After a number of teasing posts on social media, Nothing has finally confirmed that the second-generation Nothing Ear (2) earbuds are set to launch in March 2023.
The London-based brand has confirmed that the all-new earbuds will be unveiled during a live stream at 3pm GMT (10am ET) on Wednesday, March 22.
Nothing still holds their cards to their chest as far as the features to be expected, with a cryptic launch announcement showing a beetle crawling around the familiar transparent case, and the company offering that Nothing Ear(2) will be “powerful refinement” with better sound and better clarity – including some kind of “next level personalization” of sound.
recent leak from the technological side of SmartPrix (opens in a new tab) claimed the new earbuds would come with personalized noise canceling and EQ features similar to those on the AirPods Pro 2 (and many other top noise canceling earbuds), so it seems to be related to what Nothing is about suggests.
While the Nothing teaser image doesn’t reveal much, the SmartPrix report goes on to claim that the Nothing Ear (2) will have a broadly similar design to its predecessors, with the noise-canceling microphone moved from the top of the bud to the side.
There are also plenty of features we’d expect to see from the cheaper but newer Nothing Ear (Stick), such as larger 12.6mm drivers and a handy “Bass Lock” feature that automatically adjusts the EQ to compensate for loss of bass due to noise leakage. .
Analysis: Will the buds of Nothing live up to their beetle buzz this time around?
After a wave of hype, the original Nothing Ear (1) failed to live up to the lofty expectations placed on them when they released in 2021, so much so that the company rolled out a much-needed version late last year.
As you can read in our updated Nothing Ear review (1), the update addressed most of the major criticisms regarding their too-low audio and connectivity issues, but still left a lot to be desired when it comes to noise reduction, with their Transparency Mode being a big disappointment.
All indications are that ANC will be given more consideration in the Nothing(2) ear, and if they keep their promise of sound enhancement and keep their prices competitive, they might even earn a spot on our list of the best true wireless earbuds.