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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick offers an open design, wireless connectivity, and a slight edge in overall sound quality which is good for calls and meetings, while the Steelseries TUSQ is a budget-friendly option with good gaming performance. If you prefer wireless earbuds that are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, with features like ear detection and a balanced sound for music and podcasts, the Ear Stick could be your choice; but if a lower price, a design tailored for gaming with a boom mic, and the versatility of a wired connection matter more to your use case, consider the TUSQ. Keep in mind that the Ear Stick also has a low latency mode which could be suitable for gaming and TV, but they may not provide the same isolation and focus that gaming headsets usually offer. 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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Steelseries TUSQ
- Good for music
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.1
7.6
The Steelseries TUSQ is good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.6
5.2
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
4.7
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Steelseries TUSQ is only fair for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life. The Steelseries TUSQ does not have a battery.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has excellent build quality, while the Steelseries TUSQ has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
8.1
8.5
The Steelseries TUSQ and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both very good for gaming.
TV and Video
7.5
7.3
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick and Steelseries TUSQ are both good for TV and video.
Cost
$99
$98
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has a price of $99 and the Steelseries TUSQ costs $98.
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How the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick and the Steelseries TUSQ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick | Steelseries TUSQ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $98 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | "Nothing" Brand | Steelseries | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2022 | August 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.2/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.4 Grams | 11 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Steelseries TUSQ
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Can Buy or Not
Aloysius Low | March 2021
"The SteelSeries Arctis Tusq is a great headset for those on a more modest budget. You can use it for gaming or music, and I daresay it's also great for Zoom meetings when you don't want to be wearing on-ear or over-ear headphones."
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About Steelseries
Steelseries is a Danish gaming products manufacturer founded in 2001 and owned by GN Store Nord. Beside a large variety of gaming peripherals like mice, keyboards, and mousemats, Steelseries markets the Arctis line of gaming headsets which feature integrated boom microphones and RGB lighting. Steelseries has partnered with several game publishers and studios for limited editions of their products like a line of Cyberpunk 2077 themed headsets in 2020.
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Why trust us
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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