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Nothing Nothing Ear (3a)

Nothing · Headphones

Nothing Ear (3a)

Nothing Ear (3a) are $99 true wireless earbuds that combine a 12mm driver, LDAC, active noise cancellation, and up to 42 hours of total battery life with ANC off. They stand out as a value-focused Android option, though ANC-on endurance is modest and some promoted software features are region-dependent.

Buying verdict

Nothing Ear (3a) deserve a shortlist spot for Android users who want LDAC and ANC around $100. Buy for the core audio and battery package, not region-limited extras, and compare current Soundcore pricing if stronger ANC or longer single-charge endurance is the priority.

Best for Android buyers around $100Best for listeners who want LDACBest for fans of Nothing's transparent design

Editorial score

8.2 / 10

Medium source confidence

Reference price

$99

Released

Aug 7, 2026

Reference price, not a live offer. Editorial data date Sep 14, 2026. Specs and availability can vary by configuration, region, and retailer. Status: available.

Source coverage: 1 cited reference covers 11 listed specifications. “Source cited” labels identify those fields; unbadged specifications remain editorial reference data pending field-level review. 2 additional product references are listed without field-level coverage.

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Should you buy it?

A practical ownership call

  • Buy it if you want Android buyers around $100 and listeners who want LDAC.
  • Skip it if anc-on battery is rated at only 4.5 hours per charge.
  • Check current US street pricing before paying launch-level money.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • LDAC and Hi-Res Audio support are strong additions at $99
  • Up to 42 hours total with ANC off is competitive for the price
  • Both earbuds and case carry an IP54 rating

Cons

  • ANC-on battery is rated at only 4.5 hours per charge
  • Audio Snapshot and call-recording features have regional limitations
  • Bluetooth version and multipoint behavior are not clearly published in the cited US specifications

Key specs

Type
True wireless in-ear earbuds Source cited
Form Factor
Stem-style in-ear earbuds with charging case Source cited
Driver Size
12mm dynamic driver, 32 ohms Source cited
Noise Cancellation
Active noise cancellation Source cited
Transparency / Ambient
Transparency details are not clearly specified on the cited US product page Needs confirmation
Sound Profile
Hi-Res Audio and LDAC support Source cited
Battery Life
Up to 6 hours with ANC off or 4.5 hours with ANC on Source cited
Battery With Case
Up to 42 hours with ANC off or 25 hours with ANC on Source cited

Buying scores

These are editorial estimates, not laboratory measurements. Medium source confidence; 61% of listed specification fields currently have field-level citations.

Noise Cancellation

7.8

Sound Quality

8.3

Comfort

8.2

Battery

8

Call Quality

7.8

Value

9.1

Compare

Compare with similar products

Choose any headphones alternative. Curated pairs open an editorial decision; every other pair opens a specs-only comparison.

Alternatives

Featured in rankings

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Availability, sources, and full notes

US availability

Nothing lists Ear (3a) for sale through its US storefront at $99; verify color inventory, delivery date, and return eligibility before checkout.

Common retailers

Nothing, Amazon

Sources and verification

  • Nothing Ear (3a) US product page · Nothing · accessed Sep 14, 2026 · US Field-level coverage: Type, Form Factor, Driver Size, Noise Cancellation, Sound Profile, Battery Life, Battery With Case, Bluetooth Codecs, Water Resistance, Controls, App Support
  • Nothing Ear (3a) launch review · 9to5Google · accessed Sep 14, 2026 · US Product reference only — individual specifications are not yet field-verified.
  • Product image source · Nothing · accessed Sep 14, 2026 Product reference only — individual specifications are not yet field-verified.

Editorial specification note

Nothing's US product page was checked on 2026-09-14 and covers the core driver, codec, battery, ANC, app, and ingress-protection claims; unclear fields remain unverified.

Editorial price note

Nothing's US store lists Ear (3a) at $99. This is a reference price rather than a guarantee of stock, promotion, or delivery timing.

Specifications

18 tracked specs across 7 groups · 11 specifications have a field-level source citation.

Design

Type
True wireless in-ear earbuds Source cited
Form Factor
Stem-style in-ear earbuds with charging case Source cited
Weight
Exact earbud and case weights are not clearly specified in the cited US product-page data Needs confirmation

Audio

Driver Size
12mm dynamic driver, 32 ohms Source cited
Noise Cancellation
Active noise cancellation Source cited
Transparency / Ambient
Transparency details are not clearly specified on the cited US product page Needs confirmation
Sound Profile
Hi-Res Audio and LDAC support Source cited

Battery

Battery Life
Up to 6 hours with ANC off or 4.5 hours with ANC on Source cited
Battery With Case
Up to 42 hours with ANC off or 25 hours with ANC on Source cited
Charging
Charging-case connector and wireless charging support are not clearly specified in the cited product-page data Needs confirmation
Quick Charge
Not clearly specified in the cited US product-page data Needs confirmation

Connectivity

Bluetooth Codecs
SBC, AAC, and LDAC Source cited
Bluetooth
Bluetooth version is not clearly specified in the cited US product-page data Needs confirmation
Multipoint
Multipoint behavior is not clearly specified in the cited US product-page data Needs confirmation

Durability

Water Resistance
IP54 for earbuds and charging case Source cited

Calls

Microphone System
Exact microphone count is not clearly specified in the cited US product-page data Needs confirmation

Usability

Controls
On-earbud controls; detailed gesture map depends on Nothing X settings Source cited
App Support
Nothing X app Source cited