Nothing Ear (2) Review

Today we’re looking at the new $149 USD Ear (2) TWS IEMs from Nothing.

Disclaimer: Nothing sent us the Ear (2) for this review, free of charge. All thoughts and experiences with the product reflect my unbiased opinion.

Nothing Company

Nothing is a London-based tech company with a mission to dissolve the barriers between people and technology, fostering a future where digital interaction is effortless and intuitive. The company was founded on the vision of stripping technology down to its essentials and creating devices that are simple, intuitive, and enjoyable to use. 

The company was founded by Carl Pei, who is also known as the co-founder of the popular smartphone maker, OnePlus. In October 2020, Pei announced his resignation from OnePlus to embark on a new venture. He raised $7 million from a variety of investors during the seed round, including iPod inventor Tony Fadell, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and YouTuber Casey Neistat, to start his new venture. The company, named Nothing, was officially announced on January 27, 2021.

Nothing’s first product, the “ear (1)” wireless in-ear, was launched on July 27, 2021. The company has since continued to innovate and expand its product line, with the release of its second-generation IEMs, the Nothing Ear (2), in March 2023.

Nothing’s approach to design and technology is unique. Rather than following the traditional path of tech design, they have a unique design language and style that makes their products instantly recognizable in the mobile market. As a testament to their success, sales of Phone (1) and earphones exceeded 1 million units last December. You can learn more about the company through this page.

Ear (2)

The Ear (2) is Nothing’s latest TWS earphone and currently the most advanced earphone from them. The Ear (2) is an ultra-light device, weighing just 4.5 grams per bud, and is powered by an 11.6mm custom graphene+polyurethane diaphragm full-range dynamic driver. It features LHDC codec and is capable of delivering 24bit Hi-Res Audio with compatible Android devices. For iOS, the buds offer AAC codec. Nothing has been improving their ANC tech and the Ear (2) offers the most advanced ANC from Nothing at the moment. 

I’ve been using the Ear (2) with both LHDC and AAC codecs on Android 13 and iOS 16.5 for about a month now. In this review, we’re going to look at all the nits and bits of the Ear (2), from an audiophile standpoint. We thank Nothing for supplying the unit for us.

Specs & Highlights

• Driver: 11.6 mm dynamic tuned by Nothing
• Diaphragm: Graphene + Polyurethane
• Bluetooth codec: AAC, SBC, LHDC
• Noise Cancellation Up to 40 dB
• Personalizable ANC Profiles
• Environment Adaptive ANC
• Transparency Mode
• IP54 buds / IP55 case water and dust resistance
• In-ear detection sensors
• Clear Voice Technology with 3 mics per bud
• Low Lag / Gaming Mode
• Battery Capacity: 33 mAh (buds) / 485 mAh (case)
• Wireless Charging
• Bluetooth Version: 5.3
• Nothing X App Support + OTA Software Updates
• Customise EQ and gestures
• Dual Connection
• Ear Tip Fit Test

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging of the Nothing Ear (2) is impressively compact, making it one of the smallest consumer product packages I’ve encountered. The eco-friendly, plastic-wrap-free packaging is reminiscent of Apple’s tear-open cardboard boxes. Upon tearing open the package, a black cardboard box is revealed, housing a QR-coded sleeve that contains the manual and quick start guide.

The earphones themselves are snugly nestled within their case just beneath this. Lifting the sturdy compartment that cradles the battery case unveils two small boxes, each containing accessories for the Ear (2).

Included with the Ear (2) are three pairs of white, oval-shaped silicone tips of good quality. 

The earphones also come with a white USB-C to USB-C cable, which is a pleasant surprise in terms of its robust build quality. The 30cm long cable comes with barrel connector ends and features a beautifully braided wire encased in a thick, transparent cable jacket. This attention to detail in the packaging and accessories highlights Nothing’s commitment to providing a premium user experience. Neat.

Design, Build & Fit

The Ear (2) from Nothing is a wonder of design. As a long-time tech enthusiast, I’ve always been captivated by devices with transparent shells. My youthful curiosity about the intricacies of technology often led me to disassemble devices to understand their inner workings. Therefore, Nothing’s adoption of a clear design language immediately resonated with me. 

However, this aesthetic choice is not as simple as it might appear. Designing a product with visible internals is far more challenging than creating an opaque one. Every component, connection point, screw, and even the adhesive used must be carefully concealed from the user’s view. Plus, dust is another issue and Nothing has special assembly grounds equipped with giant humidifiers to fight the dust during the assembly process. The end result, though, is undeniably unique and eye-catching, worth all this trouble.

The Ear (2) is a testament to the meticulous design process, with its transparent shell rods and contrasting black and white body. The visible antenna, PCB, and magnets in the rods add to the appeal. Each earbud features a large left/right indicator dot on the faceplate for easy identification. 

The Ear (2) also incorporates pressure controls, a feature I particularly appreciate. A pressure sensor at the end of each rod allows for easy control of the buds by pinching or squeezing, a solution that avoids the discomfort of physical buttons or the potential mis-touches of touch controls.

The build quality of the Ear (2) is impressive, with no noticeable assembly or quality control issues. Each earbud features an air vent near the nozzle, presumably to supply air to the custom 11.6mm driver. The nozzles themselves are oval-shaped with notches for easy use of included tips and additionally, the aftermarket tips play well with the notched nozzles. There’s enough clearance in the battery case for aftermarket tips, so no issues there, either. The nozzles use a metal mesh to prevent dust from entering into the driver chamber and it is easy to clean. 

There are two chrome grilles on each rod, indicating the microphones, but actually, the Ear (2) has a three-mic layout on each side. Furthermore, the Ear (2)’s IP54 rating ensures a decent level of resistance against water splashes and dust. 

The case, like the IEM, is uniquely designed with transparent shells and visible magnets. The hinge feels durable, and the layout is practical. A button on the side allows for easy resetting of the pairing, and a single status LED on the side serves as a battery and pairing indicator. The magnets are well-chosen, it is easy to remove the IEMs and put them back into the cradle. The case also features wireless charging and a fast-charging USB-C port. The case has a small dip on the top cover, seamlessly transforming the case into a fidget spinner, which is a nice little fun addition. 

In terms of fit, the Ear (2) excels. Fit is one of the highlights of these buds, as I find them very, very comfortable. No matter how long you wear them and what you do, including talking, eating, running, and so on, these stay on my ears without any discomfort. My girlfriend, who has small ears, has no trouble with them either. They fit well in ears of all sizes, making them perhaps the most comfortable TWS IEMs with rods that we’ve tested.

In conclusion, the Ear (2) stands out for its unique and aesthetically pleasing design. I eagerly anticipate Nothing’s future iterations of this distinctive design language.

The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.

Page 1: Nothing Company, Ear (2), Packaging & Accessories, Design, Build & Fit

Page 2: Connection Stability, Nothing X App, Active Noise Canceling (ANC) & Transparency, Call Quality

Page 3: Battery Life, Sound & Performance, Comparison, Last Words