Review: Nothing Ear (3a) Wireless Earbuds

With well over 2,000 different pairs on Amazon, we’re approaching peak earbud. Standing out—for the right reasons—in this identikit landscape isn’t easy, but Nothing’s design language remains as appealing as it did when it first launched the Ear (1) in 2021.

But this is 2026, and your wireless earbuds need to do more than look good and sound great. Take your pick from real-time translation (Apple AirPods Pro 3), AI prompting (Google Pixel Buds Pro 2), adjustable noise canceling (Bose QuietComfort Ultra), heart-rate monitoring (Beats Powerbeats Pro 2), and even UV self-cleaning cases (LG Tone Free Fit TF8).

Ear (3a) is Nothing’s eighth earbud launch, and while it doesn’t look that different from its predecessor, the Ear (a), it has been upgraded with a new case, larger 12-mm driver, and some unique recording functions.

Refined Design

Photograph: Chris Haslam

The transparent detailing, bright colors—a bold pink joins yellow, black, and white options—and compact case give Nothing far more personality than most earbuds, regardless of price. They lack the executive class of the premium Sony WF-1000XM6, but that’s the point. They’re fun, youthful, and eyecatching.

And unlike many earbuds under $100, they’re well made. The ample use of plastic often gives the game away, but the Ear (3a) feels significantly better than its competition, even down to the case, which is reassuringly solid and slips nicely into a pocket.

Fit is another strength. I have used AirPods Pro for years and have yet to find earbuds with better fit and interface, but Nothing’s stem design comes close. As with previous models, the pinch controls are responsive and intuitive. Skipping tracks, pausing music, and switching noise-canceling modes rarely requires a second attempt. You can customize the stem controls via the app too. There’s also a fit check test in the app that assesses the seal in your ears to ensure you’ve chosen the right size silicone tips.

It’s a tiny detail, but Nothing has added a LED strip to the case. One, two, or three white dots give an immediate indication of the remaining battery, while a red light warns when the charge is below 20 percent. It is a very simple but useful addition.

Say What?

ScreenshotNothing app via Chris Haslam

Ear (3a)’s most unusual feature is Audio Snapshot. If you pinch both earbuds simultaneously, the earbuds will either start recording your call (if you’re on one) or up to 60 seconds of whatever you’re listening to or watching. It can also be set to capture the previous 30 seconds of audio, with the idea being, you hear something important/inspirational/funny/thoughtful and you can capture it for later. Both use the 32 MB of storage built into the earbuds, so you can record content without touching your phone.

These recordings are uploaded to the Nothing X app, where you can listen, share, and transcribe them. There are two levels of transcription service, Standard, which runs locally on your phone, and Pro, which uses cloud-based AI processing. Pro Transcription comes included for three months after purchase, with an allowance of 120 minutes each month, though it requires a Nothing X account to use. The brand hasn’t announced how much Pro Transcription will cost after the free trial.

ScreenshotNothing app via Chris Haslam

I tested Pro Transcription using notoriously impossible-to-decipher lyrics from R.E.M., and it did a surprisingly good job. Mumble rapper Playboi Carti, not so mucy. But listening to music isn’t the feature’s ideal use, but it’s there for those insightful vignettes.

Call recording proved much more useful. Make or receive a call, press the earbuds simultaneously, and it will record your conversation. Recordings can last for up to two hours, which surprised me, given there’s only 32 MB storage built in. I often receive important calls when I’m on the move, so being able to easily record any conversation is genuinely useful. There is a spoken warning telling the other person they’re being recorded, but do remember that recording consent laws differ from region to region.

These recorded files are downloaded to the Nothing X app and transcribed. Listening back, call recordings are compressed and not good enough to broadcast professionally, but that’s not really the point. Either way, I typically use Otter.ai to transcribe my interviews for work, so I was pleased to see that Nothing recordings could be downloaded as WAV files and used outside the app.

Sound Driver

The Ear (3a) has a new 12-mm driver with a lightweight foam (PMI) center and flexible plastic (TPU) edge. Nothing says the drivers offer five decibels more bass and a more detailed sound signature.

After testing, I can confirm they sound good, with plenty of detail, solid bass extension, and generous soundstage. They’re not setting the hairs on my neck on end, but they’re energetic and enjoyable across genres.

Photograph: Chris Haslam

They sound as good, if not better than the $170 Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and have more detail and depth than the $89 EarFun Air Pro 4+. They’re no match for the $249 Apple AirPods Pro 3, but there’s not $150 worth of difference between them.

ScreenshotNothing app via Chris Haslam

Compared to the original Ear (a), which has an 11mm driver, the (3a) has a fuller, more defined bass frequency.

The default sound balance is lively, and you might want to tweak it using the app’s eight-band equalizer. Fiddling with the frequencies makes a noticeable difference too. Other audio features like Spatial Audio are much less pleasant. There is no head tracking, and I found it made podcasts sound particularly grating.

ANC Trade-Offs

Battery life is competitive but not class-leading: six hours with ANC on (25 with the case) or 10 hours with ANC off (42 with the case). It’s not amazing, but it’s hardly an issue.

ANC is good, and reduces background hubbub, but it’s not nearly as strong as flagship earbuds from Apple, Sony, or Soundcore. This is where the $99 price tag is most noticeable, but again, if you’ve not listened to $250 headphones, don’t start now and buy these instead, as they’re still really good. Toggling between ANC and transparency mode is easy too.

A Budget Standout

Photograph: Chris Haslam

The Ear (3a) looks and feels better than most affordable earbuds. They fit well, sound good and come with a great app. Audio Snapshot is fun, and call recording has genuine practical value, especially as the files can be easily exported.

That said, the ANC is a clear step below the best earbuds. Static Spatial Audio is dreadful, and no matter what the eventual cost, I resent paying for Pro Transcription once the trial ends. The older Ear (a) also complicates my recommendation, as it looks and fits much the same as the Ear (3a) and costs less. But few sub-$100 earbuds combine this much personality, polish, and practical technology into such a sleek package.

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