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Nothing Ear vs Nothing Ear (2): What’s different?

By Timothy Teoh April 23, 2024

It seems like the Nothing brand is going full-send this year. Not long after the launch of the Phone (2a), the brand has now expanded its line of audio wearables with the Nothing Ear, and Ear (a).

To avoid any initial confusion, these are the successors to the Ear (2) released in 2023, even if the name suggests otherwise. Nothing has given the naming conventions a re-think and have decided to do away with numbers altogether.

So all we’re left with now is the Ear and Ear (a).

If you’re wondering which is the direct upgrade from the Ear (2), that would be the Nothing Ear. The Ear (a), on the other hand, serves to be an affordable watered-down version of the Ear.

We’ll do a piece on the Ear (a) soon enough, but for now, here’s what’s different between the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (2).

Nothing EarNothing Ear (2)
Driver11mm Dynamic11.6mm Dynamic
CodecAAC, SBC, LDAC, LHDC 5.0AAC, SBC, LHDC
Noise CancellationUp to 45dB; 5,000Hz frequency rangeUp to 40dB; 5,000Hz frequency range
Clear Voice TechnologyYesYes
Mics3 mics per bud3 mics per bud
Battery Capacity500mAh (case); 46mAh (buds)485mAh (case); 33mAh (buds)
Battery Lifespan (Max)40.5 hours with case; 8.5 hours buds only36 hours with case; 6.3 hours buds only
Wired Charging10 mins for 10 hours (ANC off)10 mins for 8 hours (ANC off)
Wireless Charging2.5W2.5W
Bluetooth Version5.35.3
ResistanceIP54 (buds); IP55 (case)IP54 (buds); IP55 (case)
Nothing X supportYesYes
PriceRM659RM599
(From left) Nothing Ear, and Nothing Ear (2)

Put the white versions of the Nothing Ear and Ear (2) side by side and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell them apart. The only real indication is the tiny dot-matrix branding emblazoned on the case. For the record, if you see the words “NOTHING” on the case, it belongs to the Ear, and if you see “ear (case)” on the case, it belongs to the Ear (2). Read that again if you have to.

As for the black design, there’s a lighter shade of gray accents used for the newer Nothing Ear, but it’s forgivable if you still mistake one for the other.

(From left) Nothing Ear, and Nothing Ear (2)

The earbuds itself are pretty similar, with both maintaining the semi-transparent stem that’s iconic to Nothing’s audio products.

Aesthetics aside, there are improvements in a few key areas on the Ear. Firstly, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has received a boost with the Ear boasting up to 45dB compared to the 40dB on the Ear (2). There’s also Smart ANC now, which detects noise leakages creeping through the spaces between the earbuds and the ear canal and applies more noise cancellation to fully block out external noise.

Like all Nothing and CMF products, settings for the earbuds can be adjusted via the Nothing X app. Access to Noise Cancellation levels, Equalizer settings, Sound Profiles, Dual Connection, Bass enhancements, and more can be toggled easily through your smartphone.

The Nothing Ear (2) and Nothing X app

Elsewhere, batteries have also been improved from the Ear (2). The Nothing Ear case now carries 500mAh battery capacity, while the buds have 46mAh each. Inclusive of the case, the Ear should amount to a total of 40.5 hours listening time, provided you have ANC turned off. Depending on your usage, the earbuds alone can last you up to 8.5 hours on a single charge.

This is a much-welcomed upgrade from the Ear (2), which carried only a 485mAh battery in the case and 33mAh in the buds, amounting to up to 36 hours listening time. Still pretty decent, but as with all things battery-related, the longer you can keep it off the charger the better.

On that note, like the Ear (2), you can charge the Ear either via a USB Type-C cable or 2.5W wireless charging.

Nothing Ear buds

The Ear now also has broader codec compatibility, with the buds now supporting LDAC and LHDC 5.0, apart from the more common AAC and SBC codecs.

Nevertheless, there are a few key similarities across the two audio wearables. Hi-Res Audio certification is one of them, allowing support for high quality audio. Dust and water resistance is another, with the buds being IP54-rated and the case IP55-rated for either models.

You’ll also get Clear Voice Technology, as well as the standard 3 mics per bud.

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    Nothing Ear and Ear (a) officially launches with RM479 starting price

    By Timothy Teoh April 22, 2024

    Nothing has officially rolled back the curtains on its two new audio products, the Nothing Ear, and Ear (a). For clarification, the Nothing Ear is an upgrade from the Ear (2) released last year, despite not following up on the number system.

    On an X post released a few weeks ago, Nothing says that stripping back the numbers allows the brand “…to center the focus around the product and the unique experience it delivers for each user.”

    The two new audio wearables will be available in Malaysia, albeit at a later date. As for official pricing, the Nothing Ear will retail at RM659, and the Ear (a) at RM479. They will be available for purchase online at Nothing’s official store on Shopee and Lazada.

    Nothing Ear and Ear (a) specs

    From a design perspective, the Nothing Ear doesn’t stray too far off from last year’s Ear (2). The iconic transparent case is maintained, although the Black colourway does have a lighter shade of gray for a more distinct look. The same can be said for the buds itself, if it weren’t for the model name emblazoned on the stem, it’ll be pretty hard to tell them apart.

    The Ear will be available in two colours: Black, and White.

    One of the main highlights of the Nothing Ear is its upgraded 45dB Smart Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), up from 40dB on the Ear (2). You’ll also have the option of an Adaptive ANC.

    All this can be toggled via the Nothing X app, which, aside from controlling ANC, gives you access to an 8-band EQ, personal sound profiles, dual connection, bass modes, and customizable controls.

    According to Nothing, the Ear should last you up to 40.5 hours of listening time with the case, provided you listen with ANC off.

    There’s also a new CharGPT integration which you can access via voice control. This is only available if you pair the buds to the Nothing Phone (2), and is available on both the Ear and Ear (a). If you’re owners of past Nothing products, fret not, as Nothing has confirmed that the feature will be available for the Ear (1), Ear (2), and Ear (stick) too and will be compatible even on the Phone (1) and Phone (2a) once the software updates take place. As to when that is, we don’t yet have an official date.

    As for protection, the buds itself is rated IP54, while the case is IP55-rated.

    Now onto the Ear (a), here’s where we see a fresh new take on Nothing products. The transparent design language is still visible, but this time on a rectangular casing with rounded edges. Also, instead of just Black and White, there’s a Yellow option too if you want to stand out a little more.

    The 45dB ANC is present on the Ear (a), along with Smart ANC. This is again controllable via the Nothing X app, where you can customize EQ, dual connection, and more.

    Batteries are comparable with the Ear, although Nothing gives a longer estimate of up to 42.5 hours with case with ANC off. For the record, both the Ear and Ear (a) casing packs 500mAh battery, while the earbuds pack 46mAh each.

    Although the buds are rated IP54, the Ear (a) casing is only rated IPX2 for dust and water resistance.

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