Nothing Ear (3) review: The smartest earbuds yet from a brand that dares to be different
The Nothing Ear (3) retain the brand’s signature transparent design while introducing a more refined aluminium finish. Picture: Noel Campion.
One of my favourite things about the Nothing Ear (3) earbuds is their design. They’re sleek, sound superb, and the innovative Talk button actually turns out to be more than a gimmick.
Nothing isn’t a tech giant, at least not yet, and that’s part of their charm. They’re not afraid to innovate or push boundaries that bigger firms avoid for fear of breaking something that isn’t broken. The Ear (3) carry forward that now-iconic transparent aesthetic, but this time, it feels more refined and premium. The clear plastic top reveals the earbuds sitting neatly inside a matte aluminium chassis that’s both solid and elegant. The new aluminium hinge is smooth and sturdy, giving the case a reassuringly premium feel, while the transparent lid maintains the futuristic edge that Nothing is known for.
On the front of the case is the new Talk button, while on the right side, you’ll find the mic and USB-C charging port, along with a welcome physical Bluetooth pairing button inside the case. The minimalist design extends to every element, from the colour-coded spots on the stems and case to the polished surfaces.
They’re IP54-rated (case and earbuds), meaning they’ll easily survive sweat and the odd drizzle.
The 5.2g buds sit lightly in the ear and remain comfortable for hours at a time. During my testing, I wore them through long listening sessions and on my bike, and they never felt intrusive or heavy.
The pinch controls on the stems work well and are more precise than typical touch gestures, though I did miss the ability to swipe for volume control. Still, it’s a minor complaint in what’s otherwise a well-thought-out design.
That Talk button is easily the unique selling point and is far more practical than I initially thought. When you hold the case close to your mouth, it acts as a Super Mic, capturing your voice clearly through its built-in microphones. On calls, it makes a huge difference; your voice sounds crisp and clean, even in noisy or windy environments. There’s still a lot of compression in the sound, but not as much as using the mics from the buds. You can hold the button to talk briefly or double-tap it for longer calls. It’s a clever and valuable feature that feels surprisingly natural once you start using it. I know people who still use wired headphones purely for the sound quality of the inline mic. The Super Mic works similarly, allowing you to position the microphone directly in front of your mouth, capturing your voice more clearly and naturally.
Beyond that, the Ear (3) has Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint connectivity, and a low-latency gaming mode. They also integrate neatly with Nothing’s ecosystem: if you’re using a Nothing Phone, the Talk button can trigger Essential Space, the company’s version of a quick-access menu.
If design is what first draws you in, sound quality is what keeps you hooked. Each earbud houses a 12mm dynamic driver and supports LDAC high-resolution audio. The result is detailed, dynamic sound that feels full and balanced.
The bass is deeper than before, rich and clean rather than bloated, when ANC is off. However, switching ANC on pushes the low end up several notches, and on bass-heavy tracks, I noticed some distortion creeping in. I spent most of my listening time with ANC off, tweaking the EQ for when it was enabled. In general, vocals and acoustic tracks sound beautifully open, with a clear and confident midrange that gives instruments and voices real presence. The highs can occasionally feel a touch sibilant on certain recordings, but a quick EQ adjustment smooths them out nicely.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is perfectly adequate for everyday use, though it doesn’t quite match the best-in-class systems. It’s effective for commuting or working in moderate noise, but less so in environments with louder sounds like aeroplane engines or busy cafés. Transparency mode works well, too, though I wish it were a touch louder. I also noticed that my own voice sounded slightly muffled during calls, which made conversations feel a bit less natural.
That said, the Talk button mic mode makes the Ear (3) stand out well above other earbuds, particularly for anyone who values superior mic quality and frequently takes or makes calls. Whether you’re on a call, recording a quick voice note, or chatting outdoors, the clarity is leagues ahead of what most wireless buds can manage.
Battery life is decent but not exceptional. You’ll get around five hours of playback with ANC off (closer to four if it’s on), and about 20 hours total with the case. A 10-minute quick charge gives you up to 10 hours of listening from the earbuds and charging case, and the case supports both USB-C and wireless charging.
The Nothing X app is one of the cleanest, most intuitive companion apps around, allowing you to fine-tune the EQ, adjust pinch controls, and even run a fit test. There’s also a Find My Earbuds feature that makes the buds chirp if you’ve misplaced them.
The standout feature here is the advanced equaliser, which gives you precise control over sound frequencies and Q values, similar to studio software rather than a typical consumer app. However, there’s also a basic visual EQ mixer for those who don’t need or want to delve into the full sound spectrum. Overall, it’s easy to use but powerful enough for those who care about fine-tuning their audio.
The Nothing Ear (3) earbuds are stylish, comfortable, and clever. They might not have the strongest ANC, but their crisp sound, innovative Talk button, and refined design make them a standout choice for daily listening.
€179 ie.nothing.tech
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