Wireless Earbuds / Nothing
Nothing Ear (3)
Its metal case doubles as an external microphone — genuinely novel.
Overall score 8/10
Pros
- + The Super Mic case is genuinely novel and works well for calls in noisy places
- + Premium aluminium case rather than plastic
- + Strong ANC for the price
- + Full parametric EQ and LDAC
Cons
- − Only 5.5 hours with ANC on, the shortest per-charge figure here
- − Bass-heavy tuning with somewhat harsh treble
- − The Super Mic is a meaningful premium over the Ear (3a) for a feature many will rarely use
Nothing Ear (3) review: what the specs say
Its metal case doubles as an external microphone — genuinely novel. At $179, Nothing's 2025 model sits in the middle of the range — the wireless Earbuds we compare run from $99 to $329.99. It scores 8.0/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is Features at 9.0/10 — app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. The weakest is Battery at 6.5/10, which is the trade-off to weigh before buying: if that is the specification you care about most, one of the alternatives below will serve you better.
Worth knowing before you buy: only 5.5 hours with ANC on, the shortest per-charge figure here; and bass-heavy tuning with somewhat harsh treble. Every specification on this page comes from Nothing's own documentation or a verified retail listing — where a figure is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.
Specifications and price last verified . Report an error
Full Specifications
| Battery (ANC on) | 5.5 hrs |
| Battery with Case | 22 hrs |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB with Low, Mid and High modes |
| Driver Size | 12 mm |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP54 buds and case |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Weight per Bud | 5.2 g |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | Not published by the manufacturer |
| App EQ | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, LDAC, USB-C, Qi wireless charging |
| Material | Transparent plastic with an aluminium case |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Compare Nothing Ear (3) With
Cheaper Alternative
Nothing Ear (3a) — $99.00
Premium Alternative
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) — $299.00