Nothing Ear (2) Review: Budget-Friendly Running Earbuds With Serious Style

Introduction

The Nothing Ear (2) positions itself as a budget-friendly rival to the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro, and it arrives with a few meaningful upgrades over the first-generation Ear (1). Like the AirPods, these true wireless earbuds are designed for daily use, but they also carry plenty of running and fitness credentials. We put them through runs, track sessions, commutes and work sessions to see whether they are a genuine bargain or a compromise too far.

The headline story is appealing: buds weighing just 4.5 grams each, improved water and dust protection, more battery life than before, and a price of £129 or $149 in the US. That puts them well below the AirPods Pro, but close enough in experience to make the comparison genuinely interesting.

Key Specs at a Glance

Battery life on the buds comes in at just under 6.5 hours with active noise cancellation off, up from five hours on the Ear (1). The charging case adds a further 29 hours. Switch ANC on and those official figures drop to four hours on the buds and 20.5 hours total with the case. Fast charging is generous too: ten minutes in the case buys you around eight hours of listening time.

Connectivity runs on Bluetooth 5.3 with support for connecting to two devices at once, in-ear detection, Google Fast Pair and independent use of either bud. On paper this is a well-rounded spec sheet for the money.

Design and Controls

At 4.5 grams per bud, these sit at the lighter end of the true wireless scale, lighter in fact than the AirPods Pro 2. The case weighs 51 grams, roughly the same as an AirPods case, and is pocket-friendly and running-belt-friendly, though not as compact as some. Durability has stepped up: the buds are now IP54 rated, up from IPX4, meaning they are protected against dust and debris as well as splash and sweat. The case is IP55 rated too, which makes the package more durable on paper than the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

Controls have moved from touch to press-or-squeeze, and it works well. Each press delivers a tactile click so you always know the command registered, and because you squeeze the stem rather than swipe at it, there is far less of the tugging that can dislodge in-ear buds mid-run.

Fit is the variable here. One tester found the buds loosened over time on runs and needed constant nudging, a familiar story with any in-ear design, and solved it with cheap third-party silicone wings that fit the buds perfectly. The other tester found the fit excellent, largely because the buds are so light that they effectively disappear on the run, with nothing tugging at the ear. If standard in-ear buds never sit well for you, be aware of that risk before buying, though the good news is the remedy costs very little.

Sound Quality

Sound is where opinions diverge, and where the price ceiling shows. The buds use 11.6mm dynamic drivers with up to 40dB of personalised active noise cancellation, plus transparency mode and custom EQ so you can create personalised sound profiles in the partner app. There is also an ear tip fit test to help you dial in a good seal.

For bass-forward music, the presentation works nicely. Dance, trance and techno listeners will find the low end has real power, and the overall balance is not tinny or thin. One tester felt the upper range was slightly brash for delicate vocal-led material, though tweaking the EQ helps. The limitation worth knowing: you can adjust EQ in the app while you run, but custom presets do not appear to be saveable, so you cannot store several favourite profiles.

Overall, the sound punches at its weight rather than above it. Against headphones at double the price there is a clear gap in detail and refinement at the high end, but for the money it is more than good enough, and it is a step up from the Ear (1).

Noise Cancellation and Awareness Modes

ANC performance mirrors the sound story: solid for the price bracket, not class-leading. On a train it cut out a fair amount of ambient noise, but flagship earbuds like the Bose QC Earbuds or AirPods Pro effectively erase the entire train experience. Think of the Nothing Ear (2) as taking the edge off your commute rather than deleting it. Importantly, wind noise through ANC was minimal, which is a genuine plus for running.

Awareness mode suffers the classic in-ear problem: it lets in a lot of wind at running pace, making it more useful for everyday walking and general use than for workouts. For work use, though, ANC proved genuinely helpful for staying focused in busy cafes. Neither mode is the reason to buy these buds, but both do an acceptable job.

Battery Life and Charging

Real-world battery life largely lived up to the billing. With a mix of music and podcasts, one tester saw no unusual drop-offs and found six hours perfectly reasonable for buds this small, with the case holding plenty of reserve in a compact body. The 29 hours of case backup is reassuring if you are heading out for four or five hours at a time.

The one caveat: with ANC on, one tester noticed battery burning noticeably faster than expected. If you run with ANC permanently active, budget for shorter sessions or keep the case close. The case itself is easy to carry and, while the design divides nobody, it is worth noting the buds look genuinely good, with a distinctive aesthetic that stands apart from the usual black-plastic competition.

Buying Advice

For the right buyer, these are easy to recommend. If you want a crossover earbud for running, commuting and work, and you like a lightweight in-ear fit, the Ear (2) delivers just enough of everything: decent sound, acceptable ANC, good battery, strong design and a tidy app.

If ANC and sound refinement are your top priorities, flagship earbuds still have a clear edge, and you should expect to pay for it. The Jabra Elite 4 Active is worth a look as a close rival, with a fit and sound some may prefer, and it is frequently discounted during sale events, whereas Nothing buds rarely see price cuts. And if in-ear buds simply never suit your ears, the open-fit Nothing Ear (stick) is an interesting alternative with a very different fit philosophy.

At £129 or $149, the price has jumped up a chunk from the first generation, so the value equation depends on what you are comparing against. Against the AirPods Pro you are saving a substantial amount while giving up some sound and ANC performance. Against similarly priced sport buds, it holds its own on the strength of design, weight and everyday versatility.

Conclusion

The Nothing Ear (2) is a well-rounded package that gets the basics right: light, comfortable buds with improved IP54 protection, better battery than before, tactile squeeze controls and a distinctive design. Sound is good for the price, ANC is competent rather than exceptional, and fit will depend on your ears. You will not regret buying them, but a quick comparison against discounted rivals is still worth ten minutes of your time. For a do-everything earbud at a mid-range price, they are a confident pick.