Nothing Ear (3a) Review: Affordable Earbuds With Clever Features

Nothing's latest budget wireless earbuds, the Ear (3a), have impressed reviewers with a combination of design and practicality. Priced at under $100, they stand out from many rivals thanks to solid build quality. Although the earbuds rely heavily on plastic, they feel reassuringly sturdy, and the charging case is compact enough for a pocket.

Comfort is another highlight. The stem-based design closely matches the experience of Apple's AirPods Pro, and the pinch controls are responsive, requiring few attempts to skip tracks, pause music, or switch noise-canceling modes. Users can customize the controls through the companion app, which also includes a fit test to check that the silicone tips create a proper seal.

A small LED strip on the case shows remaining battery level with one, two, or three white dots, and a red warning appears when charge drops below 20 percent.

The most distinctive feature is Audio Snapshot. Pressing both earbuds at the same time starts recording either an active call or up to 60 seconds of whatever is playing. It can also be set to store the previous 30 seconds of audio. The recordings rely on 32 MB of built-in storage, so no phone is needed during capture. Files appear in the Nothing X app, where users can play, share, and transcribe them.

Two transcription options are available: Standard runs locally on the phone, while Pro uses cloud-based AI. Pro Transcription is included for three months with 120 minutes per month, but it requires a Nothing X account. The price after the trial period has not been announced.

In testing, Pro Transcription handled the famously unclear lyrics of an R.E.M. song better than expected, though it struggled with mumble rapper Playboi Carti. The feature is not designed for music, but for capturing spoken insights. Call recording proved more practical. Recordings can last up to two hours, and a spoken warning tells the other party they are being recorded, a reminder that consent laws vary by region. These recordings can be downloaded as WAV files and used outside the app.

Sound quality gets a boost from a new 12-mm driver with a lightweight foam center and flexible plastic edge. Nothing claims five decibels more bass and a more detailed sound signature. The review confirms the earbuds sound energetic and enjoyable across genres, with solid bass extension and a generous soundstage.