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?
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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.
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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.