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Just days ahead of the launch of its new handheld, phone brand Nothing is wheting users’ appetites by releasing a follow-up to its Ear(2) wireless earbuds – now in black.
There’s more to the Nothing Ears (2) earbuds than just a shiny new paint as the company has made some changes to address some of the issues we had with the original pair. Chief among these changes is the introduction of the Advanced Equalizer, which gives users the ability to create more detailed audio profiles.
To get the tool, you first need to install the latest update for the Nothing X smartphone app. The patch features a series of sliding controls for adjusting audio gain as well as frequency controls. Once done, you can listen to the changes made through the real-time preview in case you want to make any additional changes.
According to a video posted on the official Nothing Twitter account, people can also “save different profiles for different genres”. And you can share said profile with friends via QR code in Settings menu.
software patch
The rest of the update is a series of optimizations for the ear (2). Notable changes include “improved Bluetooth connectivity and better call quality when using Active Noise Cancellation (ACN) in ‘Adaptive’ mode.”
Speaking of which, the noise reduction effect will be stronger when the ACN is used in “High Mode”. The volume of accelerated sounds has also been adjusted. In what capacity, we do not know. Nothing gave too many details, although we did ask. We should also mention that the ear (stick) is getting noise reduction as well as an upgraded equalizer in this update.
To get what you’re seeing here, launch NothingX, go to Device Settings and select Firmware Update.
Aside from software enhancements, the hardware is exactly the same as on the Ear(2). You still get the lightweight design that houses a powerful 11.6mm consumer driver on each side. The Ear(2) wireless earbuds are currently available for purchase from Nothing’s website for $149; Same as white model.
room for improvement
We complained about how bad the mid-range vocal performance from the drivers sounded in our Nothing Ears (2) review. With the advanced equalizer, the noise issue has been effectively eliminated as you can now fine-tune the audio, which is great to watch. However, we wish nothing had improved the battery on the black model as well. The buds last up to four hours on a single charge – which is one of the lowest in the industry.
With the case, the number goes up to 22.5 hours, which is fine. Still, only four hours on the buds? Hopefully battery life on the Ear (3), if there are plans for a third, will be much better.
July 11 will be a big day for the brand as its next flagship device, the Nothing Phone 2, will be officially launched. We don’t know all the exact details about what the smartphone will be bringing, but a recent big leak suggests a number of possible hardware upgrades, from a 6.7-inch OLED display to being powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. chipset
Once you’re done reading our coverage of the Nothing Phone 2, check out TechRadar’s list of the best cheap phones in the US for 2023.
