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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer superior noise isolation, making them ideal for air travel and noisy environments, while also having a low latency mode suitable for video and gaming. However, they are significantly more expensive. In contrast, the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is less costly, they perform better for calls and meetings, and have a unique open design which some may prefer for outdoor activities as it allows for awareness of surroundings, but they don't isolate noise as effectively and lack wireless charging. Both options support AAC codec and are optimized for Apple devices, but only the Ear Stick is also optimized for Android. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods Pro 2
Good for music
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
Very good for phone calls
Key differences
Music
7.0/10
6.1/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Phone Calls
7.8/10
8.6/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Apple Airpods Pro 2 is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
2.5/10
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has 6 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$108
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 has a price of $199 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $108.
"Apple's upgraded H2 chip begets better active noise canceling (ANC) and battery life, while the case's U1 chip and integrated speaker lets you precisely locate it from the Find My app. If you own an iPhone, the new AirPods Pro is an obvious choice."
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro 2 or the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.