- ‘Elevated’ recycled aluminum case (machined from one block – ie. no glue)
- Total Radiated Power (TRP) up 15%; Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) up 20% towards Nothing Ear
- ‘First of its variety Super Mic’ constructed into the charging case
Let’s get one factor clear: Nothing absolutely admits its earbuds naming technique to date “may not have been the smartest” alternative, however hopefully we’re again on monitor with the brand new Nothing Ear (3) – launched at present, September 18, 2025.
The Ear (3) is an replace on the flagship Nothing Ear primarily, but in addition on the Nothing Ear (a) which each launched in April 2024 on the self-same day – and the latter of the pair nonetheless sits fortunately on the very high of our best budget earbuds information.
Of course, neither of these wonderful propositions have a ‘2’ or ‘2nd gen’ inside their respective monikers – Nothing Ear (2) really launched in March 2023 – however it’s finest to simply put all of that to at least one facet and settle for that ‘3’ is the quantity we’re on for this newest model. Why? Because judging purely on my time to this point with these earbuds, three is the magic quantity.
Building a case for content creation
I’ll get into the fine-tuning of the app, the less obvious but important design tweaks, and minutiae of software upgrades later, but first, we need to talk about Super Mic. It’s the shiny new button directly under the snappy case magnet labelled ‘TALK’ and it’s a lot of fun.
Nothing calls Super Mic a “first of its kind” breakthrough, and although it initially struck me as very similar to the ‘record’ button on the Viaiam RecDot earbuds, there are variations.
It’s finest to consider Nothing’s Super Mic as very very similar to these little clip-on wi-fi mics content material creators maintain very near their mouths on social media – those; nearly like little make-up applicators. Where as soon as these influential souls held a tiny mic, now, they may maintain an earbuds case to their lips so as to add voiceovers.
Nothing calls Super Mic a “breakthrough dual-microphone system driven by ambient-filtering technology.” Essentially, the twin MEMS beamforming mics constructed into the case focus in your voice, slicing by surrounding noise (as much as 95dB is the declare) for clearer calls and voice notes.
How do you interact it? Press and maintain the Talk button when the charging case is close to your mouth, or double-press to lock it in, then single-press to change again to the earbuds’ built-in microphones (sure, you continue to get these).
Nothing explains that with Super Mic, your voice is distributed to the case antenna, relayed to the antenna within the earbud over Bluetooth, then handed to the cellphone. Oh, and the corporate assures us that the antenna contained in the case is positioned to stay away from your hand while you’re holding it.
So higher WhatsApp voice notes any longer then, proper? Not so quick. Super Mic, says Nothing, is designed primarily for voice and video calls. Used on this means it really works throughout most main apps – together with system calling, Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp, WeChat and extra.
For voice recordings, it’s supported in native voice memo apps (iOS Voice Memos is onboard, for interviews – hurrah!) and in third-party video apps corresponding to Blackmagic.
However, it’s not optimized for sure heavy-hitter in-app voice messages, together with WhatsApp, WeChat and Snapchat, or for native video recording on Android/iOS (the place your cellphone’s microphones will nonetheless be prioritized as an alternative). Got it? Good.
That stated, for those who personal a Nothing cellphone working the most recent software program (Nothing tells us all of its smartphones will work right here), you may take voice notes with it they usually’ll sync to ‘Essential Space’ and are transcribed mechanically, which is a neat trick for us journo sorts – and once I can get my arms on a Nothing cellphone, I’ll let you know the way correct Nothing’s transcription chops are.
How good is Super Mic purely as a technique to seize your dulcet tones? This shouldn’t be thought-about a full evaluation, I want to check it a lot additional, however when switching between utilizing it and the three directional microphones (with a bone-conduction aspect to assist) in every earpiece throughout a voice name, callers stated the expertise was “definitely better” when listening to me discuss by way of Super Mic.
I’ll be sincere, I carried out TechSwitch’s mic take a look at (by recording myself talking the opening to Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities) first utilizing the onboard mics within the Nothing Ear (3) earpieces, then utilizing the Super Mic, and could not detect a notable distinction in high quality, however clearly I must exit throughout a blustery day and in a busy and noisy surroundings, to carry out these exams once more.
Nothing Ear, ‘elevated’
‘Elevated’ is very much the watch-word with Nothing’s Ear (3), kicking off with the new custom Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) antenna, engineered to just 0.35 mm thick, that now runs along the still-see-through stems of the earbuds to keep connections stronger than ever.
And when it comes to elevation in the Nothing Ear (3), the case is undoubtedly the component that’s risen the most. This charging nest is now crafted from a block of 100% recycled aluminum and CNC machine finished through 27 processes.
Nano injection moulding, says Nothing, “fuses the metal and transparent plastic without glue, achieving tight ±0.03mm tolerances for a seamless, compact body”.
In terms of the earpieces themselves, Nothing says the company “scanned hundreds of ear shapes and ran more than 40 rounds of testing to refine the fit”. So what’s changed? There’s now a more natural stem angle and added internal venting to relieve pressure, along with a new larger 12mm custom driver.
I’ll put a close-up image of the white Nothing Ear (3) (also available in black) next to my yellow Nothing Ear (a). Can you spot any of that? I find the changes here very subtle indeed, although there is something slightly altered concerning the angles – a more acute pitching of the stem in relation to the earpiece, if you will.
For me, it’s a case of “they were comfy before; they’re comfy now” although if really pushed to expand on the fit, at this early stage I think the Ear (3) feel just a tiny bit fuller and more bulbous in my ear – although there’s very (very) little in it.
Personal Sound, ANC and all the rest
Active noise cancellation? Of course there is: you can select between low, mid, high and adaptive in the app, and Nothing tells me it is the same multi-channel AI environmental noise-cancellation system that was used in the recent Headphone (1) launch. Here, Nothing explains that the software program updates each 600 milliseconds and screens fit-related leakage each 1,875 milliseconds to nix noise.
In calls, the algorithm fuses inputs from the microphones and bone-conduction with “deep-neural beamforming technology trained on over 20 million hours of real-world audio” to hone in in your voice and cut back exterior noise, particularly wind, by over 25dB.
What about that greater driver? A brand new patterned diaphragm floor has apparently lowered complete harmonic distortion from 0.6% to 0.2% versus the earlier Ear and Ear (a).
With a radiating space roughly 20% bigger, Nothing says the bass response has risen by 4dB to 6dB, and treble by as much as 4dB. Impressive, and one thing I want to research absolutely.
What I can inform you for certain is that the private sound profile is again with a brand new look and barely totally different audible-to-inaudible tones so that you can run your ears by. It makes plenty of distinction, and positively provides worth.
Also on the menu: static spatial audio, no matter your supply materials. My transient testing of it drops me into the combination, however do word that there is not any dynamic head-tracked spatial possibility.
And the sound? Nothing clearly listened to some customers complaining its buds had been typically a little bit quiet and stuck it. The audio profile right here is zealous, full-bodied, energetic and by no means backwards at coming forwards – and that is with out deploying Dynamic Bass Enhancement (I’m undecided my molars can deal with it proper now).
LDAC help is again, and whereas I want to check it additional, for those who like your playlist full-on with feeling to your again enamel, these might be the buds for you.
Early verdict? Stamina may be the only sticking point
Any flies in the ointment? The one I see is the battery pack. Although Nothing will draw your attention to the “upgraded 55mAh battery in each bud”, a claim of up to 5.5 hours of listening with Adaptive Noise Cancellation on, plus a case that can only extend that to a 22-hour total before it too must be charged, is far from impressive.
As a comparison, the Sony WF-C710N can go for 8.5 hours (earbuds) + 21.5 hours (charging case), for a complete of 30 hours – and sure, that’s when utilizing ANC.
The good factor is that no plug is required, due to built-in wi-fi charging – and for those who’re brief on time, a fast 10-minute USB-C cost guarantees as much as 10 hours of playback.
Final thought: Nothing Ear (3)’s worth could shock you
Elevated design comes at a price. The Nothing Ear (3) can be found from at present (September 18, 2025) priced at $179 / £179 / AU$299.
The keen-eyed will keep in mind that Nothing’s earlier flagship earbuds, the Nothing Ear arrived in April 2024, priced at $149 / £129 / AU$249.
So, it is honest to say that Nothing thinks we’ll pay a little bit extra for its top-tier earbuds now. Should you although – particularly when the sumptuous older fashions will doubtless be closely discounted (see beneath for these costs)?
My full evaluation is coming quickly, however there’s lots to love within the Nothing Ear (3) to this point…