Carl Pei’s transparent tech crusade continues with the Ear (3), but this time Nothing has thrown us a curveball that’s equal parts inventive and strange. Instead of just cramming more drivers into the buds themselves, the company decided to stick a pair of microphones directly into the charging case and call it “Super Mic.” It sounds gimmicky until you realize it might be the most practical innovation in earbuds this year.
The Walkie-Talkie Revival
Super Mic transforms your charging case into something resembling a futuristic walkie-talkie (remember the Nextel Chirp phones?). Press the dedicated TALK button and those dual microphones spring into action, using ambient-filtering technology to isolate your voice from background noise up to 95 dB.
For Nothing phone users, it integrates seamlessly with Essential Space, automatically transcribing voice notes and syncing them across devices. Though support remains limited to specific apps like Zoom and Teams for calls, the foundation is there for something bigger.
Still Transparent
Beyond the Super Mic novelty, the Ear (3) is also Nothing’s most refined design evolution yet. The signature transparent aesthetic now incorporates polished metal accents, with the charging case crafted from 100% recycled aluminum and finished through 27 precision processes. A nano injection molding technique fuses metal and plastic without adhesive.
The buds themselves house upgraded 12mm dynamic drivers with patterned diaphragms that boost bass response by 4-6 dB and treble by up to 4 dB. This is combined with real-time adaptive noise cancellation that adjusts every 600 milliseconds.
The Complete Package
Each bud incorporates three directional microphones alongside a Shokz-like bone-conduction Voice Pick-up Unit that detects jaw vibrations for enhanced voice clarity. The system works in conjunction with AI-powered environmental noise cancellation trained on over 20 million hours of real-world audio. Battery life stretches to 10 hours per bud (up 90 minutes from the previous Ear), extending to 38 hours with the case.
Spec Sheet
Model: Nothing Ear (3)
Drivers: 12mm dynamic with patterned diaphragm
Battery Life: 10 hours (buds only), 38 hours total with case
Noise Cancellation: Up to 45 dB adaptive ANC
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC Hi-Res support
Water Resistance: IP54
Colors: Black and white
Pricing & Availability
The Nothing Ear (3) will be available globally for $179 starting September 25, with pre-orders already live through Nothing’s website and select retail partners.
Recap
Nothing Ear (3) Earbuds
Nothing debuts the Ear (3) earbuds, which introduce an unusual but practical “Super Mic” system built into the charging case for clearer calls and voice notes. They’ve also upgraded the overall design with metal accents and improved audio performance.
