Everything in consumer tech seems to cost more this year than it did last, which makes Nothing’s latest release feel almost defiant. The London-based upstart just dropped the Ear (3a), the long-awaited follow-up to 2024’s fan-favorite Ear (a), and held the price right at $99.
But the sticker price isn’t even the story here. The story is that these budget buds hide a party trick we haven’t seen anywhere near this price point.
A Dictaphone Living in Your Ears
Pinch both earbuds and a feature called Audio Snapshot starts recording whatever you’re listening to, complete with up to 30 seconds of preroll so you don’t miss the moment that made you reach for it in the first place. Think a key line from a lecture, or a voice note from a friend. Clips save to the buds’ built-in flash storage, then sync automatically to the Nothing X app for playback, editing, sharing, and transcription.
A separate gesture records phone calls for up to two hours, and everyone on the line gets an audible heads-up when it’s running. The catch? Nothing’s most accurate “Pro” transcription model is free for three months, then rolls into a paid subscription this September.
The Fundamentals Got a Bump Too
Nothing swapped in a larger 12mm dynamic driver that promises 5dB more bass, backed by LDAC support, Hi-Res certification, and an 8-band EQ. Reviewers are already saying these sound indistinguishable from the $179 flagship Ear (3), which is a mildly awkward compliment for the flagship.
ANC now hits 45dB of wideband reduction, with Nothing claiming a suspiciously precise 17.1% improvement over the outgoing model.
Transparent as Ever
The signature see-through stems carry over, now joined by a rounder, pill-inspired charging case with a new three-block LED battery indicator. Pink and yellow colorways join the usual black and white, a new XS ear tip covers smaller ears, and the whole package carries an IP54 rating.
Battery life lands at 10 hours per charge (42 with the case) with ANC off, dropping to roughly six and 25 when it’s on.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Nothing
Model: Ear (3a)
Driver: 12mm dynamic
ANC: Up to 45dB wideband
Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC
Connectivity: Bluetooth 6.0
Storage: 32MB built-in flash
Battery Life: 10 hrs (buds) / 42 hrs (with case), ANC off
Water Resistance: IP54 (buds and case)
Colors: Black, White, Yellow, Pink
Price: $99
Pricing & Availability
The Nothing Ear (3a) is available now for $99 in all four colorways, with three months of Pro transcription (capped at 120 minutes per month) thrown in. Head over to Nothing’s website to grab a pair.
Recap
Nothing Ear (3a) Wireless Earbuds
Nothing crammed built-in call and audio recording, bigger 12mm drivers, and 45dB of ANC into a $99 pair of buds that reviewers say sound every bit as good as the flagship.
