Nothing Ear 3 Review — Smart Case and Noticeably Clearer Calls

Experience clearer calls and smart tech with the Nothing Ear 3 earbuds featuring upgraded drivers and an innovative charging case.

A Fresh Start for Nothing’s Earbuds

Remember last year when Nothing Ear earbuds declared “final” with a sleek no-number name? Well, co-founder Carl Pei admitted dropping the number was a misstep, bringing it back for the new generation. So, why not Ear 4? Let’s just say semantics aside, the Nothing Ear 3 arrives with some serious upgrades.

The Ear 3 ups the ante with larger dynamic drivers, spatial audio capabilities, and a stylish metallic touch that nods to the brand's bigger Headphone 1 headphones siblings. But the real game-changer? A smart charging case equipped with a microphone designed to dramatically improve call and voice recording quality. Plus, it slips in more AI-powered features to integrate seamlessly into your daily routine.

Of course, all these perks bump the price to $179, a noticeable jump from the last model's $149. This price places the Ear 3 right alongside transparent Beats Studio Buds+ earbuds and other worthy rivals. The big question: do these new design tweaks and clearer calls give Nothing a leg up in the competitive earbuds arena?

Design and Build: Keeping the Family Vibe Alive

Fans of Nothing’s iconic transparency needn’t fret—the company’s passion for see-through tech remains intact. What’s new is the introduction of metal elements throughout, lending the in-ear buds a sturdier feel reminiscent of the full-sized Headphone 1 headphones. These aluminum accents are cleverly hidden beneath the polycarbonate shell, so the earbuds themselves don't feel heavier or bulkier.

The charging case itself is a standout. Gone is any notion of flimsy plastic; the case now offers a cool, premium hand-feel that surpasses previous Nothing Ear cases. It holds onto the flat, square shape with a flip lid but now sports a prominent TALK button on the side. Adjacent to the USB-C charging port, you’ll find a microphone grill and a status LED indicator.

Added conveniences include a lanyard loop, perfect for on-the-go users, and IP54 dust and splash resistance, meaning a little rain won’t ruin your day. Although I still find the rectangular Ear (a) cases easier to slide into pockets, this case is far from bulky. The design smartly prevents earbuds from inserting incorrectly, and pogo pin contacts ensure reliable charging every time. That magnetic lid sticks tight—no accidental openings during vigorous movement.

The earbuds themselves stick to the signature “stick” shape, with a slightly adjusted angle for better comfort. I had no issues with fit—even mid-run, they held firm. Multiple silicone tip sizes come in the box, including tiny options for smaller ear canals, so most users should find their perfect fit.

Features and Battery: Crystal-Clear Listening

The Nothing Ear 3 case isn’t just a battery pack—it’s a smart companion. Unlike JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds’ display case, Nothing’s “Super Mic” adds a couple of large microphones built directly into the charging case. Hold down the TALK button, and the case’s mic takes over from the earbuds’, capturing your voice with impressive clarity.

I tested this feature on video calls in WhatsApp and Zoom, and the difference was striking. Friends and colleagues noted my voice sounded clearer, with better diction and natural sibilance—those tricky “s” sounds that often get lost with regular Bluetooth mics.

That’s not to say the earbuds’ own mics are lacking—they pack three each, plus a bone conduction sensor that filters ambient noise, focusing on your voice. But the Super Mic takes clarity up a notch. Fair warning though: holding the TALK button in public might make you feel like a live reporter!

When not on calls, that same button can trigger your phone’s voice assistant or start a voice memo (especially neat if you own a Nothing smartphone). The recordings sync with the Nothing app and get automatically transcribed.

Compatibility is the catch: only select third-party apps recognize the Super Mic. On my Samsung phone, the earbuds’ mics defaulted during voice recording, and typical phone calls over cellular don’t show much difference. So, the full Super Mic magic shines mostly on apps that support it.

Touch controls on the earbuds remain as intuitive as ever—smart enough to avoid accidental track skips or pauses when adjusting fit. Plus, Nothing upgraded the antennae inside each stem: bigger, thinner, and better at keeping Bluetooth stable in crowded places like train stations, even when streaming high-quality LDAC audio.

Battery life is slightly better than last year’s model: 5.5 hours with ANC on (20 minutes more than before) and a total of 22 hours with the case. A quick 10-minute USB-C charge can boost playback up to 10 hours. Wireless charging is still here too, a must-have at this price point.

App Interface: A Sleek New Look

The Nothing X companion app got a stylish makeover for 2025, ditching old dot-matrix fonts for a clean, bold black-and-white aesthetic. Battery status for earbuds and case sits front and center, while scrolling down reveals key controls.

If you’re familiar with previous Nothing Ear earbuds models, you’ll recognize features like fully customizable touch controls, adjustable ANC modes and levels, a low-latency gaming mode, find-my-buds sound alerts, and tip-fit tests. You can also toggle in-ear detection—though it works as reliably as ever, so I left it on throughout testing.

Some features clash, though: enabling spatial audio disables bass boost and resets the EQ to default. Dual-device connection limits some Super Mic functions, so it’s off by default.

Personally, I found the spatial audio mode artificially expands the soundstage, often boosting lows too much and steering away from the artist’s original intent. Great for movies, but not my go-to for music. Instead, I switched to the 8-band custom EQ, which gives serious control over tone. Importing EQ profiles found online? A delightful bonus I wish more brands offered.

One of the app’s standout features is a simplified personalized hearing test. Just tap “I hear it” or “I don’t” across various tones, and within minutes, the app crafts a unique hearing profile to compensate for any gaps in your ears’ frequency perception.

Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation: A Bass Boost

Nothing packed a 12mm dynamic driver inside each Ear 3 bud—bigger than the 11mm in last year’s model. The payoff? Sharper highs and a wider soundstage, even before flipping on spatial audio.

The tuning favors bass a bit more than before, and that’s without the bass boost turned on, which I’d caution against due to added muddiness. With default settings, Pendulum’s “Cartagena” hits with punchy, energetic sub-bass that stays tight enough to not overshadow vocals. Highs sparkle without becoming harsh.

I noticed the mids were a tad recessed in Nothing But Thieves’ “Welcome to the DCC,” while Ghost’s “Absolution” featured sharper hi-hats than I’m used to. Burial’s “Phoneglow” pushed that sharpness close to harshness, nudging me to soften it via the advanced EQ.

Overall, these are solid earbuds for their price, though detailed rivals like Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds and Technics EAH-AZ80E earbuds offer more nuance for the same money.

Nothing deserves props for steadily improving ANC. The Ear 3’s noise cancellation stands tall with the best in-ear models around $150-$200. They effectively quiet low-frequency hums from trains and general background noise in stores and offices. Sudden loud sounds can still catch them off guard—top-tier buds like Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 earbuds handle those better but at a much higher price.

Verdict: Nothing Ear 3

If last year’s Ear 2 was more evolutionary, the Ear 3 feels like a genuine leap forward. This is a mature, capable pair of true wireless earbuds that genuinely deliver superior mic performance compared to close competitors. The catch? You might have to get comfortable talking through the charging case and ensure your favorite apps fully support the Super Mic. For full features, pairing with a Nothing smartphone is ideal.

Super Mic likely justifies the higher price, pushing Ear 3 into fierce battles with well-established rivals. But if you’re after detailed sound or longer battery life over call clarity, there are plenty of worthy alternatives.

Technical Specifications

• Drivers: 12mm dynamic
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Yes
• Bluetooth Version: 5.4
• Supported Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC
• Water/Dust Resistance: IP54
• Battery Life: 5.5 hours with ANC, 22 hours total with case
• Dimensions: Earbud 31x22x21mm, 5.2g each; Case 56x56x22mm, 61g

“Friends and colleagues noted my voice sounded clearer, with better diction and natural sibilance—those tricky ‘s’ sounds that often get lost with regular Bluetooth mics.”

FAQ

• How does the Super Mic improve call quality?
  It uses larger microphones on the charging case to capture clearer voice audio, reducing distortion and enhancing clarity during calls and recordings.
• Are the earbuds comfortable for long use?
  Yes, with multiple silicone tip sizes and a refined angle for better fit, they stay securely in place—even during workouts.
• Does the Nothing Ear 3 support wireless charging?
  Absolutely, the charging case supports wireless charging alongside USB-C fast charging.
• Is spatial audio recommended for music listening?
  For movies and immersive experiences, yes. However, for music, it tends to artificially widen the soundstage and alter original audio, so many users prefer to turn it off.
• Can I use the personalized hearing test on any device?
  The test is integrated into the Nothing X app and works best with the Ear 3 earbuds connected; it customizes sound profiles based on your hearing.

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