What you can expect from the Nothing Ear (3a) day to day
Battery life with noise cancelling6 h
Weight4.5 g
Our score9.1 Rank 16 of 28
Ratings4.2 3 reviews
Nothing Ear (3a)
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Which robot is right for your home? Find out in 7 questions →Who it suits
Good for
- Traveling and commuting: noise cancelling
- Calls: 6 microphones for your voice
- Traffic and voices: a transparency mode lets sound in
- A phone and a laptop together: connects to two devices at once
From the facts the maker states, by the rules of our advisor.
Before you buy, compare it with 2 recommended alternatives ?
Green is the best of these 3, also when they share the lead.
| This model Nothing Ear (3a) Best on 2 facts | Cheapest of the top 10 Soundcore P40i Best on 3 facts | Highest score here Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Best on 1 fact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most important facts | |||
| The lowest price today at a store that ships to you, shipping included. A price with an asterisk comes from a store abroad, and its shipping cost is our own estimate. Lowest price | – | $79Soundcore (brand store) best | $99Soundcore (brand store) |
| Our own score out of 10: 60% the maker’s facts and 40% store ratings. Price does not count. Score | best | ||
| The average of the stars buyers give at the stores, with the number of reviews behind it. We only compare it from 20 reviews. Customer rating | – | – | ★ 4.3 · 217 reviews |
| How the headphones cancel outside noise with microphones. Hybrid uses microphones outside and inside the cup, adaptive also adjusts to the sound around you. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| Adaptive | Adaptive | Adaptive |
| How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 6 h | 10 h best | 8 h |
| What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 4.5 g best | – | 5.2 g |
| The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too. In this comparisonSource
| 6 best | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| How well they resist water and dust, as the IP code states. IPX4 survives sweat and rain, IPX7 a short dip in water. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| IP54 | IPX5 best | IPX4 |
| How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| SBC, AAC, LDAC | – | LDAC |
| Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| yes | yes | yes |
Prices per store
Shipping included, sales tax added at checkout. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. How we read and order prices
Also at Amazon, price not shown yet: Amazon.com (black).
Nothing Ear (3a) specifications ?
Product on the market since July 2026
Build and fit 13 facts
- Form factor
How the headphones sit: over the ear, on the ear, in the ear canal, in the outer ear, beside the ear or on the cheekbone.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- In-ear
- True wireless
Two separate earbuds with no wire between them, charged in a case.
96 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Wireless
They play over Bluetooth, without a cable to the phone.
153 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Wired connection
The plug for a cable, so you can also listen wired, for instance on a plane or with a battery that has run out.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- None
- Audio over USB-C
They play sound over a USB-C cable, straight from a phone or a laptop.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
- Driver type
The kind of speaker inside. Dynamic drivers are the most common. Planar and electrostatic ones are mostly found in expensive headphones for home listening.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- Dynamic
- Driver size
The diameter of the speaker inside. A bigger driver does not by itself mean better sound.
Among the models we track
12 mm on this model
Lowest
4.7 mm Highest
56 mm Middle
12 mmLower than 52 of the 107 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 12 mm
- Weight
What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time.
Among the models we track
4.5 g on this model
Lowest
3.1 g Highest
451 g Middle
8.6 gLower than 158 of the 168 models we track.
When it matters
- Wearing them for hours at a desk or on a flight.
- Running or the gym, where a heavy earbud works loose.
When it matters less
- Short listens, where comfort hardly has time to matter.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 4.5 g
- Case weight
What the charging case weighs, without the earbuds.
Among the models we track
40.9 g on this model
Lowest
22 g Highest
134.5 g Middle
46 gLower than 57 of the 78 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 40.9 g
- Water and dust resistance
How well they resist water and dust, as the IP code states. IPX4 survives sweat and rain, IPX7 a short dip in water.
When it matters
- Running and the gym, where sweat gets in.
- Cycling or walking in the rain.
When it matters less
- Listening indoors only.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- IP54
- Controls
How you play, pause and change the volume on the headphones themselves.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- Squeeze the stem
- Remappable controls
Whether the app lets you choose what each button, tap or swipe does. With some controls, only part of them can be changed.
When it matters
- Touch controls you keep setting off by accident.
- Using the controls for the voice assistant or noise cancelling instead of the volume.
When it matters less
- If you control everything from your phone, it hardly matters.
Source: tomsguide.com · checked on Nov 2
- Some controls
- Microphones
How many microphones the maker counts, for calls and noise cancelling together.
Among the models we track
6 on this model
Lowest
0 Highest
10 Middle
6Higher than 39 of the 90 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 6
Sound 7 facts
- Lowest frequency
The lowest tone the maker says they play. It says little about how the bass actually sounds.
Among the models we track
20 Hz on this model
Lowest
4 Hz Highest
50 Hz Middle
20 HzHigher than 51 of the 104 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 20 Hz
- Highest frequency
The highest tone the maker says they play. Adult hearing stops well below most figures.
Among the models we track
40,000 Hz on this model
Lowest
16,000 Hz Highest
80,000 Hz Middle
29,000 HzHigher than 60 of the 104 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 40,000 Hz
- Impedance
The electrical resistance. Wired headphones with a high impedance need an amplifier to play loud enough.
Among the models we track
32 Ω on this model
Lowest
15 Ω Highest
520 Ω Middle
32 ΩHigher than 29 of the 75 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 32 Ω
- Hi-Res Audio certified
Certified by the Japan Audio Society for high-resolution sound, wired or, with Hi-Res Audio Wireless, over Bluetooth.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- Hi-Res Audio Wireless
- Equaliser in the app
You can adjust bass and treble in the maker’s app.
105 of the 106 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Equaliser bands
How many frequency bands the app’s equaliser lets you adjust.
Among the models we track
8 on this model
Lowest
2 Highest
12 Middle
5Higher than 19 of the 32 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 8
- Spatial audio
Sound that seems to come from around you rather than from inside your head.
83 of the 88 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- yes
Noise cancelling 4 facts
- Active noise cancelling
How the headphones cancel outside noise with microphones. Hybrid uses microphones outside and inside the cup, adaptive also adjusts to the sound around you.
When it matters
- Flights, trains and open-plan offices.
- A daily commute in traffic.
When it matters less
- Listening at home in a quiet room.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- Adaptive
- Noise cancelling control
How much say you have over noise cancelling: only on or off, a few set levels, a slider, or left to the headphones alone.
When it matters
- Outside, where you want to hear some traffic but not all of it.
- Feeling pressure in your ears with full noise cancelling.
When it matters less
- If you always leave it at full, it decides nothing.
Source: tomsguide.com · checked on Nov 2
- Set levels
- Transparency mode
Lets outside sound through on purpose, so you hear traffic or a colleague without taking them off.
109 of the 119 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Hearing aid function
Can work as a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss, where the maker has it approved.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
Wireless 8 facts
- Bluetooth version
The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too.
Among the models we track
6 on this model
Lowest
5 Highest
6.1 Middle
5.3Higher than 129 of the 141 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 6
- Bluetooth codecs
How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them.
When it matters
- Lossless or high-resolution music from an Android phone that supports aptX or LDAC.
- An iPhone, where AAC is the codec that counts.
When it matters less
- Podcasts, calls and streaming at normal quality.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint
Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays.
115 of the 117 models we track have this.
When it matters
- Switching between a laptop for calls and a phone for music.
- Working from home with two devices on the desk.
When it matters less
- Using them with one phone only.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- LE Audio
The newer Bluetooth standard for sound, with the LC3 codec: better sound on less power, with phones that support it.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
- Auracast
Can listen to a Bluetooth broadcast, such as a TV, an airport announcement or a friend sharing music.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
- Google Fast Pair
Pairs in one tap with an Android phone.
54 of the 55 models we track have this.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- yes
- Made for
Whose phones the headphones are made for. Some features, such as one-tap pairing or spatial audio, work only with that maker’s phones.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on Nov 1
- Any phone
- Wireless range
How far from the phone the maker says the connection holds, without walls in between.
Among the models we track
15 m on this model
Lowest
9 m Highest
40 m Middle
10 mHigher than 57 of the 68 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 15 m
Battery 8 facts
- Battery life with noise cancelling
How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it.
Among the models we track
6 h on this model
Lowest
4 h Highest
75 h Middle
8 hLower than 79 of the 108 models we track.
When it matters
- Long flights or a full working day.
- Traveling where you cannot charge.
When it matters less
- An hour of listening a day, which any model manages for a week.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 6 h
- Battery life without noise cancelling
How long they play on one charge with noise cancelling off.
Among the models we track
10 h on this model
Lowest
5 h Highest
135 h Middle
10 hLower than 56 of the 123 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 10 h
- Battery life with the case
How long the earbuds play in total with the charges stored in their case.
Among the models we track
42 h on this model
Lowest
18 h Highest
60 h Middle
36 hHigher than 59 of the 86 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 42 h
- Fast charge time
How many minutes of charging give the playback below.
Among the models we track
5 min on this model
Lowest
3 min Highest
20 min Middle
10 minLower than 84 of the 132 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 5 min
- Playback from a fast charge
How many hours of playback a short fast charge gives.
Among the models we track
1 h on this model
Lowest
1 h Highest
15 h Middle
3 hLower than 101 of the 132 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 1 h
- Full charge time
How long a full charge takes.
Among the models we track
70 min on this model
Lowest
40 min Highest
210 min Middle
120 minLower than 73 of the 95 models we track.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- 70 min
- Wireless charging
The case or the headphones charge on a Qi pad, without a cable.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
- Charging port
The plug the headphones or their case charge through.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- USB-C
In use 2 facts
- Wear detection
The music pauses when you take them off and plays on when you put them back.
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on Nov 1
- no (assumed)
- App
The name of the maker’s app.
Source: nothing.tech · checked on Nov 1
- Nothing X
Warranty and support 1 fact
- Launched
The month the model came out, as far as the maker or a register shows.
Source: nothing.community · checked on Nov 1
- 2026-07-07
Where a row says “no (assumed)”, the maker's full product page for this model names the feature nowhere, so we take it as a no.
Sources: nothing.tech · tomsguide.com · nothing.community
Our score
Confidence: medium. Fewer than 300 owners’ ratings at the stores. The highest score today is 9.9.
-
Owners’ ratings 40%–
Owners’ ratings, 40%: none yet at the stores that ship to the United States, so this part is left out and the score is the features part alone.
-
Features 60%9.1
73 of 80 points for the maker’s facts, the other 20 counted at the market’s average share of 91%.
- Price never countsA sale can’t lift a model. Today’s lowest price sits beside the score, checked every morning.
- Too few facts, no rankOnly headphones whose type and enough of whose facts are known are ranked. The rest get a provisional score.
- Reviewers beside, not insideReviewers’ picks are shown next to the score and do not count in it.
Frequently asked questions about the Nothing Ear (3a)
What has the Nothing Ear (3a) cost?
In our other editions it costs today: Netherlands € 98 at bol.com.
How do buyers rate the Nothing Ear (3a)?
Buyers rate the Nothing Ear (3a) 4.2 out of 5, from 3 reviews at Coolblue (NL). We read the ratings on November 14, 2026.
How long does the battery of the Nothing Ear (3a) last?
The maker states up to 6 hours of play with noise cancelling on, and 10 hours with it off. With the charging case, that comes to 42 hours in all. A 5-minute charge gives 1 hour of play.
Does the Nothing Ear (3a) have noise cancelling?
Yes, adaptive noise cancelling, which adjusts its strength to the sound around you. It also has a transparency mode that lets the sound around you in when you want to hear it.
Can the Nothing Ear (3a) connect to two devices at once?
Yes, it can stay connected to more than one device at a time, such as a phone and a laptop.
Which Bluetooth codecs does the Nothing Ear (3a) support?
It supports SBC, AAC and LDAC. With a phone that also supports LDAC, it can play in more detail than over AAC or SBC.
The maker
Nothing
- Reviews on Trustpilot
- Headquarters: United Kingdom
- Founded in 2020
Nothing is the brand of Nothing Technology Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with its offices in London. The company was incorporated in October 2020, according to the UK register at Companies House. It sells mobile phones and accessories, including headphones and earbuds such as the Headphone (1) and the Ear (3). Its lower-priced range is sold as CMF by Nothing.
