Nothing Ear 3’s Biggest Feature Isn’t Sound — And That’s a Huge Mistake

Nothing Ear 3 earbuds bring new tech and sleek design but stumble by making sound a secondary focus.

When Nothing unveiled their latest earbuds, the Ear 3, fans like me were buzzing with excitement. After all, Nothing has always been about blending striking design with intriguing tech twists. But as I dug deeper into the Ear 3’s features, it became clear this release leans more into gadget gimmicks than the pure sound experience we’ve come to crave.

A Quick Look at Nothing Ear 3’s Bold New Moves

Nothing's journey from the original Ear headphones through Ear A headphones and Ear 2 headphones has been quite the ride, filled with style and innovation. The Ear 3 keeps the signature transparent look but now cranks up the premium feel with metallic stems and a case made from 100% recycled aluminum — a nod to sustainability that’s both cool and conscientious.

• Improved sound quality with 12mm drivers (up from the previous 11mm)
• Two mics in the charging case, enabling "Super Mic" functionality
• Adaptive noise cancellation up to 45 dB, an upgrade from Ear 2’s 40 dB
• Support for LDAC codec for better high-res streaming on Android
• Voice Pickup Unit (VPU) in each earbud, combining bone conduction and three directional mics for clearer calls

The standout feature? The “Super Mic” system. This clever tech turns the charging case into a portable microphone that streams your voice directly through the earbuds to your device, effectively cutting out background noise — even in loud environments. The case sports a dedicated “Talk” button to switch between the earbuds’ mics and the Super Mic.

So, What’s Up with the Sound?

Here’s where the Ear 3 feels like it dropped the ball. The earbuds do use bigger 12mm drivers and durable PMI + TPU diaphragms, which should theoretically deliver sturdier, clearer sound than the ceramic diaphragms used in the Ear 2. Noise cancellation has also been boosted to 45 dB, making it better at drowning out distractions.

But—and this is a big but—the sound quality improvements don’t feel as front-and-center as they should. LDAC support is a welcome addition, offering higher quality streaming for Android users, but there’s no mention of LHDC or true high-res playback capabilities (like 24-bit/196 kHz) that audiophiles might expect. iOS users are still stuck with AAC streaming, which is standard but not outstanding.

For fans of customizable sound, the Nothing X app software lets you tweak audio with an eight-band equalizer and save personal profiles. That’s a nice touch, but again, it feels like a patch for the fact that the core sound experience isn’t groundbreaking.

Build and Battery: A Solid Foundation

The Ear 3’s build quality looks to have addressed some earlier complaints. The sturdy metal stems and recycled aluminum case add a premium heft and feel that’s welcome after the somewhat fragile vibe of prior models.

Battery life remains competitive. Each earbud holds a 55 mAh battery, while the charging case packs in 500 mAh. Nothing promises up to 10 hours of playback per charge, with an additional 38 hours from the case when noise cancellation is off. Just keep in mind that engaging noise cancellation, using LDAC, or activating the Super Mic cuts into battery life faster.

Charging is versatile — there’s fast wired charging that grants 10 hours of playtime from just 10 minutes plugged in, plus wireless charging is supported (though a full charge takes around two hours).

The Price Tag and Final Thoughts

All these features come at a cost. The Nothing Ear 3 headphones retail for $179, a noticeable hike compared to previous models. For that price, you would expect the sound to be the star of the show, but instead, the fancy Super Mic steals the spotlight.

If you’re after earbuds that double as a portable mic setup in noisy places, the Ear 3 might just be your jam. But if crisp, immersive sound is your priority, the Ear 3’s audio upgrades feel like they came second.

“The system called ‘Super Mic’ can be used to record your voice as a portable microphone, suppressing background noise up to 95 decibels and highlighting your voice even in very noisy environments.” — Nothing Ear 3 overview

FAQ

• How does the Super Mic feature work on Nothing Ear 3?
  The charging case has built-in mics that capture your voice and transmit it through the earbuds to your phone, reducing background noise by up to 95 dB.
• What is the battery life like on Nothing Ear 3?
  Up to 10 hours on earbuds alone and an additional 38 hours from the charging case without noise cancellation.
• Does Nothing Ear 3 support high-resolution audio?
  It supports the LDAC codec for better Android audio quality but lacks LHDC or 24-bit/196 kHz high-res playback.
• Can I customize the sound on Nothing Ear 3?
  Yes, using the Nothing X app, you can adjust sound profiles with an eight-band equalizer and save your settings.
• Are the earbuds compatible with iOS devices?
  Yes, but they are limited to AAC codec playback on iOS, not LDAC.

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