Wireless Earbuds / Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Nothing Ear (3a)
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Nothing Ear (3a)
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone.
Wins overall by 0.7 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.7-point gap makes the Apple AirPods Pro 3 the straightforward choice here. Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Nothing Ear (3a) are both closely matched wireless Earbuds models, and the Nothing Ear (3a) is $150 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ($99 vs $249). On Call Quality, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.0 vs 7.0/10) — microphone performance and background noise rejection. On Value, the Nothing Ear (3a) leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.5 vs 8.0/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed. Overall, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.9/10 for the Nothing Ear (3a). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Nothing Ear (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $99.00 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 8✓ | 6 |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 24 | Nothing publishes per-bud and case capacities but no verified ANC-on total |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Apple ANC on the H2 chip; Apple claims roughly twice the noise reduction of AirPods Pro 2 | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB with three strength modes |
| Driver Size (mm) | Not published by the manufacturer | 12 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Multipoint | No — Apple offers iCloud automatic device switching, which hands the connection over rather than holding two at once | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Weight per Bud (g) | 5.55 | 4.5✓ |
| Codecs | SBC and AAC only — no aptX or LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | Yes; head tracking is not confirmed |
| App EQ | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | White | Black, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on tuning, detail and codec support. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on how much ambient noise is actually removed. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort & Fit
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call Quality
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on microphone performance and background noise rejection. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on IP rating, build materials and case robustness. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if…
- • Call Quality matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (microphone performance and background noise rejection).
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.5/10 here (how much ambient noise is actually removed).
- • Durability matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.5/10 here (IP rating, build materials and case robustness).
- • Battery matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.0/10 here (playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case).
- • Your main use case is calls or workout.
Choose the Nothing Ear (3a) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3a) scores 9.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $150 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
Pros & Cons
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Pros
- +Among the best noise cancelling in any earbud, and a huge step over the Pro 2
- +The FDA-authorised hearing aid feature is a genuine health function, not a gimmick
- +IP57 is the toughest rating here
- +Heart-rate sensing and Live Translation
Cons
- −No EQ of any kind — you cannot adjust the tuning at all
- −No true multipoint, only Apple device switching
- −AAC and SBC only, with no hi-res codec
- −On Android you get playback and almost nothing else — you cannot even update the firmware without an Apple device
Nothing Ear (3a)
Pros
- +8-band parametric EQ at $99 — nothing else here comes close on tuning control
- +Bluetooth 6.0 and LDAC hi-res at a budget price
- +Lightest buds here at 4.5g
- +12mm drivers, the largest in this group
Cons
- −Short nozzles may compromise the seal, which affects both bass and ANC
- −Call recording and transcription are a paid add-on
- −The ChatGPT voice shortcut requires a Nothing phone and a subscription
- −Nothing does not publish a total ANC-on battery figure
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or Nothing Ear (3a) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Call Quality, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Call Quality (9.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — microphone performance and background noise rejection.
Which is better for Value, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) scores higher on Value (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Noise Cancelling (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed.
Which is better for Durability, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Durability (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — IP rating, build materials and case robustness.
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the price difference over the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) is the cheaper option at $99 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Call Quality.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the better fit if you mainly care about calls or workout. The Nothing Ear (3a) is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Nothing Ear (3a) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Premium Option
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro — $249.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.