Wireless Earbuds / Nothing
Nothing Ear (3a)
An 8-band parametric EQ and Bluetooth 6.0 for $99 — remarkable value.
Overall score 7.9/10
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
Nothing Ear (3a) review: what the specs say
An 8-band parametric EQ and Bluetooth 6.0 for $99 — remarkable value. At $99, Nothing's 2026 model sits among the cheapest we cover — the wireless Earbuds we compare run from $99 to $329.99. It scores 7.9/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is Value at 9.5/10 — features and performance relative to price. The weakest is Durability at 7.0/10, 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: short nozzles may compromise the seal, which affects both bass and ANC; and call recording and transcription are a paid add-on. 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) | 6 hrs |
| Battery with Case | Nothing publishes per-bud and case capacities but no verified ANC-on total hrs |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB with three strength modes |
| Driver Size | 12 mm |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Weight per Bud | 4.5 g |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | Yes; head tracking is not confirmed |
| App EQ | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, USB-C |
| Material | Transparent plastic with silicone tips |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Compare Nothing Ear (3a) With
Premium Alternative
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC — $99.99