By Nothing, the London-based tech company, had a daunting task ahead of them: to release the successor to their widely popular wireless earbuds called the Nothing Ear 1, while retaining the design philosophy of the original product. The company’s founder, Carl Pei, aimed to attract new users while ensuring that existing customers did not feel the need to upgrade to the new version. The design of the Nothing Ear 2 has not changed significantly, and all major updates are on the inside of the earbuds. The Nothing X app, which is available for iOS and Android, offers a range of customization features, including a listening test, an eartip test, and customizable EQ. The sound profile of the Nothing Ear 2 is slightly different from its predecessor, with the addition of LHDC 5.0 support, which streams high-resolution music up to 24-bit/192kHz. The new earbuds offer up to 40dB active noise cancellation (ANC), and call quality has improved due to Clear Voice Technology.
The Nothing Ear 2’s earbuds use a combination of polyurethane and graphene for their new diaphragm. Polyurethane is soft, while graphene is more rigid, together creating a sound profile that is more responsive. The noise cancellation on the Nothing Ear 2 is better than the Nothing Ear 1, and it can cut out background noise and fans easily. However, compared to the AirPods Pro (second generation), the Nothing Ear 2 is still slightly inferior when it comes to tackling the rumbling of airplane engines. The Nothing Ear 2 offers three levels of ANC, which provide a more consistent level of attenuation.
The transparency mode works well, and the microphones pick up sounds around you and play them back into your ears, ensuring that you don’t have to switch the earbuds off for a quick chat. The sound quality is impressive, with the earbuds delivering crisp sound that captures the nuances of different genres of music. The earbuds sit comfortably in the ear canal and have customizable controls through the Nothing X app. The app is integral to the earbuds, and it offers a range of customization features, including a listening test, an eartip test, and customizable EQ.
Overall, the Nothing Ear 2 is a worthy successor to the highly successful Nothing Ear 1. The earbuds’ design philosophy has remained consistent, and all major updates are on the inside of the earbuds. The earbuds offer impressive sound quality, and the customization features through the Nothing X app are a bonus. However, one of the things missing is spatial audio or immersive 360-degree listening experience with compatible audio. The Nothing Ear 2 is an excellent choice for those looking for earbuds that offer customizable controls, crisp sound, and active noise cancellation.