Wireless Earbuds / Nothing Ear (3) vs Apple AirPods Pro 3
Nothing Ear (3) vs Apple AirPods Pro 3
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone.
Wins overall by 0.6 points
Quick Verdict
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 takes this by a clear 0.6 points. Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone. The Nothing Ear (3) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Nothing Ear (3) and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are both current-generation wireless Earbuds models, and the Nothing Ear (3) is $70 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ($179 vs $249). On Battery, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (8.0 vs 6.5/10) — playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. On Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.5 vs 8.2/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed. On Comfort & Fit, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.0 vs 8.0/10) — weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. Overall, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.0/10 for the Nothing Ear (3). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Nothing Ear (3) | Apple AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $249.00 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 5.5 | 8✓ |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 22 | 24✓ |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB with Low, Mid and High modes | Apple ANC on the H2 chip; Apple claims roughly twice the noise reduction of AirPods Pro 2 |
| Driver Size (mm) | 12 | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | No — Apple offers iCloud automatic device switching, which hands the connection over rather than holding two at once |
| Water Resistance | IP54 buds and case | IP57 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Weight per Bud (g) | 5.2✓ | 5.55 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC and AAC only — no aptX or LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | Not published by the manufacturer | Yes, Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking |
| App EQ | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White | 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 (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.2 — a 1.3-point margin on how much ambient noise is actually removed. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort & Fit
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — 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 Nothing Ear (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call Quality
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on microphone performance and background noise rejection. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Nothing Ear (3) and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are level here, at 9.0/10 each. app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Durability
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on IP rating, build materials and case robustness. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Nothing Ear (3) and Apple AirPods Pro 3 are level here, at 7.5/10 each. features and performance relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if…
- • 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).
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.5/10 here (how much ambient noise is actually removed).
- • Comfort & Fit matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.5/10 here (tuning, detail and codec support).
- • Call Quality matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (microphone performance and background noise rejection).
Pros & Cons
Nothing Ear (3)
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
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
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FAQs
Is the Nothing Ear (3) or Apple AirPods Pro 3 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 Battery, the Nothing Ear (3) or the Apple AirPods Pro 3?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Battery (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case.
Which is better for Noise Cancelling, the Nothing Ear (3) or the Apple AirPods Pro 3?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Noise Cancelling (9.5/10 vs 8.2/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed.
Which is better for Comfort & Fit, the Nothing Ear (3) or the Apple AirPods Pro 3?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Comfort & Fit (9.0/10 vs 8.0/10) — weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Nothing Ear (3) or the Apple AirPods Pro 3?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Sound Quality (8.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — tuning, detail and codec support.
Is the Nothing Ear (3) worth the price difference over the Apple AirPods Pro 3?+
The Nothing Ear (3) is the cheaper option at $179 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Battery.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Nothing Ear (3) is the better fit if you mainly care about calls or commute. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the better fit for workout.
What's the warranty on the Nothing Ear (3) vs the Apple AirPods Pro 3?+
The Nothing Ear (3) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple AirPods Pro 3 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
Nothing Ear (3a) — $99.00
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.