Nothing Ear (3a) earbuds blend bold design and useful recording tools at a $99 price
Nothing's Ear (3a) earbuds combine eye-catching styling, comfortable fit and solid sound with a built-in recorder, but their ANC and spatial audio lag behind premium rivals.
Nothing’s eighth earbud, the Ear (3a), refines the brand’s see-through look with new bright colors, a compact case and a larger 12 mm driver that adds noticeable bass depth over its predecessor. The fit rivals Apple’s AirPods Pro, and pinch controls are responsive and customizable via the Nothing X app, which also displays battery status through LED dots. A standout function is Audio Snapshot, letting users record up to a minute of surrounding sound or phone calls directly on the earbuds, storing files in the built-in 32 MB memory and offering cloud-based AI transcription after a three-month free period.
Sound quality is lively and detailed, outperforming many sub-$100 rivals, though static spatial audio lacks head-tracking and can sound harsh. ANC reduces background noise but does not match flagship models from Apple, Sony or Soundcore, and battery life reaches six hours with ANC active. At $99, the Ear (3a) delivers a fun, well-built package with useful recording tools, but its weaker ANC and subscription-required transcription limit its appeal.
Why it matters
Consumers get a stylish, affordable earbud with unique recording features, helping them decide if the trade-offs in noise cancelling are worth the price.
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