ReviewNothing Ear Stick wireless earbuds review: Apple AirPods rival’s comfortable open-ear design produces crisp mids and highs, but lacks decent bass
- Transparent earbuds are stylish, cost half as much as standard AirPods, and will last for seven hours on a single charge
- Their open-ear design makes them more comfortable, but they don’t block ambient sounds, and the bass is lacking punch
If the first set of wireless earbuds from Nothing, Ear 1 released in 2021, was meant to be an alternative to Apple’s AirPods Pro, then the UK-based start-up’s latest buds, the Ear Stick, are aimed at the non-Pro AirPods.
Design and hardware
The Nothing Ear Stick features an attention-grabbing transparent design that’s been a signature look for the company headed by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei.
The case has a revolving-door-like covering that can be twisted open. The twisting action offers satisfying tactile resistance, and an audible click when the case is fully opened or closed.
The earbuds use a design known as “open ear”, meaning they sit in the concha [the cavity next to the ear canal] of the wearer’s ears, but outside the ear canal – the way standard AirPods fit. This design is generally considered more comfortable than in-ear earbuds like the AirPods Pro or Nothing’s Ear 1. It helps that the Ear Stick buds are light at 4.4g each.
The open-ear design means the buds do not block out sound at all, unlike in-ear buds that naturally block out ambient noise because their silicon tips provide a seal around our ear canal.