Nothing is a brand that has managed to be talked about for the quality of its products and their design. Its flagship product is headphones, and the most recent are the Nothing Ear (Stick), which compete directly with Apple’s 3rd generation AirPods. Which ones should you buy? We put them face to face to know their characteristics and differences.
Features AirPods 3 and Nothing Ear (Stick)
| specs | AirPods (3rd generation) |
Nothing Ear (Stick) |
|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions and weight |
Earcups: 1.25″ high x 0.75″ wide and 0.75″ thick; weight of 4.28 grams | Case: 4.64 cm high by 5.44 cm wide and 2.14 cm thick; weight of 37.91 grams |
Earcups: 1.15″ H x 0.75″ W x 0.75″ D; weight of 4.4 grams | Case: 8.71 cm H x 2.98 cm W x 2.98 cm D; weight of 46.3 grams |
|
sound technology |
Adaptive EQ, Apple custom high-excursion transducer, custom high-dynamic-range amplifier, and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking |
Custom 12.6mm dynamic driver, software “smart” bass lockout to prevent dropouts, and Clear Voice technology to enhance voice on calls |
|
sensors |
Skin sensor, accelerometer with motion detection, accelerometer with voice detection and pressure sensor |
ear detection |
|
microphones |
Two microphones with beamforming technology and inward-facing microphone |
three microphones |
|
connectivity |
H1 chip and Bluetooth 5.0 |
|
|
controls |
Press once to play audio, pause it, or answer a call; press twice to go to the next song; press three times to return to the previous song; long press to activate Siri; Say “Hey Siri” to listen to a song, make a call, get directions and more |
One press: play/pause, answer/hang up calls; Two presses: Skip forward, reject calls; Three presses: Go back; Press and hold (left earphone): Volume down; Press and hold (right earphone): Volume up |
|
Drums |
Up to six hours of audio playback on a charge (up to five hours with spatial audio on), and up to four hours of talk time on a charge; with the case up to 30 hours of audio playback and up to 20 hours of talk time |
Single charge: Up to 7 hours of use time. Up to 3 hours of talk time. With the case: Up to 29 hours of use time. Up to 12 hours of talk time. 9 hours with 10 minutes of charge. |
|
Endurance |
Sweat and water resistant (IPX4) |
IP54 (resistant to dust, water and sweat) |
|
Price |
From €199 |
119 euros |
Apple AirPods (3rd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (2021)
Nothing Ear (Stick) – Wireless Headphones, Comfortable Ergonomic Design, Ultralight 4.4g, Custom Driver, Clear Voice Technology, Touch Controls, Up to 29 Battery
- Design: Nothing follows the line of Apple, that of providing its products with a recognizable and striking design. The Ear (Stick) are similar to the ear (1), but without pads for a more universal fit, and with part of the transparent body that differentiates them from the rest. The third generation AirPods also have a universal fit and a similar design to the AirPods Pro, but also without the tips.
- sound technology: Apple AirPods offer more interesting sound technology options, such as adaptive equalization and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. The Nothing Ear (Stick) include Clear Voice to improve voice pickup on calls.
- sensors: Apple’s proposal comes with skin sensors, pressure and accelerometers for motion and voice detection. The Nothing Ear (Stick) have the ear detectionwhich pauses/resumes the playback of content depending on whether we are wearing them or not.
- connectivity: the 3rd generation AirPods have been designed for use with Apple devices, and it is necessary to take advantage of all its functions. That’s why it has the H1 chip, although having Bluetooth 5.0 can also be used on Android and Windows, for example, but the result is not so good. The Nothing is more universal: Bluetooth 5.2, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Quick Switch, so you can use it on a wide variety of devices without problems.
- Drums: the autonomy of the two pairs of headphones is very similar With their respective cases, around 6-7 hours and 29-30 hours, in addition to having a fast charge to be able to use them quickly if the battery has run out.
- Endurance: have protection against sweat and water, the Nothing also against dustso they can be used for exercise.
- Price: It’s no secret that Apple devices tend to have a high price compared to alternatives from other brands. This is the case of the Nothing Ear (Stick) (119 euros) and the third generation AirPods (from 199 euros).
Nothing Ear (Stick) VS AirPods 3rd generation, which Bluetooth headphones to buy?
The 3rd generation AirPods are the most balanced option in the Apple catalogue, and the Nothing Ear (Stick) the brand’s latest proposal. Despite the price of both, they do not have active noise cancellation and are similar in other features. If all the devices you have are iOS and macOS, the best option is AirPods, since this way you can enjoy the spatial audio function with dynamic head tracking. If you have devices that use different systems, the Nothing Ear (Stick) is more versatile.
Apple AirPods (3rd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (2021)
Nothing Ear (Stick) – Wireless Headphones, Comfortable Ergonomic Design, Ultralight 4.4g, Custom Driver, Clear Voice Technology, Touch Controls, Up to 29 Battery
Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may bring a benefit to Applesfera.