Nothing Ear (3) Review: Flagship Wireless Earbuds with Major Upgrades and One Flaw

Nothing Ear (3) brings premium design, improved sound, and clever features, but does its flagship status hold up in the crowded TWS market?

When a brand creates earbuds that turn heads not only for their performance but for their futuristic looks, you take notice. That’s exactly what happened when Nothing launched its first earbuds four years ago. Fast forward to today, and the London-based company is back with its latest flagship: the Nothing Ear (3). These earbuds promise a blend of refined hardware, a striking transparent design, and some significant improvements—along with one notable misstep.

Let’s dive into what makes the Nothing Ear (3) tick, and whether they truly set a new bar for the brand or simply serve as a modest update for a new generation of wireless earbuds.

Design That Stands Out

The design of Nothing’s products has always been their calling card. Back in 2021, the Ear (1) disrupted the sea of sameness with a visually arresting transparent shell, and the Ear (3) continues this tradition, though with a twist.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, Nothing has focused on materials this time around. The charging case, for instance, now sports a base layer made of recycled aluminum, lending it a cool, premium touch that plastic cases just can’t match. This subtle yet significant upgrade gives the case a heftier feel—bringing the combined weight of the earbuds and case to 71 grams, about 10 grams more than the previous generation.

While the top and bottom parts of both the case and earbuds retain the transparent plastic finish Nothing is famous for, this mix of materials strikes a nice balance between futuristic looks and everyday durability.

In terms of fit, the Ear (3) feels familiar if you came from the previous Nothing models. With the right silicone tips (three sizes included), these earbuds fit snugly and comfortably—no ear fatigue even after hours of use.

One fresh design feature is the Talk button on the case, paired with dual microphones and a speaker, which powers the innovative Super Mic functionality.

The idea here: use the charging case as a portable microphone for calls, voice notes, or hands-free assistant commands—a nifty concept that adds value beyond your typical case.

The retail package comes standard: earbuds with case, three sets of silicone tips, and a USB-C charging cable. Plus, both earbuds and case boast an IP54 rating, protecting against dust and water splashes, ideal for daily commutes or workouts.

Feature-Rich Flagship Performance

If you're after premium truly wireless earbuds, the Nothing Ear (3) ticks many of those boxes. Under the hood, they feature 12mm dynamic drivers that cover a wide frequency range from 20 Hz to 40 kHz.

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is still a strong suit, offering adaptive noise suppression up to 45 dB. A clever upgrade here is the ANC's ability to adapt to your environment in just 600 milliseconds—pretty snappy for reacting to changes in surroundings.

Connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 5.4, supporting multi-device pairing, Google Fast Pair, and Microsoft Swift Pair. The earbuds also support spatial audio, though without head-tracking, which might be a bummer for some immersive audio fans.

Codec support includes AAC, SBC, and the high-res LDAC, alongside ear detection for seamless play/pause and a low-latency mode to keep gaming and video playback smooth.

Controls depart from the usual tap patterns seen on many earbuds. Instead, Nothing uses programmable pinch gestures on the stem for single, double, triple, and hold actions—giving users granular control.

Each earbud packs three MEMS directional microphones plus a bone conduction sensor (VPU), boosting call and voice assistant accuracy.

If you’re rocking a Nothing Phone running OS 3.5 or later, voice recordings automatically upload to the Essential Space app, with auto-transcription—a neat bonus for those who use earbuds as makeshift voice recorders.

On the app front, Nothing X stands out as one of the most intuitive and feature-packed companions available. Whether on Android or iOS, it offers a ton of customization options, EQ tweaks, and controls to tailor your listening experience.

Super Mic: The Game-Changer Microphone System

The hallmark of the Ear (3) is the Super Mic system, which leverages two mics situated on the case near the USB-C port. This feature activates only when one earbud is worn and the Talk button is pressed.

While Nothing doesn’t claim the case’s mics can isolate your voice perfectly in environments as noisy as 95 dB, they’re designed for calls in moderately loud settings, voice memos, and digital assistant chats.

From hands-on experience, the Super Mic dramatically improves voice clarity compared to the earbuds’ built-in mics. Holding the case near your mouth gives crystal-clear audio quality.

Testers noted that call recipients often commented on the clarity, comparing it favorably to direct phone mic quality. If your current buds struggle on calls, the Ear (3)’s case might just be your secret weapon—even if it feels a bit odd pulling the case out mid-call.

Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation

Nothing Ear (3) have a bass-forward character that’s hard to miss—but in a good way. The low end thumps with authority, making rap, EDM, and other bass-heavy genres especially fun to listen to.

The 12mm drivers now feature a redesigned diaphragm, which the company says improves both lows and highs compared to last year’s model. The radiating surface area has increased by 20%, deepening those bass sensations.

Overall, the soundstage feels wider and more open than before, with less distortion. Mids and highs come through clearer and more defined, and instrument separation is notably improved, making the music feel more alive and vibrant.

The Nothing X app's extended EQ is a standout, offering an 8-band customizable equalizer with fine-tuning for frequency values and Q-factor, allowing audiophiles to sculpt their sound precisely.

You can save custom EQ profiles, share with others, or import community presets. While the default V-shaped sound signature is lively and engaging, those craving balance can achieve it with some EQ work—though it would be nice if the earbuds shipped with a more neutral profile out of the box.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Performance

The Ear (3)’s adaptive ANC does a commendable job if you’ve nailed the right ear tips, though it’s not quite in Sony WF-1000XM5 territory when it comes to sheer noise isolation.

In office tests, the earbuds effectively muffle the hum of air conditioning, water coolers, and keyboard clicks. Crank the ANC up while playing background music, and they significantly reduce ambient noise, making them solid companions for commutes or busy spaces.

Battery Life That Keeps You Going

Battery figures sit comfortably in the average range for flagship earbuds. You get up to 5.5 hours of playback with ANC on, and an additional 22 hours from the charging case. Turn off ANC, and these numbers jump to 10 and 38 hours, respectively.

Each earbud has a 55mAh battery, a slight improvement over last year’s model, while the case holds 500mAh.

In real-world use, we clocked around 6.5 hours of playback with ANC active using the AAC codec. LDAC usage cuts battery runtime to roughly 3.5 hours with ANC on, and 5.5 hours with it off.

Charging from zero to full takes about 70 minutes via USB-C. Wireless charging is supported too—though the 2.5W speed means a longer 120 minutes to full.

Final Verdict: A Strong Contender with Distinct Personality

Nothing Ear (3) may not reinvent the wireless earbud wheel, but they polish the ride impressively. Improved sound quality, a premium design feel, and a rich feature set make them a worthy flagship offering.

The Super Mic, while seemingly a gimmick, genuinely improves call quality when used properly, even if fumbling for the case during a call isn’t ideal.

Sonically, the earbuds deliver a punchy, vibrant sound that will appeal to many, with extensive EQ options for those who want precision tuning. ANC is solid but doesn’t quite match market leaders like Sony or Apple, and battery life is respectable though not class-leading.

In an overcrowded TWS landscape, Nothing's distinctive design and thoughtful app ecosystem give the Ear (3) a unique edge.

If your current earbuds let you down during calls, the Ear (3)'s charging case mic might be the unexpected hero you need.

FAQ

• What’s new in Nothing Ear (3) compared to previous models?
  The Ear (3) feature a premium recycled aluminum base for the case, adaptive ANC that reacts in 600ms, Bluetooth 5.4, and the innovative Super Mic system using the case as a portable microphone.
• How effective is the Super Mic feature?
  Super Mic significantly improves call clarity by capturing your voice from the charging case’s mics, making phone conversations clearer in moderately noisy environments.
• Does Nothing Ear (3) support wireless charging?
  Yes, the case can be wirelessly charged, though at a slower 2.5W speed, which takes about 2 hours for a full charge.
• Can I customize the sound profile of the Ear (3)?
  Absolutely. The Nothing X app offers a detailed 8-band EQ with fine tuning for frequency and bandwidth, letting you tailor sound to your taste.
• How does the ANC compare with competitors?
  While adaptive ANC works well, especially in office and urban noise, it doesn’t quite match the noise cancellation prowess of top contenders like Sony WF-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Pro.

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