Nothing Ear (3) Earbuds Review: ANC Performance & Super Mic Tested

Nothing has built a reputation for combining bold design with tech features, and the Nothing Ear (3) takes that further. With active noise cancellation (ANC), a new “Super Mic” built into the charging case, and premium acoustics, it promises a lot. But does it deliver? Let’s dig into the good, the bad, and whether these buds are worth your money.

First Impressions & Design

At first glance, Ear (3) looks familiar if you’ve seen earlier Nothing earbuds, but with upgrades. The transparent look is still there, but this time there are metal accents and a more solid finish that feels premium. Reviewers point out that the case now has a “Talk” button, and the overall materials feel more refined.

They come in black and white. The earbuds maintain the stem + pinch-control design. You still pinch or squeeze stems to play/pause, change tracks, or adjust volume. The ergonomic fit is similar to past versions, comfortable for many, though people with unusual ear shapes may need frequent adjustment.

Because of the metal accents and new elements, some say they feel slightly heavier or more rigid than earlier models.

Key Features: What’s New in Ear (3)

Super Mic in the Case

This is probably the boldest new feature. The Super Mic is built into the charging case. When you press the “Talk” button on the case, the mic system in the case can act as an external voice pickup tool. It uses beamforming and noise isolation techniques to try to isolate your voice from background noise (up to 95 dB in some claims). SoundGuys+2Tom’s Guide+2

The idea is that for calls or voice notes in loud places, the case mic can help instead of just relying on the tiny mics in the earbuds. But reviews say its usefulness is mixed. It works better in certain apps or settings, but not all voice apps support it fully (for example, some in-app voicemails may not route audio through it).

Audio & Drivers

Under the hood, Ear (3) includes 12 mm dynamic drivers (up from 11 mm in prior models). This is intended to give stronger bass, better dynamics, and more clarity.

It supports LDAC for higher-quality Bluetooth audio (when your source device supports it).

The sound is described by some reviewers as energetic and fun, with a strong bass presence. But a common criticism is that the highs / treble can be scratchy or harsh in default settings, especially around 3.5 kHz.

Thankfully, the Nothing X app offers a robust Advanced EQ (equalizer) where you can custom-tune frequencies and even import EQ profiles. That means you can tame the harsh highs or boost mids to your taste.

Some tests suggest Ear (3) delivers “best in series” performance compared to earlier models more punch in bass, clearer highs, and a slightly wider soundstage.

Noise Cancellation & Modes

Ear (3) offers adaptive ANC, which monitors ambient sounds and adjusts noise canceling every ~600 ms for the best effect.

Nothing claims up to 45 dB of noise reduction (effectively up to about 5 kHz).

In real usage, reviewers say the ANC is good, but not class-leading. It does well with constant low-frequency sounds (air conditioning hums, engine noise), but lets through voices, some sharp high frequencies, and doesn’t block everything perfectly.

The transparency (ambient) mode is praised in some reviews as natural-sounding and useful for conversations without removing earbuds.

Because ANC is not perfect, in very noisy surroundings (crowded streets, loud buses), you’ll still hear background noise. Some users say that in those conditions, the Super Mic helps a bit.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is one area many are watching closely.

• With ANC on: ~5.5 hours of playback.

• With ANC off: ~10 hours (under ideal conditions)

• With case (total): Up to 22 hours with ANC, and potentially up to 38 hours when ANC is off.

The case supports USB-C fast charging and wireless charging.

A reported trick: 10 minutes of charging can give up to 10 hours of playback (in ANC-off mode), which is very helpful if you forget to charge.

However, in practical tests, battery life with ANC on often falls short of ideal numbers; users saw ~5 hours or a bit more.

Also, comparisons with older models show that older Nothing Ear (2024) could last longer in some scenarios (especially when ANC is off).

Connectivity & Software

Ear (3) uses Bluetooth 5.4 and supports multipoint/dual device connectivity, which allows handling two devices simultaneously (e.g., phone + laptop).

Pairing is convenient via Fast Pair (Android) and Swift Pair (Windows) support.

The Nothing X app acts as a command center: EQ settings, firmware updates, customizing touch controls, spatial audio settings, etc. Users can share EQ profiles via QR codes and import from others in the community.

One limitation: the spatial audio mode is static, not head-tracking. That means you get a sense of surround or 3D audio, but it doesn’t rotate or adjust based on how you move your head.

Also, the Super Mic feature integrates with Nothing phones (if you have one) in some exclusive ways (voice memo sync, transcription, etc.). On non-Nothing phones, some features might not work fully.

Pros & Cons: What Works & What Doesn’t

Pros

• Bold, premium design with transparent + metal accents

• Super Mic idea is innovative—good for calls/voice notes in noisy places

• Custom EQ and fine-tuning in the app — gives control over sound

• Strong bass / energetic tuning (if you like that)

• Decent ANC for many everyday environments

• Multipoint connectivity + modern Bluetooth

• Fast + wireless charging support

• Transparency / ambient mode is usable and natural

Cons / Trade-Offs

• Treble / highs may be harsh or scratchy by default

• Battery life with ANC on is okay, but not class-leading

• ANC not top-tier lets through voices / high frequencies

• Spatial audio is static, no head-tracking

• Super Mic is not fully supported in all apps; mixed usefulness

• Heavier or more rigid feel compared to lighter earbuds

• Gains over previous models may feel incremental rather than revolutionary

How It Compares to Old Nothing Ears

When compared to older Nothing models:

• The Ear (3) has improved ANC over older ones (stronger in theory)

• However, battery with ANC sometimes drops more quickly than older ones when pushed hard.

• The sound approach is more energetic; older models sometimes felt more relaxed or balanced. The new model may polarize listeners more.

• Connectivity stability is reportedly better with Ear (3) in crowded or complex wireless settings.

Verdict: Is Nothing Ear (3) Worth It?

If I were to sum up in local, straightforward terms:

The Nothing Ear (3) is ambitious and flashy. It brings neat ideas like the Super Mic, stronger ANC, and bold styling. For people who love customizing their sound and are okay with adjusting EQ, it offers really good value.

But if you demand top-tier audio fidelity, best-in-class noise cancellation, or longer battery life under ANC, you might feel it falls a bit short in some areas.

So:

• Yes, if design, extra mic features, and customization matter to you more than perfection.

• Maybe, if you already own a good pair of earbuds, upgrades might not feel huge.

• No, if you demand flawless sound, top-tier ANC, or battery life that dominates all others.

If you’re in the Nothing ecosystem (have a Nothing phone) or love trying new tech features, Ear (3) is exciting. Just don’t expect it to win in every category.