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Nothing Ear (3a)
Nothing · Released July 7, 2026

Ear (3a)

Nothing's Ear (3a) cut 80.9% of noise in one test, and Nothing's US store has it at $79.

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

Buy the Nothing Ear (3a) if you want strong ANC under $100: one lab measured 80.9% noise reduction, and Nothing's US store lists it at $79, down from $99 (Oct 8, 2026). Skip it if you take a lot of calls or dislike heavy bass. Lab testing found the mic slightly nasal, and the adaptive ANC can shift abruptly with a loose fit. Battery is a little over 6 hours with ANC on.

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Real-world useBased on everyday testing, not a spec sheet
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Highlights

Specs that matter

Audio
Type
Earbuds
Wear
In-ear / earbuds
At a glance

Product highlights

Verified attributes, grouped for quick scanning.

AudioEarbuds · In-ear / earbuds
3 attributes · See all specifications
Price & availability

Where to buy

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Buying decision

Should you buy it?

Buy the Nothing Ear (3a) if you want strong ANC under $100: one lab measured 80.9% noise reduction, and Nothing's US store lists it at $79, down from $99 (Oct 8, 2026). Skip it if you take a lot of calls or dislike heavy bass. Lab testing found the mic slightly nasal, and the adaptive ANC can shift abruptly with a loose fit. Battery is a little over 6 hours with ANC on.

Best for

Commuters on iPhone or Android who want strong ANC on a budget.

Not for

Bass-shy listeners, and people who take a lot of calls.

Main strength80.9% noise reduction in one test
Main weaknessToo much bass out of the box
Reasons to buy
80.9% noise reduction in one test
Advanced EQ for detailed tuning
Hi-res codec support
Strong ANC for budget money
Reasons to avoid
Too much bass out of the box
No wireless charging
A little over 6 hours with ANC on, down from the Ear (a)
Mic sounds slightly nasal in lab testing
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 (3a) reviewPeter Wolinski · Aug 2026

Playful, capable budget buds with a spy-gadget streak.

Read on Tom's Guide ↗
WIRED8/10
Article · Full reviewNothing Ear (3a) Wireless Earbuds Review: Style Meets ValueChris Haslam · Aug 2026

Sounds like pricier buds, though the noise cancelling is only average.

Read on WIRED ↗
SoundGuys8/10
Article · Full reviewNothing Ear 3aChristian Thomas · Jul 2026

A solid low-cost alternative in budget earbuds.

Read on SoundGuys ↗
SoundGuys · Aug 2026Nothing Ear (3a) Review: Almost there...Watch on YouTube ↗
Head to head

How it stacks up

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Nothing Ear (3a)
This deviceEar (3a)
VS
Nothing Ear
AlternativeNothing Ear
Score
88
Full comparison
Nothing Ear (3a)
This deviceEar (3a)
VS
Nothing Ear (a)
AlternativeNothing Ear (a)
Score
88.6
Full comparison
Nothing Ear (3a)
This deviceEar (3a)
VS
Nothing Ear (3)
AlternativeNothing Ear (3)
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 (3)8.0
NothingEar (3)Nothing's flagship buds with LDAC and a Super Mic in the case
Product data

Full specifications

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

Launch

Released
2026-07-07
Launch price
99
Vote & discuss

Community says

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

Ear (3a)No store price yetSpecs