Audio review
Nothing Ear (3a) Review
At $99, the Nothing Ear (3a) pack high-resolution audio, useful ANC, multipoint, a serious equalizer, and unusual recording tools into a light, distinctive design.
Steve's verdict
These are an excellent value if sound quality, app control, and comfort matter more than wireless charging or flagship-level ANC. The recording feature is interesting, but the strong everyday earbud experience is the real reason to buy them.
Best for
Listeners who want feature-packed earbuds around $100 with strong customization and a comfortable fit.
Skip it if
You need wireless charging, LE Audio, head-tracked spatial audio, or the strongest isolation against voices.
Price at review
$99
Battery
6 hours with ANC
Standout
Features for the money
What I like
- Strong sound and feature set for $99
- Light, secure, and comfortable fit
- LDAC, multipoint, and an advanced equalizer
- Good ANC for the price with no quiet-room hiss
- IP54 rating applies to both buds and case
What to know
- No wireless charging
- Silicone tips let more voices through than premium foam tips
- Transparency mode can exaggerate fan noise
- AI transcription becomes a paid feature after the trial
- No LE Audio or head-tracked spatial audio
What I tested
Real-world use, not just the spec sheet
- Multi-hour listening sessions for fit and comfort
- Advanced EQ and Balanced preset comparisons
- ANC and transparency in quiet and noisy locations
- Indoor and busy-road microphone samples
- Dual-device connection and Audio Snapshot recording
Specs that matter
Price at review
$99
Available in white, black, yellow, and pink.
Battery
6 / 25 hours
Earbuds and total case time with ANC enabled.
Durability
IP54
Applies to the earbuds and charging case.
Wireless
Bluetooth 6.0
Includes LDAC, Fast Pair, Swift Pair, and multipoint.
Design and durability
The transparent styling immediately looks like a Nothing product instead of another generic stem earbud. The compact case and earbuds are both IP54 rated, making them suitable for workouts, sweat, and light rain. Four silicone tip sizes are included, and the case charges over USB-C rather than wirelessly.
Fit and comfort
The Ear (3a) fit my ears extremely well and stayed secure during movement. They are light enough that I could wear them for a couple of hours and nearly forget they were there. A loose fit initially caused an odd vibration while I spoke, but reseating the earbuds fixed it.
Nothing X app and controls
The app shows battery levels and provides ANC, transparency, spatial audio, an equalizer, low-lag mode, dual connection, Find My Earbuds, and customizable pinch controls. The advanced eight-band equalizer offers considerably more control than most products at this price, while the simple Balanced preset sounded best to me without extra work.
Audio Snapshot and transcription
Pinching both earbuds can capture an Audio Snapshot from a call or other media. Call recording announces itself to both people, and recordings appear in the app. Nothing includes a three-month trial of AI transcription, but the future subscription price was not announced when I tested them. I would treat this as a bonus—not the main reason to choose the earbuds.
Battery and charging
Nothing rates the earbuds for up to 10 hours and 42 hours with the case when ANC is off. With ANC on, the rating drops to six hours and 25 total. LDAC reduces it further, down to roughly four and a half hours with ANC. A five-minute charge can provide about an hour of playback, while 10 minutes can restore up to 10 total hours with the case.
Sound quality
The 12 mm drivers support LDAC, AAC, and SBC with high-resolution audio certification. For $99, they sound very good: highs are crisp, bass is strong but controlled, and the slightly recessed mids can be corrected in the equalizer. The combination of sound and tuning control is one of the strongest parts of the product.
Noise cancellation
Nothing rates ANC at up to 45 dB and provides low, medium, high, and adaptive settings. High mode worked well in noisy public areas, especially with music playing, but it is not on the same level as Sony, Apple, or Bose. Voices in a semi-quiet room still come through the silicone tips.
Transparency and microphones
Voices sound reasonably natural in transparency mode, but steady fan noise can become noticeably louder. I tested the microphones in a quiet office and beside a busy road; the full video includes both samples for a direct comparison.
Connectivity
Bluetooth 6.0, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and dual-device multipoint cover the connections most people will use. The earbuds remember previously paired devices, but LE Audio is one of the premium features left out at this price.
Who should buy them
Choose the Ear (3a) for their sound, fit, app, multipoint, and ANC—not because of the transcription subscription. If wireless charging or premium noise isolation is essential, spend more. For an everyday pair around $100, the value is difficult to ignore.
From the YouTube comments
“Are there any predictions about the battery drain problems people saw with earlier models?”
Steve's answer
It is too early to predict long-term battery aging from a one-week review. During my testing, the battery behavior matched the published expectations closely enough, but that does not prove the issue cannot appear later. I would watch longer-term owner reports and keep the warranty details handy if that history is your main concern.
Watch the full review