Nothing Ear (stick)

Comfortable half-in-ear fit ; 29 hours of battery life ; Reliable sound

There's no noise cancelling ; Lacks wireless charging

You need to consider the Nothing Ear (stick) if you want a pair of half-in-ear headphones but you don't want to spend hundreds on them. They're jam-packed full of handy features like custom EQ settings and in-ear detection, it's just a shame that they...

Improved sense of space, dynamics and bass clout ; Touch-sensitive stems work well ; Even stronger aesthetic

No ANC or transparency profiles ; Minor drop-out anxiety concerning the fit

Nothing's design language is unmistakable and fans of the brand's trademark white, black, and red-accented earbuds will likely flock to purchase their shiny new set. And sonically, we say go for it – as long as you don't require ANC or plan on wearing...

Unique design ; Cylindrical case design ; Good sound quality for the money ; IPX4 rated

No noise cancelling ; Touch controls can be fiddly ; Needs more bass

Just like the Ear (1) before them, the Nothing Ear (stick)'s appeal is two-fold: design and price. The Nothing buds don't look like anything else on the market and the charging case definitely has that element of coolness about it. Plus, the design...

Comfortable & secure ; Good battery life ; Spacious sound ; In-ear detection

Bass can be lacking ; No ANC ; Tiny USB cable

The ‘half-in’ design of the Ear (Stick) buds means they are something of a ‘love it or hate it’ prospect. But if you’re looking for affordable open-style earbuds that are comfortable and airy, with good sound quality, then you’ve just found a great pair.

Distinctive looks ; Comfy enough for all-day wear

Buds won’t sit firmly in all ears ; Bass and sound isolation a step behind in-ear rivals

If you hate earphones that sit inside your ear canals, the Ear Stick is a comfy alternative that looks the part. It doesn’t give up too much on the sound quality front, but rivals offer more features – and often for less cash.

Unique, functional design (case) ; IP54 resistance ; Excellent connection stability ; Nice touch with Bass Lock and Wind Cancellation for calls

AAC and SBC codec support only ; No ANC ; Light on features against other rivals and its own Ear (1) ; Subjective bud shape

TLDR version: Excels in ways you won't expect, but still an average pair if you have high expectations.

Eye-catching design Long battery life IP54 rating

Big buds may cause fit problems No voice assistant support

“The Nothing Ear Stick earbuds and case look incredible, with a design that's unlike any other, but the just-acceptable sound quality and simple feature list mean they don't live up to expectations.”

Fun charging case ; Press controls work great ; Much-improved voice calls

Fit could be more secure ; Not entirely bug-free ; No wireless charging

That makes them a good pair of earbuds for the price but not a good pair of earbuds for everyone.

Detailed sound quality ; Clear call quality ; Responsive touch controls ; Impressive Bluetooth 5.3 range ; Easy-to-use app

Divisive design ; No ANC ; No wireless charging ; Plenty of noise leakage

The Nothing Ear (stick) is another solid entry into the company’s earbuds lineup, packing a uniquely divisive aesthetic and powerful sound into a less intrusive, half in-ear design. Unfortunately, it falls victim to all the common half in-ear problems.