Nothing Ear 2: The Ultimate Wireless Earbuds for Gamers and Audiophiles

Closing the Intel gap for gaming

Nothing, the London-based consumer technology company founded by former OnePlus executive Carl Pei, has been making waves in the audio industry with the release of its latest offering, the Nothing Ear 2. These wireless earbuds are a true testament to the company’s design philosophy of combining elegant aesthetics with cutting-edge technology. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Ear 2 and see if it lives up to the hype.

Design

The first thing that strikes you about the Ear 2 is its design. The earbuds have a sleek, transparent shell that showcases the internal components. The stem of the earbuds is made of a semi-opaque material that adds a touch of elegance to the design. The charging case also follows the same design language, with a transparent lid that reveals the earbuds nestled inside.

The Ear 2’s design is not just about looks, though. The earbuds have an IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance, making them suitable for use during workouts or outdoor activities. The earbuds also come with different sizes of ear tips and wingtips to ensure a secure and comfortable fit.

Sound Quality

The Ear 2 is equipped with 11.6mm dynamic drivers that deliver a rich, detailed sound. The earbuds have a balanced sound signature, with clear highs, mids, and lows. The bass is punchy but not overpowering, and the soundstage is impressive for earbuds of this size.

Nothing has also partnered with Swedish audio company Teenage Engineering to fine-tune the Ear 2’s sound profile. The earbuds come with three preset sound modes – balanced, more bass, and voice – that can be toggled via the companion app. The app also features an equalizer that allows you to customize the sound to your liking.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

The Ear 2 features active noise cancellation (ANC) that blocks out ambient noise for an immersive listening experience. The ANC works well for low-frequency sounds such as the hum of an airplane engine or the rumble of a train. It’s not as effective at canceling out high-frequency sounds such as voices or sirens, but it’s still a useful feature to have.

The ANC can be toggled on or off via the companion app or by pressing and holding the touch-sensitive stem of the earbuds. There’s also a transparency mode that amplifies ambient sounds, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings.

Connectivity and Controls

The Ear 2 uses Bluetooth 5.2 for seamless connectivity with your devices. The earbuds support the SBC and AAC codecs, but not the higher-quality aptX codec. The earbuds also feature Google Fast Pair for easy pairing with Android devices and can connect to multiple devices simultaneously.

The touch-sensitive stem of the earbuds allows you to control playback, adjust the volume, and answer or end calls. You can also activate your device’s voice assistant with a double-tap.

Battery Life

The Ear 2 has a battery life of up to 5.7 hours with ANC on and up to 7 hours with ANC off. The charging case can provide an additional 34 hours of battery life, bringing the total to 40 hours with ANC on and 44 hours with ANC off. The earbuds support fast charging, with 10 minutes of charging providing up to 2 hours of playback.

Closing the Intel gap for gaming

The Ear 2’s impressive sound quality and low-latency mode make it a great option for gaming. The earbuds feature a low-latency mode that reduces the delay