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Nothing Ear (3)White
Nothing

Ear (3)

Nothing's flagship buds with LDAC and a Super Mic in the case

Wireless Earbuds
8.0/10What the pros sayExcellentExpert consensus · Verified Oct 8, 2026See score breakdown ↓
Finish · White
Buying call

Buy the Ear (3) at $99 (Nothing US, Oct 8, 2026; it launched at $179) if you're on Android and want LDAC, multipoint, a wireless-charging case and Nothing's transparent design. At that price, the short 5.5 hours with ANC on (22 with the case, Nothing claim) and average-rated ANC are easier to live with. Skip them if noise canceling or battery comes first: the CMF Buds 2 Plus measured 83% ANC and over 10 hours in lab tests, and iPhone owners lose LDAC entirely.

Full verdict ↓
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Editor testedHands-on testing and real-world use
Real-world useBased on everyday testing, not a spec sheet
Unbiased reviewIndependent and objective, sources shown
Ear (3)Check current priceBuy on eBay
Key specs
Connection
Bluetooth
Driver size
0.47 in (12 mm)
Controls
Earbud pinch controls; charging-case Talk button and pairing button
Highlights

Specs that matter

Audio
Type
Earbuds
Wear
In-ear / earbuds
ANC
Yes
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.4
Battery
10 h
Driver
12 mm
Impedance
32 Ω
Body
Weight
0.2 oz (5 g)
Dimensions
Earbuds: 30.5 × 21.5 × 20.75 mm; case: 55.5 × 55.5 × 22.25 mm
IP rating
IP54
Colors
White
At a glance

Product highlights

Verified attributes, grouped for quick scanning.

AudioEarbuds · In-ear / earbuds · ANCBT Bluetooth 5.4 · 10 h
Weight0.2 oz (5 g)Earbuds: 30.5 × 21.5 × 20.75 mm; case: 55.5 × 55.5 × 22.25 mm · IP54
67 attributes · See all specifications
Price & availability

Where to buy

Prices from trusted US retailers, updated daily.

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2 price points tracked.
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Buying decision

Should you buy it?

Buy the Ear (3) at $99 (Nothing US, Oct 8, 2026; it launched at $179) if you're on Android and want LDAC, multipoint, a wireless-charging case and Nothing's transparent design. At that price, the short 5.5 hours with ANC on (22 with the case, Nothing claim) and average-rated ANC are easier to live with. Skip them if noise canceling or battery comes first: the CMF Buds 2 Plus measured 83% ANC and over 10 hours in lab tests, and iPhone owners lose LDAC entirely.

Best for

Buyers who want distinctive design and solid midrange ANC buds.

Not for

Commuters who need class-leading ANC above all else.

Main strengthLDAC, multipoint and a wireless charging case
Main weaknessUp to 5.5 hours with ANC on (Nothing claim); reviewers flagged battery
Reasons to buy
LDAC, multipoint and a wireless charging case
A mic in the case for calls, which reviewers rated highly
Comfortable fit
Strong bass and clear vocals
Reasons to avoid
Up to 5.5 hours with ANC on (Nothing claim); reviewers flagged battery
ANC rated below average in one review
Treble can sound harsh
Low marks in one review against cheaper rivals
Measured view8.0/10What the pros say · verified oct 8, 2026.
ScoreVerified Oct 8, 2026
Independent coverage

What other reviewers say

Reviews from other sites and creators. They don't change the Gadget Clash score.

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Tom's Guide4/5
Article · Full reviewNothing Ear (3) review: Sound as good as they lookNikita Achanta · Apr 2026

Sound quality that matches the distinctive design.

Read on Tom's Guide ↗
SoundGuys8.1/10
Article · Full reviewNothing Ear (3) review: Great earbuds with a not-so Super MicAdam Birney · Mar 2026

Strong ANC and sound, but the Super Mic feature underdelivers.

Read on SoundGuys ↗
TechRadar4/5
Article · Full reviewNothing Ear (3) review: stunning looks and nifty Super Mic, but is it enough given premium pricing?Becky Scarrott · Sep 2025

Striking looks and a clever mic; asks whether that's enough at the higher price.

Read on TechRadar ↗
SoundGuysNothing Ear (3) review: Hard to justify...Watch on YouTube ↗
Mike O'BrienA Shocking New Design from Nothing - Nothing ear (3) Review!Watch on YouTube ↗
Head to head

How it stacks up

Open a comparison for the full side-by-side view.

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Nothing Ear (3)
This deviceEar (3)
VS
Nothing Ear (a)
AlternativeNothing Ear (a)
Score
88.6
Full comparison
Nothing Ear (3)
This deviceEar (3)
VS
Nothing Ear
AlternativeNothing Ear
Score
88
Full comparison
Nothing Ear (3)
This deviceEar (3)
VS
Nothing Ear (3a)
AlternativeNothing Ear (3a)
Score
88
Full comparison
Same category

Alternatives worth a look

Other phones in the database, with their stored scores and prices.

All wireless earbuds →
Ear8.0
NothingEarNothing's Ear (2024) is $69 at Nothing's US store, down from $149 at launch, with LDAC and 8 h 4 min in one test.
Ear (a)8.6
NothingEar (a)Nothing's Ear (a) lasted 8 h 49 min in one test and costs $59 at Nothing's US store.
Ear (3a)8.0
NothingEar (3a)Nothing's Ear (3a) cut 80.9% of noise in one test, and Nothing's US store has it at $79.
Product data

Full specifications

67 attributes, grouped for quick scanning. Verified Oct 8, 2026. Spot a wrong value? Hit the next to it.

Sound

Speaker config
Closed, dynamic
Driver type
Dynamic, PMI + TPU diaphragm
Driver size
0.47 in (12 mm)
Frequency response
20 Hz-40 kHz
Freq. min
20
Freq. max
40000
Impedance
32 ohm
Hi-Res wireless
1
Spatial audio
1
Gaming low-latency
1

Noise Control

Adaptive ANC
1
Ambient / transparency
1

Battery

Battery (ANC on)
5.5
Total with case
38
Talk time
5
Earbud battery
55
Case battery
500
Charging port
USB-C
Wireless charging
1
Recharge time
1.17
Quick charge
10
Quick-charge playtime
10

Connectivity

Connection
Bluetooth
Codecs
AAC, SBC, LDAC
Multipoint
✓
Google Fast Pair
1
Swift Pair
1
Wireless range
10

Microphone

Microphone
Six MEMS microphones plus two voice pickup units; case Super Mic
Mic count
6
Call noise reduction
1
Voice pickup
1

Controls & Software

Controls
Earbud pinch controls; charging-case Talk button and pairing button
Companion app
Nothing X
App platforms
Android 6.0 and later, iOS 13 and later
Firmware updates
1
Find My
Find My Earbuds

Comfort & Build

Dimensions
1.2 in (30.5 mm)
Water resistance
IP54 dust and water resistance for earbuds and case
Case IP rating
IP54
Colors
  • White

Charging Case

Case height
2.19 in (55.5 mm)
Case width
2.19 in (55.5 mm)
Case depth
0.88 in (22.3 mm)

Sensors

Proximity
1

Launch

In the box
  • Earbuds ×2
  • Charging case
  • Ear tips ×3 pairs
  • User guide
  • Safety and warranty information
  • USB-C to USB-C cable
Vote & discuss

Community says

No reader votes on the Ear (3) yet. Votes happen on head-to-heads: pick a matchup and say which one you would buy.

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