Summary
- Nothing’s Ear (3) introduces a dual-microphone system, called the Super Mic, located within its charging case to improve call quality.
- The earbuds feature upgraded internal components, including larger drivers, AI-trained noise-canceling, and a bone-conduction Voice Pick-up Unit.
- The new Nothing Ear (3) will be available for $179.
Nothing is back with the Ear (3) headphones, a new set of earbuds that stick to the brand’s established transparent design language. Available in black and white, the new model presents a familiar look with its see-through stems and case, punctuated by flashes of red. The updates are found inside the hardware and software.
The most notable change is the charging case, which now contains what Nothing calls the Super Mic. This dual-microphone system is designed to improve hands-free call clarity. It uses an ambient-filtering technology that isolates a user’s voice from surrounding noise. A new TALK button on the case activates this microphone during a call, allowing you to hold the case closer to your mouth for clearer audio transmission. This feature is intended to work with standard phone calls and applications like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp, though its functionality may not extend to all recording or messaging apps.
The earbuds themselves have also been re-worked. Each bud now has three directional microphones and a bone-conduction Voice Pick-up Unit, or VPU, which converts vibrations from the jaw and ear canal into electrical signals for voice pickup. The noise-canceling technology has been trained with AI, using 20 million hours of audio to inform its algorithms. The drivers have been increased from 11mm to 12mm.
For users of the brand’s own operating system, the TALK button has a second function, opening the Essential Space app for taking notes, pictures, or voice memos. The Nothing app also provides access to ChatGPT’s conversational mode through the earbuds.
The design includes a few material and shape adjustments. The bottom half of the charging case is now made with recycled metal, and the earbuds have small metallic accents. The shape of the buds has been slightly altered for comfort and better pressure venting. Battery life is stated at ten hours of listening without noise canceling, which can be extended to 38 hours with the case. A ten-minute charge provides ten hours of use. The price for the Nothing Ear (3) is $179.
