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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for exceptional sound quality and immersive music listening, particularly at home or in a quiet environment, go for the Focal Elex headphones. They have an open-back design which provides a broad soundstage, but this design also means they don't isolate noise well and aren't suited for noisy environments or commutes. On the other hand, if you value versatility and portability, the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is a better choice. These earbuds offer good sound quality, a built-in microphone, sweat and dust resistance, and a low latency mode, making them more suitable for calls, meetings, gaming, exercise, and use on the go. The Ear Stick also supports wireless charging, they are significantly lighter, and come with a charging case that extends their overall battery life. However, their sound quality, while good, may not match the higher fidelity of the Focal Elex. 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 Focal Elex
- Good for music
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.7
6.1
The Focal Elex is good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
6.9
8.1
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the Focal Elex is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.3
8.6
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
8.4
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Elex is good.
TV and Video
8.3
7.5
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good.
Battery
N/A
5.0 Hours
The Focal Elex does not have a battery. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$749
$108
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $108.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
2.5
2.5
The Focal Elex and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both poor for noise reduction.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Focal Elex and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick both have excellent build quality.
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How the Focal Elex and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $108 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | November 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 22 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 4.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Focal Elex
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Dig into reviews and images
Golden Sound
Golden Sound | October 2021
"The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They’re an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something comfortable, well built, that looks good, and will work with just about any genre."
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | December 2022
"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."
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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.
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