Nothing Ear 3 is official. The big trick is Super Mic: the charging case has its own microphones and a Talk button so you can speak into the case for clearer calls and voice notes in loud places. You get LDAC, ANC up to 45 dB, 10 hours per charge (ANC off), and a recycled aluminum case. Price is $179 / £179 / €179, preorders now, open sales Sept 25 in many regions. India price is TBA.
Short Answer: Nothing Ear 3 adds a Super Mic in the case with a Talk button for clearer calls and voice notes, plus LDAC support, 12 mm drivers, and ANC up to 45 dB. Rated up to 10 hours per charge (ANC off) and 38 hours with the case. Priced at $179/£179/€179 in black or white; global sales from Sept 25; India price pending.
Table of Contents
Key features at a glance
- Super Mic case + Talk button: the case includes dual mics and a physical Talk key. Pressing it switches input from the earbud mics to the case, which you hold near your mouth. Nothing rates cancellation up to ~95 dB for loud environments. Compatibility varies by app.
- Audio chain: 12 mm dynamic drivers with PMI+TPU diaphragm, LDAC support for higher-bitrate Bluetooth audio, Bluetooth 5.4, and adaptive ANC up to 45 dB.
- Battery: earbuds have 55 mAh each; case is 500 mAh. Claimed up to 10 hours per charge with ANC off; up to 38 hours total with the case. Quick charge claims vary by scenario; Nothing advertises fast top-ups through the case. Wireless charging is supported.
- Durability and connectivity: buds carry an IP rating (Nothing typically rates buds IP54 on recent models). Multipoint is supported; enabling Dual Connection can delay or affect Super Mic activation.
Release, price, colors, availability
- Price: $179 / £179 / €179. Colors: black and white. Preorders: today. Open sales: Sept 25 in multiple regions.
- India: launch announced; local pricing not yet shared publicly. Expect details to follow via Nothing’s India channels and retail partners.
Reality check: Battery and mic gains depend on codec, volume, ANC, and whether you’re using Super Mic. Your results will vary.
How Super Mic actually works
When you hit Talk, your voice is captured at the case, sent to the case antenna, relayed to the earbud antenna, then passed to your phone over Bluetooth. It’s designed for calls and voice notes when you’re in noisy spots like stations or cafés. Nothing recommends <40 cm from your mouth normally and <5 cm in very loud places.
Compatibility notes: Super Mic works for phone calls and “most major apps” such as Zoom or WhatsApp, but not all apps can use the case mic. On Nothing phones, Essential Space can auto-sync and transcribe voice notes.
Quick start (calls & notes):
- Pair buds in Nothing X.
- Start a call or a voice memo.
- Press Talk on the case. Hold the case near your mouth.
- Press again to switch back to in-ear mics.
Early impressions from hands-ons
- Call quality: Early testing finds clearer speech in loud places when using the case, with less wind rumble than in-ear mics alone. Think walkie-talkie convenience without fiddling with settings.
- Tuning: Sound leans a bit bass-forward vs last year’s “neutral” Ear. That can be fun out of the box, and you still get EQ and Personal Sound in the app to dial it back.
- Who benefits:
- Creators filming quick shorts or reels will like the hand-held mic trick.
- Commuters gain better intelligibility for calls on trains or in traffic.
- Students/remote workers get a simple way to hop on Zoom with cleaner voice.
Specs sheet
Core hardware & audio
- Drivers: 12 mm dynamic; PMI + TPU diaphragm
- Codecs: LDAC, AAC (iOS limited to AAC)
- ANC: Adaptive, up to 45 dB
- Mics: Three per earbud + bone-conduction VPU; dual mics in case (Super Mic)
- BT: 5.4; multipoint supported
Battery & charging
- Buds: 55 mAh each; Case: 500 mAh
- Rated listening: up to 10 h (ANC off); with case up to 38 h
- Quick charge via case; wireless charging supported
Other
- Colors: Black, White
- Case: recycled aluminum bottom shell
- App: Nothing X; Essential Space extras on Nothing phones
Nothing Ear 3 vs Nothing Ear (2024) vs Ear (a)
| Feature | Ear 3 | Ear (2024) | Ear (a) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $179 / £179 / €179 | $129–149 (street) | Budget tier |
| Drivers | 12 mm | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC | LDAC + LHDC (region-dependent) | AAC/LDAC (varies) |
| ANC (claim) | Up to 45 dB | Up to 45 dB | Up to 45 dB |
| Battery (buds/case) | Up to 10h / 38h | Up to 8.5h / 40.5h | Similar class |
| Case trick | Super Mic + Talk | Standard | Standard |
| Case build | Recycled aluminum + clear lid | Plastic | Plastic |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Upgrade advice:
- On Ear (2024) and want better call clarity or you record voice notes a lot? Ear 3 is a meaningful step.
- Mostly music, already happy with Ear (2024) sound and battery? You can wait.
Comparison Table
| Model | Price at launch | Key extras | Battery total | Codecs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Ear 3 | $179 | Super Mic case, LDAC, 12 mm drivers | up to 38 h | LDAC, AAC |
| Nothing Ear (2024) | $129–149 | LHDC (region-dependent), LDAC | up to 40.5 h | LDAC, LHDC |
| Nothing Ear (a) | Budget | Bright colorway, solid ANC | ~30–38 h | Varies by region |
What is Super Mic on Nothing Ear 3?
Super Mic adds two microphones to the charging case with a physical Talk button. Press it to switch input from the earbuds to the case, then hold the case near your mouth for clearer calls or voice notes in noisy places. App support can vary by platform.
What is the price and release date of Nothing Ear 3?
Nothing Ear 3 costs $179 / £179 / €179 in black or white. Preorders are open on Nothing’s site and retail partners. Open sales begin on September 25 in several regions. India pricing will be shared separately.
How long does the battery last on Ear 3?
Nothing claims up to 10 hours of playback per charge with ANC off and up to 38 hours including the case. The case supports quick top-ups and wireless charging. Real-world life depends on codec, volume, and ANC use.
Does Nothing Ear 3 support LDAC and multipoint?
Yes. Ear 3 supports LDAC and multipoint. With Dual Connection enabled, Super Mic activation may be slower or limited since only one microphone path can be active at a time.
Is Nothing Ear 3 good for iPhone users?
It works fine on iPhone using the AAC codec. Super Mic should function for calls and many apps, though some recording apps may not let you choose the case microphone.
Source : Nothing
