Whereas its identify would possibly make it the topic of many jokes and puns, Nothing has executed fairly properly as a expertise firm in its comparatively quick existence up to now. 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 presents 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 assist for the LHDC Bluetooth codec and an improved app expertise. Going up towards robust competitors from manufacturers corresponding to OnePlus and Jabra, is the Nothing Ear 2 the very best true wi-fi headset beneath Rs. 10,000 which you could purchase proper now? Discover out on this evaluation.
Table of Contents
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 to be good on the Nothing Ear 2 although it is not novel anymore. This new headset seems to be fairly just like the outdated one at first look, with the one notable distinction that units them aside being the ‘NOTHING ear (2)’ identify printed on every earpiece stem.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 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 just out there in a single color 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 critical to make sure efficient lively noise cancellation.
One other huge change is within the controls; the sooner faucet gestures make means for a force-touch system, much like what’s on the AirPods Professional (2nd Gen) and OnePlus Buds Professional 2. I’ve mentioned it earlier than and I will 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 may select to manage playback and quantity, invoke the voice assistant, and change 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 evaluation, 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 impression 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 ranking – each are ok to deal with splashes of water and a little bit of publicity to dust. Every 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 Kind-C to Kind-C charging cable, and a complete of three pairs of silicone ear suggestions 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 optimisations and improved battery life on the earpieces cowl for this, providing comparable total battery life. I will get into the specifics of battery life later on this evaluation, however the this case is much more handy and pocketable. Qi wi-fi charging (as much as 2.5W) is current as properly, and you may all the time select to cost with a regular USB Kind-C cable.
Nothing Ear 2 app and specs
The Nothing Ear 2 has 11.6mm dynamic drivers similar to its predecessor, however there are huge enhancements within the Bluetooth connectivity on the newer headset. The Ear 2 makes use of Bluetooth 5.3, with assist for the SBC, AAC, and LHDC Bluetooth codecs. Usefully, there may be additionally assist 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 suitable supply system, thus bettering sound high quality. This codec is presently solely supported on choose Android units, and in my case, I used to be solely capable of get it engaged on the Nothing Cellphone 1 (Assessment).
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 will speak about intimately a bit later on this evaluation.
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 (out there for iOS and Android) is the important thing to getting the very best out of the Nothing Ear 2 headset. In the event you’re utilizing this headset with the Nothing Cellphone 1, many of the core capabilities of the app, together with with the ability to test battery ranges, toggle ANC mode, regulate equaliser settings, and alter the gesture controls, might be executed throughout the telephone’s UI. Surprisingly although, sure capabilities corresponding to activating multipoint connectivity can solely be used via the Nothing X app.
The app is properly designed and presents loads of helpful options, together with setting equaliser presets, setting the ANC depth degree, and creating personalised profiles for the sound and ANC individually. Certainly, there’s loads to undergo, nevertheless it’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 a giant deal now, and lots of manufacturers are following Apple and Samsung’s lead in designing their merchandise to work properly collectively. Nothing tends to have related 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 Cellphone 1. Certainly, you may get the very best expertise and the complete function set for those who’re utilizing the 2 units collectively.
That mentioned, with just a few exceptions, you may get a reasonably healthful expertise even for those who pair the Nothing Ear 2 with different smartphones. A type of is the superior LHDC codec, which I used to be solely in a position to make use of with the Nothing Cellphone 1. Sound high quality is audibly higher with this codec in operation, and whereas LHDC is technically suitable with numerous different units, getting it to work could also be difficult relying on model compatibility on different units.
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 Cellphone 1 as my supply system with high-resolution tracks streaming from Apple Music, the expertise was fairly spectacular, notably when you think about that it is a Rs. 10,000 true wi-fi headset. Though 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 monitor, flowing with its fast adjustments and sudden bass assault fairly easily. A few of its high-frequency digital components sounded distinct and sharp, with the entire monitor exuding a robust sense of route that gave the soundstage a whole lot of enchantment.
The low, catchy beat sounded equally clear, enjoying properly with the busy particulars. The identical monitor sounded virtually nearly as good on the Nothing Ear 2 paired with a unique smartphone with the AAC codec in operation, not less than when it comes to the sonic signature retaining a balanced and all-purpose method. Nonetheless, the element degree and the extensions sounded a bit extra distinct and putting with the LHDC codec in operation.
I had lively noise cancellation enabled for a lot of my evaluation, and there have been moments after I puzzled if it was certainly on. The soundstage and imaging on sure tracks corresponding to E Samba by Junior Jack sounded very open and broad, virtually fooling me into pondering I might unintentionally 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 % mark made for the very best sound when it comes to element and assault. That mentioned, the extent of element and the deep punch within the lows at such excessive quantity did get tiring shortly and I needed to drop it to an inexpensive degree. Happily, however the enjoyable issue within the sound did not go away even on the 50 % mark.
Energetic 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 open air, 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 fairly robust vacuum impact with the ANC, which many would possibly suppose is an indication of excellent noise cancellation although it is truly the alternative.
The Nothing Ear 2 is significantly higher than its predecessor in relation to sound, however wants a Nothing Cellphone 1 for finest outcomes
After all, the Nothing Ear 2 does supply sufficient noise discount to make it simpler to take heed to something enjoying at even average 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 properly, 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 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 slightly over 4 further 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 may prolong this by fairly a bit by maintaining ANC off.
Verdict
The Nothing Ear 1 was notably spectacular due to what it supplied at its launch worth of Rs. 5,999, even when the corporate finally adjusted it to slightly over Rs. 7,000. Compared, the Nothing Ear 2 would not come at a surprisingly low value, and certainly would not even must; 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 when it comes to sound high quality and total efficiency. Maybe the one disadvantage is that it wants a Nothing Cellphone for optimum efficiency, notably the flexibility to make use of the LHDC Bluetooth codec. That mentioned, it is a good wanting pair of headphones and performs fairly properly even with different supply units, making it value contemplating in case you have a price range of Rs. 10,000.
