. Works with any operating system. LHDC, AAC, and SBC Bluetooth codecs. IP54 (buds) and IP55 (case). Robust wireless charging. | Elegant design. Very comfortable. Decent sound. Responsive touch controls. Amazing app. |
| CONS | CONS |
| ANC causes pressure. | Limited EQ options. |
| CHECK ON AMAZON | CHECK ON AMAZON |
Nothing Ear 2 vs Nothing Ear 1 – Price & Availability
The Nothing Ear 2 earbuds are priced under $150. The model comes infused with some exceptional features & specifications. The Nothing Ear earbuds are priced under $150, which means they are cheap for noise-canceling wireless earbuds.
You can find that they come in black and white colors to choose from. However, when you want to get them from a third-party buyer, then you can choose the black version, for you to guarantee that they are the latest model.
Nothing Ear 2 vs Nothing Ear 1 – Comfort & Design
It is quite obvious that the Nothing Ear 2 earbuds is quite similar in design to the Nothing Ear 1 earbuds. The idea here is not to do anything new to the model, but to refine it. You can get three sets of round-shaped silicone ear tips.
In this new model, the Ear 2 earbuds, you can find large ears, and the largest size can be too small. You may want to try out the different ear tips that are provided to you on the package to try out different sizes.
The smallest is about 12mm in diameter, 13mm for the medium, and the largest measures roughly 14mm in diameter. It weighs around at less than 5 grams and feels quite light for you. When you are accustomed to loose-fitting earbuds, then you may like this fit.
You can find that it also comes with an ear tip fit test in the app. Please note that the earbuds may not sit properly inside the ears. Sometimes when there is a massive blow of air or the wind, then the earbuds remain firm.
It is a good thing. However, users have claimed that you may feel some fatigue in the ears, otherwise, you can wear them comfortably for a few hours. The case is translucent and comes with a similar aesthetic treatment.
The model is designed through a musical instrument company Teenage Engineering. You will be delighted to find out that the case can be placed inside your trousers without much of a hassle. It has been thoughtfully designed.
Appearing rather a lot like the rest of the Nothing True wireless collection, the Nothing Ear 2 clearly builds upon the original Nothing Ear 1. The Nothing Ear earbuds come with an opulent design and comfort factor in them.
You can wear them for a few hours without having any issues or pressure felt on your ears. When you want to use earbuds that look different from the rest, then this unit might be the one to go with.
The earbuds charging case are entirely see-through. This does not have to be considered as a good or bad thing. You can, however, see some of the inner workings including the circuit boards and the magnets that are involved.
Besides, we feel that it appears nice. This is for those of you who want to know more about the working of earbuds. There is a choice of three silicone tips for placing on your ears. Each of the earbud’s stems comes with a touch-sensitive button that also has the proper controls that you can adjust there.
Moreover, there are also the standard options, to adjust settings via the Nothing Ear app. You can also set the voice assistant support. You will want to know that the charging case is not the way that you want it to be.
It comes with a flip-flop design that is quite satisfying, however, you will want to know that the case is quite large than its competitors and may not fit your pockets properly.
| Comparison | Ear 2 | Ear 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ear 2 | Ear 1 |
| NOISE CANCELLATION | YES, UP TO 40 DB | YES, UP TO 40 DB |
| FIT | IN EAR | IN EAR |
| BATTERY | BUDS: UP TO 6 HRS OF LISTENING TIME TOTAL WITH CASE: UP TO 36 HRS FAST CHARGE: 1.25 HRS (ANC ON), 1.8 HRS OF LISTENING TIME (ANC OFF) IN 10 MINS OF CHARGE | BUDS: UP TO 5 HRS OF LISTENING TIME TOTAL WITH CASE: UP TO 34 HRS FAST CHARGE: 50 MINS (ANC ON), 1.2 HRS OF LISTENING TIME (ANC OFF) IN 10 MINS OF CHARGE |
| DRIVER | 11.6 MM DRIVER | 11.6 MM DRIVER |
| MICROPHONES | 3 IN EACH BUD | 3 IN EACH BUD |
| CONTROL | PRESS CONTROL | TOUCH CONTROL |
| AUDIO FEATURES | IMPROVED CLEAR VOICE TECHNOLOGY WITH 3 DECIBEL HIGHER NOISE ELIMINATION DUAL CONNECTION 24BIT HI-RES AUDIO WITH LHDC 5.0 PERSONAL SOUND PROFILE | CLEAR VOICE TECHNOLOGY |
| NOTHING X APP | FULLY CUSTOMISED EQUALISER SETTING CUSTOMISED GESTURE CONTROLS FIND MY EARBUDS EAR TIPS FIT TEST LOW LAG MODE WITH PHONE (1) IN-EAR DETECTION | PICK PRESET EQUALISER SETTINGS CUSTOMISE GESTURE CONTROLS FIND MY EARBUDS IN-EAR DETECTION |
| WATER AND SWEAT RESISTANCE | IP54 BUDS / IP55 CASE | IPX4 |
| WIRELESS CHARGING | YES, QI CERTIFIED UP TO 2.5W | YES |
| PRICE | CHECK ON AMAZON | CHECK ON AMAZON |
Nothing Ear 2 vs Nothing Ear 1 – Audio Performance & Connectivity
The Nothing Ear 2 earbuds provide you with a stupendous audio performance & connectivity. The model does a splendid job of enhancing the low-pitched noises with its ANC. At times, the loose-fitting, can’t isolate the noise as you want it to.
But it is fine. The weak spot is where you may hear the frequency traffic (around 400Hz to 1000Hz). It is apparent when you are moving around in a lane or street. Besides, when there is a lot of wind, then the ANC might cause some problems, and you can hear the amplification of the wind until the ANC system adjusts.
Users were amazed to know that the unit does not reach the 40dB noise canceling feature. The most it can get to is 40dB of noise canceling, but you probably can’t hear a lot of noise there. Sometimes, the ear pressure gets in the way.
It may be caused by ANC, which can cause some unpleasant ear sensations. The treble and the bass of the earbuds were fantastic. Most of the users were quite satisfied listening to it. Most of the other cymbals play loudly and compete with lower-frequency parts.
You may be able to hear everything that you want, but some of the textural pads and mid-range keys play lowly. The low-end parts like bass lines come at a good volume. Some users felt that the songs that came with a lot of fast transients and high-pitched areas, may sound petty.
This can be a nuisance for sensitive people. If you suffer from hearing issues or vertigo, then please do not use these earbuds for a longer period of time. There is nothing to be worried about or concerned about, just that you do not want to listen to songs in high volume on this unit.
We liked the Nothing X app as it is laid out well. The updates get done quite fast, in around five minutes. The control customization can be found, and the fixed control is a single pinch that can do several tasks like answer/end call and pause/play.
Nothing X also has a personalized sound profile feature to use your DOB with your ability to hear beeps are different volumes. This way, you can choose modified versions that are softer, recommended, and richer.
The connectivity is fantastic, and you can make use of the Bluetooth codec on your Android 10 smartphones. It uses SBC and AAC codecs for iPhones, with a low lag mode. You can make use of the voice assistant support with the help of the firmware update.
The Nothing Ear 1 earbud has a good audio performance & connectivity. This model does lack some features, but this time around, they are pretty good. The bass could have come better, richer and stronger.
You can listen to a wide range of songs and tunes to decide the right sound setting for yourself. Some of the songs that have too much bass in them, might sound weird. That is a complaint that several users have pointed out.
You can increase the volume if you want but do not expect any change in the music performance. The noise cancellation works well, having the volume low or high. You would be delighted to know that noise cancellation can be switched to the maximum through the app.
The battery life of the Ear 1 earbuds comes at 4 hours. This is in comparison to the 6 hours of battery life on the Ear 2 earbuds. The connectivity of the earbuds is fantastic with the usage of Bluetooth 5.2.
Overall, the Ear 2 and the Ear 1 come with their own audio performance capability and decent connectivity. However, in this segment, we felt that the Ear 2 has a clear advantage over the Ear 1 earbuds.
Probably, the fact that it was released recently plays to its advantage as the earbuds come infused with tremendous technology in there.
Nothing Ear 2 vs Nothing Ear 1 – Microphone
Now, we will learn more about the microphone capabilities of the Nothing Ear 2 & 1 earbuds. The Nothing Ear 2 earbuds sound pretty good. The person at the other end can listen to everything that you have to say.
However, when there is some noise, then the sound is also heard by the person at the other end. Users have claimed that even the keystrokes can be heard loud & clear on the microphone, which is quite weird.
When it is kind of windy, then the earbuds can struggle with filtering noise and not the voice. The battery life is good at 6 hours, which is more than the average of 5 hours. Of course, you may want to consider using the ANC sparingly, otherwise, it can cause the battery to drain out.
The battery power level can be found by seeing the indicator light that is found on the case. If you notice a white light, then it means that the battery is above 30% and it is getting charged. Likewise, when you can see a red light, then it means it has less than 30% charge.
The microphone capabilities of the Nothing Ear 1 earbud are stupendous, to say the least. We were amazed at the power of the sound quality from it for the price range. This is something that was notable in the unit.
However, like any earbuds, when there is some noise & wind, then the model can cause extreme variations in the sound. The person at the other end may not be able to hear anything properly and it may cause some issues with your communication as well.
Nothing Ear 2 vs Nothing Ear 1 – Verdict
Our winner in this write-up between the Nothing Ear 2 earbuds vs the Nothing Ear 1 earbud is the Nothing Ear 2 model. The Nothing Ear 2 has an unconventional approach to true wireless earbuds, offering you an iOS and Android-friendly design.
It comes with LHDC and AAC codecs, ANC, and a good app. However, features like IP54 and IP55 ratings, personalized sound, and ANC did not feel eloquent enough.
Though the earbuds are lightweight and comfortable to fit on your ears, some users felt that the pressure-sensitive pads were not able to get the intended command. The controls may also have noticeable delays before execution. The pressure of the ANC mode is the weakest point of the earbuds.
The LHDC Bluetooth codec is beneficial for Android users, while iPhones can make use of the AAC codec. When the ANC setting doesn’t cause discomfort, the earbuds are properly fitted inside your ears.
The Nothing Ear 1 earbuds are true wireless earbuds that come with everything users require in an affordable package. They are comfortable to wear, have stunning sound quality, and good noise-canceling abilities.
The signature transparent design gives an exquisite feel to the form factor of the earbuds. This model provides better performance than others in the same price range.
The touch controls are nicely designed and quite responsive, but they may not be suitable for those who prefer strong bass. The Nothing Ear 1 earbuds have a good price but lack bass quality.
At the end of the day, the Nothing Ear 2 earbuds offer more value than the Nothing Ear 1 earbuds. The Ear 2 model is lightweight, portable, and comes with wireless charging compatibility, in-ear detection, and dual device connectivity.
The price of the Ear 2 model undercuts some tough competitors, and it offers features like a robust app, pinch commands, and design ability, which are sufficient to keep you happy.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.