Established in 2020, London-based Nothing has been focused on offering innovative products in the mobility space. In its short lifetime, it has introduced the Phone (1), Power Adapter, Ear Stick, and Ear (1). However, things happen fast in the tech world, so for 2023, Nothing is replacing its Ear (1) earbuds with the new Ear (2).
Tip: Phone (1) was listed in Time Magazine’s best inventions of 2022. In December 2022, Nothing opened its first retail space, Nothing Store Soho (London).
Introduction to the Ear (2).
Ear (2) is a refinement of the previous Nothing Ear (1) earbuds and provides a more personalized and seamless listening experience. The Ear (2) is designed to deliver improved sound quality and flexible use with Hi-Res Audio, LHDC 5.0, Clear Voice, Active Noise Cancellation, Dual Connection (aka Bluetooth Multipoint), and more.
From Carl Pei, CEO and Co-founder of Nothing: “We are excited to introduce Ear (2) as a significant upgrade to our debut product Ear (1), which sold over 600,000 units…With Ear (2), we’ve re-engineered everything from the ground up and utilized cutting-edge technology to create the ultimate personal listening experience.”
Ear (2) Core Features
Authentic Sound: Ear (2) is Hi-Res Audio certified for an immersive sound experience. LHDC 5.0 codec technology ensures that the finest sound details are delivered to an industry-leading standard, transmitting frequencies up to 24-bit/192 kHz at speeds of up to 1 Mbps.
Driver Complement: The Ear (2) incorporates an 11.6 mm dynamic driver with a custom diaphragm. The redesigned combination of polyurethane and graphene materials is designed to deliver richer high frequencies and deeper, softer bass. Also, the unique dual-chamber design creates a larger space for smoother airflow and clearer sound.
Dual Connection (aka Bluetooth Multipoint): This feature allows users to connect to two devices simultaneously and seamlessly switch between playing music or receiving calls. If listening to music Ear (2) will automatically provide an incoming call alert. The user can switch between music listening and a call.
Personal Sound Profile: Ear (2) allows users to create a Personal Sound Profile with a hearing ID. After taking a hearing test provided by the Nothing X app (iOS/Android), Ear (2) adjusts EQ levels in real-time to match the user’s hearing.
Clear Voice Technology: The Ear (2) incorporates three high-definition microphones on each earbud and an AI noise reduction algorithm that can filter out over 20 million sound samples. This eliminates background noise and enhances the user’s voice during calls in real time.
Active Noise Cancellation: The feature is tailored to the exact shape of a user’s ear canal and Adaptive Mode automatically adjusts the noise reduction level (up to 40dB) based on your environment in real-time.
Play Time: Ear (2) provides up to 36 hours of music playback after a full charge of the charging case (with ANC turned off). With fast charge, the Ear (2) has up to 1.8 hours on a 10-minute charge. Ear (2) also supports wireless charging up to 2.5W and can reverse charge on compatible devices like the Nothing Phone (1).
Weatherproof Rating: The Ear (2) has an IP54 water-resistance rating for its earbuds, while the charging case is IP55.
Control: Ear (2) provides press controls to avoid any accidental touches and discomfort of tapping into the ear canal. Users can skip tracks, switch between noise cancellation modes, and adjust volume – all with a press. The controls can be customized in the Nothing X app.
Quick Connection: Ear (2) supports Google Fast Pair on Android devices and Microsoft Swift Pair on Windows devices. Once connected to the Phone (1) in Game Mode, the earbuds will automatically turn on Low Lag Mode for an enhanced gaming experience. Non-Phone (1) users need to manually turn on Low Lag Mode in the Nothing X app.
Comparison
| Model | Ear (1) | Ear (2) |
| ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) | Yes, Up to 40dB | Yes, Up to 40dB with Adaptive ANC |
| Fit | In-ear | In-ear |
| Driver | 11.6 mm | 11.6 mm |
| Microphone | 3 in each bud | 3 in each bud |
| Control | Touch | Press |
| Clear Voice | Yes | Yes, with 3 dB extension |
| Dual Connection (Bluetooth Multipoint) | No | Yes |
| Hi-Reas Audio (up to 24bit. 192 kHz with LHDC 5.0) | No | Yes |
| Personal Sound Profile | No | Yes |
| Nothing X App (Equalizer Settings) | Preset | Customizable |
| Nothing X App (Gesture Control) | Customizable | Customizable |
| Nothing X App (Find My Earbuds) | Yes | Yes |
| Nothing X App (In-Ear Detection) | Yes | Yes |
| Nothing X App (In-Ear Fit Test) | No | Yes |
| Nothing X App (Low Lag Mode with Phone (1) | No | Yes |
| Water and Dust Resistance | IPX4 | IP54 (buds) 1p55 (case) |
| Battery Life (Buds) | 5 hours | 6 hours |
| Battery Life (Case) | 34 hours | 36 hours |
| Fast Charge | 1 hr (ANC On), 1.2 hrs (ANC Off) – after 10 min charge | 1.25 hr (ANC On), 1.8 hrs (ANC Off) – after 10 min charge |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes, Q1 Certified up 2.5 watts |
| Dimensions HWD (Buds) | 28.95 x 21.59 x 23.62 mm | 29.45 x 21.59 x 23.62 mm |
| Dimensions HWD (Case) | 58.67 x 58.67 x 23.62 mm | 55.62 x 55.62 x 22.09 mm |
| Weight (Buds – Grams) | 4.82 | 4.53 |
| Weight (Case – Grams) | 57.26 | 51.87. |
| Price | $149.00 | $149.00 |
Price & Availability
The Ear (2) is priced at £129/$149 and will be released in steps:
- March 22, 2023: Ear (2) will be available first on Nothing Tech.
- March 23, 2023: Ear (2) will be available at the Nothing Store Soho in London and select Kith stores worldwide, including the US, France, and Japan.
- March 28, 2023: Ear (2) will go on general sale across all of Nothing’s global partners both online and offline, including StockX (US only).
Tip: Nothing is backed by GV (formerly Google Ventures), EQT Ventures, and C Ventures. Other investors include Steve Huffman (CEO and Co-founder of Reddit), Kevin Lin (Co-founder of Twitch), Josh Buckley (CEO of Product Hunt), Tinie Tempah (Musician), Axel Christofer Hedfors & Sebastian Ingrosso (Swedish House Mafia), and Casey Neistat (YouTuber).
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