OnePlus Buds Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, and more

Nothing recently announced the Nothing Ear (stick), their newest truly wireless earbuds. They come as an upgrade to the company’s first pair of TWS, the Ear (1). These new Ear (stick) have an updated earbud design along with a redesigned casing that still adheres to Nothing’s transparent product design ethos. The Ear (stick), which costs Rs 8,499, is even more expensive than the Ear (1), whose price has increased repeatedly over the past few months.

The Ear (stick) can, however, compete head-to-head with a number of rivals in the Rs 10,000 segment thanks to its unique design and features. Keep reading if you’re looking for some alternatives to the Nothing Ear (stick).

Best alternatives to Nothing Ear (stick)

Here are some Nothing Ear (stick) alternatives worth considering in the sub Rs 10,000 price segment:

• Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
• Oppo Enco X
• Nothing Ear (1)
• OnePlus Buds Pro
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro made a significant impact in the TWS market. They went on sale for Rs 8,490 frequently last year after being introduced at a price of Rs 15,999. For that steep price, these come with 11mm woofers and 6.5mm tweeters on either side, together with a powerful Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) setup via a system of microphones.

However, they have a poor reputation for being big and are not recommended for those with smaller ears. Putting that aside, they are a formidable rival to Nothing Ear (stick) and occasionally deliver far superior results for almost the same price. You can catch our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro here.

Pros

• Well-balanced sound
• Comfortable
• Useful features
• Decent ANC

Cons

• A few features are limited to Samsung devices
• Big for smaller ears
• Limited iPhone compatibility

OPPO Enco X

Before entering the smartphone market, OPPO had a long history of producing audio devices and had even experimented with more expensive audiophile-grade gear. As TWS buds have gained popularity, the company is returning to its roots and has produced a number of TWS, including its flagship Enco X buds. The OPPO Enco X does have an 11mm dynamic driver and a 6mm balanced membrane driver on each side, in contrast to the Galaxy Buds Pro.

In order to create the crazy tuning on the Enco X, OPPO has collaborated with the audio engineering company DYNAUDIO. The Enco X, however, is equipped with the greatest hardware available, featuring dual driver configuration, support for the SBC, AAC, and LHDC codecs, as well as class-leading ANC. Here you may read our comprehensive review of the OPPO Enco X.

Pros

• Surreal sound signature 
• Stylish and Comfortable Design 
• Powerful ANC

Cons

• Devices that support LHDC codec aren’t as widely available 
• Sub-par battery backup 

Nothing Ear (1)

Nothing marketed their first set of truly wireless earbuds, the Ear (1), as the upcoming audio breakthrough, but they failed to live up to that promise. The Ear (1) was initially offered at a very attractive price of Rs 5,999, but because of inflation, the price has recently increased to Rs 7,299. They offer a stunningly gorgeous design and passable audio quality for that kind of money. Additionally, they include the same set of features as the other TWS alternatives on this list, including wireless charging, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, an OTA update option, app integration, and many more. You can catch our full review of Nothing Ear (1) here.

Pros

• Unique design 
• Likable sound signature
• Loads of convenience-based features
• Long-lasting battery life 

Cons

• Unpleasant spikes in the mid-range
• Treble lacks energy 
• Transparent case gets scuffed easily

OnePlus Buds Pro

The Buds Pro are OnePlus’s top-tier TWS earbuds and the company’s response to the competition like the Apple AirPods, Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, and others. The Buds Pro boasts a good sound signature with a pounding amount of bass, 11mm dynamic drivers on either side, unique colours and finishes, support for the majority of popular audio codecs, and many more unique features. The Buds Pro sells at a premium and can be bought for Rs 9,990. For that amount of dough, these provide an impactful ANC, a strong battery life, a fashionable style, and a delicate balance between enjoyable and analytical listening. You can read our OnePlus Buds Pro review here.

Pros

• Fun and detailed sound output 
• Powerful ANC 
• Comfortable, all-day wear design 
• Solid battery backup

Cons

• Music streaming via LHDC codec is buggy
• Doesn’t support Google Fast Pair 
• Hinge mechanism for the case feels loose

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

The Galaxy Buds Pro served as the inspiration for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, which differ only in size. Most of the features that make the Buds Pro so well-liked are still present, including twin dynamic driver arrangement on either side, ANC, in-ear design, wireless charging, OTA compatibility, and a day’s worth of battery life.

The Buds 2 are a great option because of their weight and design, which allow users to rock them into their ears for longer lengths of time than they can with most of the TWS buds on our list. These did once cost a hefty Rs 12k, but their price has been decreased to Rs 7,499. You can read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 here.

Pros

• Comfortable, all-day wear design 
• Good sound quality 
• Powerful ANC
• Good for calls

Cons

• Only IPX2 rated
• Tad expensive 
• No wear detection 
• Bass output is timid