Wireless Earbuds / Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE vs Nothing Ear (3a)
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE vs Nothing Ear (3a)
Nothing Ear (3a)
An 8-band parametric EQ and Bluetooth 6.0 for $99 — remarkable value.
Wins overall by 0.6 points
Quick Verdict
The Nothing Ear (3a) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.6 points. An 8-band parametric EQ and Bluetooth 6.0 for $99 — remarkable value.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE and Nothing Ear (3a) are both closely matched wireless Earbuds models, and the Nothing Ear (3a) is $21 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE ($99 vs $119.99). On Value, the Nothing Ear (3a) leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Noise Cancelling, the Nothing Ear (3a) leads (8.0 vs 7.0/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed. On Comfort & Fit, the Nothing Ear (3a) leads (8.5 vs 7.5/10) — weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. Overall, the Nothing Ear (3a) scores 7.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.3/10 for the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE | Nothing Ear (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $99.00 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 6 | 6 |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 24 | Nothing publishes per-bud and case capacities but no verified ANC-on total |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Active Noise Cancelling with an additional microphone for background-noise reduction | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB with three strength modes |
| Driver Size (mm) | 11 | 12 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Multipoint | Not listed on Samsung's US specification | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | No | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Weight per Bud (g) | Not published by the manufacturer | 4.5 |
| Codecs | Not listed on Samsung's US specification | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | 360 Audio, but without head tracking on this model | Yes; head tracking is not confirmed |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White | Black, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on tuning, detail and codec support. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on how much ambient noise is actually removed. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — a 0.5-point margin on playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort & Fit
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-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 Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE and Nothing Ear (3a) are level here, at 7.0/10 each. IP rating, build materials and case robustness is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
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 Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
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).
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3a) scores 8.0/10 here (how much ambient noise is actually removed).
- • Comfort & Fit matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3a) scores 8.5/10 here (weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions).
- • Features matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3a) scores 8.5/10 here (app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3a) scores 8.0/10 here (tuning, detail and codec support).
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE
Pros
- +Stem design and Galaxy AI features at well under Pro pricing
- +Real-time translation and Gemini on Galaxy phones
- +IP54 dust and water resistance
- +11mm driver
Cons
- −No head tracking, unlike the Pro models
- −6 hours with ANC on is mid-pack at best
- −No wireless charging
- −The Galaxy Wearable app is Android-only, so there is no iOS support at all
- −Most of the interesting features need a Galaxy phone
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 Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or Nothing Ear (3a) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Nothing Ear (3a) 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 Value, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE 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 Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) scores higher on Noise Cancelling (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed.
Which is better for Comfort & Fit, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) scores higher on Comfort & Fit (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions.
Which is better for Features, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) scores higher on Features (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE worth the price difference over the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) is the cheaper option at $99 versus $119.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE is the better fit if you mainly care about calls. The Nothing Ear (3a) is the better fit for travel.
What's the warranty on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE vs the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE 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.
Cheaper Option
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Premium Option
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Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.