Nothing has launched the Ear (3a), a follow-up to its entry-level Ear (a) built around one addition: onboard recording. Pinch both earbuds at once and the new Audio Snapshot function records a clip of whatever's playing. Clips live on 32MB of flash, then sync to the Nothing X app for editing, sharing, or transcription.
The Nothing Ear (3a) is a $99 pair of wireless earbuds with a 12mm dynamic driver, 45dB of active noise cancellation, Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification via Sony's LDAC codec, and up to 42 hours of playback with the case, on sale from July 7, 2026.
Nothing frames Snapshot around moments worth keeping, its own examples being a recording from an online lecture or a voice note from a friend, and the transcripts go a step further: per the company, users can "transform key transcript moments into shareable quote cards, making it easier to revisit and share what stands out."
A squeeze gesture starts recording a phone call, up to two hours of it, and the file lands in Nothing X for edits and a transcript. Nothing says a privacy notification appears whenever the mode is live, and the whole thing works only where local law allows recording.
That 45dB of cancellation matches the flagship Ear (3), and a cleaner transparency mode lets the street back in when you want it. For anyone partial to extra processing, Static Spatial Audio layers reverb over the music so tracks feel like they're playing in a bigger space. An eight-band equalizer in the Nothing X app handles fine tuning, and the profiles you build there can be shared with other users.
Four finishes: black, white, the house yellow, and a new pink that burns hotter than the shade on the recent Headphone (a). A redesigned case carries a revised charge-status light, and an XS ear tip joins the box for smaller fits.
Battery hinges on your appetite for cancellation. ANC off, the buds hold ten hours alone and 42 hours with the case; ANC on, those figures drop to six and 25. Five minutes of charge buys an hour of playback.
