The Nothing Ear Stick are the London-based company's latest open earbuds, and it offers pretty good sound. But if your ear shape isn't quite right like mine, then these earphones are going to be very, very loose. They've dropped out from my ear a few times while testing this.
Quick specs
- Custom 12.6mm dynamic driver
- Touch controls
- 29 hours of listening time
The first thing you'll notice about the Ear Stick is the unique case design. Much like the Nothing ear 1 and the Nothing Phone 1, the earbuds come with transparent bits. The cylindrical charging case is also very unique. It twists open with a satisfying click. There's just one metal button, cleverly looking like part of the design, where you press to hold for pairing. The cylinder form factor does take up a lot more space, though, compared to the current trend of flattish round cases.
Unlike the Nothing ear 1, the Ear Stick doesn't stick inside your ear canal. It's basically Nothing's version of the Apple AirPods. Similarly, I did have issues with keeping the earbuds — the left one — in my ear. When I bent down, it would fall out. It did stay on for walks, but running would cause it to fly out unless I use my hands to keep them in place. I feel that the AirPods would stay in a little better.
Because these earbuds are open, you'll get sound coming in from the outside. So if it's a pure listening experience you're looking for, this is not it. What it can do is offer pretty strong bass. Mids and highs are clear, too. There's also Android Fast Pair, and if you're gaming on the Nothing Phone 1, it will automatically turn on low latency mode. Battery life is rated at 7 hours, but we only got 3 hours in our max volume test. But I doubt you'll be blasting at max volume anyway — it's quite loud. The case adds another 22 hours. The microphone does a good job in blocking wind, though it does this by compressing your voice, so you'll sound a tad robotic.
At S$169, the Nothing Ear Stick is competitively priced, especially against the AirPods. It's a decent pair of earbuds, but I much prefer in-ears. But if your ear shape can keep these earbuds in place, by all means, grab them from Lazada or Shopee.
Note: Review unit provided by Nothing.
Any purchase you make through our links may generate a commission. It supports our work, but does not dictate our editorial reviews. See our FAQ here.
