Keeping its original promise, smartphone company Nothing has officially introduced its second audio product: the mid-range Ear (stick) headphones.
Prior to the reveal, there were some leaks showing off the cosmetic-inspired ear (stick) design, which certainly looks pretty cool. Earbud charging cases typically have a square design, but nothing went for a more cylindrical look with a hint of red. Outside of its design, not much was known about the device internally, apart from the company's claim that the ear (stick) was its "most advanced audio product to date". However, looking at the ad (opens in a new tab), that's not really the case.
The ear (stick) at €99 might not be a bad product. But it's certainly not Nothing's most advanced audio product, as it lacks active noise cancellation, a much-requested feature found in last year's Ear(1) device. The earphones also lack the previous model's silicone tips to seal out sound. Instead, opt for a more AirPods-like design: a hard plastic that sends sound directly into the ear canal. As a result, more background noise is likely to be filtered out.
So, what does the ear (stick) have that distinguishes it?
New Features
For starters, the ear (stick) has a new feature called Bass Lock, it's software that detects if bass has been lost in the audio and adjusts the internal equalizer to compensate. This way, the audio sounds like it should ideally.
There are three microphones present in each earcup, each of which has its own function, according to TheVerge(Opens in a new tab). You have one that only listens to your voice, the other filters out background noise from calls using "smart algorithms," and the last one apparently listens to audio feedback and tailors the device's sound to your ear canal.
Audio output is handled by a pair of custom-built 12,6mm speakers, which are in stark contrast to "standard drivers" found in the ear (1). CEO Carl Pei told TheVerge that nothing was right with the custom speakers because the company wanted a good balance between size and acoustic design, rather than just putting a big driver inside the earcups.
You can link the ear (stick) with Nothing's Phone (1) to unlock additional features. The device's equalizer can be adjusted via the quick settings menu directly on the smartphone. On Android and iOS, you need to download the Nothing X app first. And if you ever experience lag while gaming on your phone (1), the headset will automatically go into low lag mode to match the game.
Battery life in the ear (bar) has been slightly improved: up to seven hours on one charge compared to four in the ear (1). With the charging case, this time is increased to a maximum of 29 hours. Other notable features include an IP54 resistance rating to protect against dust and water, as well as Google Fast Pair support for fast Bluetooth pairing.
We reached out to Nothing for clarification on some of its features. The ad mentioned something about "press checks" but didn't really explain what they are or how they work. We also request more details on how the microphones work. This story will be updated if we get any news.
Availability
You can pre-order the ear (stick) for €99 (we'll update when we have international prices) on the Nothing website with its release date set for November 4th. Seeing this price, you may think it's strange that mid-range headphones are priced the same as the flagship model. As it turns out, CEO Carl Pei recently took to Twitter to announce that Ear(1) (opens in a new tab) will have a price increase of up to €149 "due to increased costs."
If you're looking for something cheaper, be sure to check out TechRadar's best budget headphones for 2022.