Nothing announces official launch date for new Ear (stick) AirPods alternatives
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As it should be, Nothing just announced the full reveal date for its upcoming audio product, Ear (stick).
An announcement about an announcement. You have to hand it over to Carl Pei’s marketing department, they never miss a trick.
What we’re saying is that while we still have “nothing” conclusive about the features, pricing, or release date for the Ear (stick), other than an image of another model holding them (and we’ve seen plenty trudging down the catwalk recently), we to do have a date – the day when we get official access to this information.
That day is October 26. Nothing assures us that on this day we will find out everything, including prices and product specs, during the online Ear (stick) Reveal, at 3pm BST (that’s 10am ET, or 1am on Wednesday if you’re in Sydney, Australia are) on nothing.tech (opens in new tab).
More information? A little. Nothing calls the Ear (stick), which is now the product’s official name, “the next generation of Nothing sound technology”, and the “most advanced audio product to date”.
But that is not everything! Apparently, Ear (stick) “half in-ear true wireless earbuds that combine ultimate comfort with exceptional sound, are made not to feel during use. They are feather-light with an ergonomic design that is molded to your ears. Supplied in a unique charging case, inspired by classic cosmetic silhouettes, and compactly shaped for easy slipping into pockets.”
Opinion: I need more than a lipstick style case
Nothing Ear (stick) – official leaked renders pic.twitter.com/FrhKmRttmiOctober 1, 2022
It’s no secret that I want Nothing earbuds to succeed in a world dominated by AirPods; who doesn’t love a brave, eccentric underdog?
But to become some of the best true wireless earbuds on the market, there’s room for improvement over the Nothing Ear 1, the company’s inaugural earbuds.
Aside from this official “news” from Nothing, leaked images and videos of the Ear (stick) are popping up all over the internet (thanks, developer Kuba Wojciechowski) and they show earbuds that look mostly unchanged, which is a shame.
For me, the focus needs to shift away from gimmicks like a cylindrical case with a red section at the end that curls up like a lipstick. Don’t get me wrong, I do like a bit of theatre, but only if the sound coming out of the earbuds themselves is top dog.
As the natural companions to the Nothing Phone 1, it makes sense that the Ear (stick) occupies a place similar to Apple’s AirPods 3, where the flagship Ear (1) sits alongside the AirPods Pro 2 as a flagship offering.
Look, the lipstick case shape probably doesn’t support wireless charging. That and the notorious lack of ANC means the Ear (stick) is likely to arrive as the more affordable option in Nothing’s body of work.
For the time being, we are sitting still until October 26th.