The Nothing Ear (3a) are mid-range truly wireless earbuds in the brand's lower-priced (a) line, aimed at buyers who want much of Nothing's app-driven experience without stepping up to the expense of the flagship Nothing Ear (3). The (3a) compete in the busy sub-$100 segment of the earbuds market, but stand out with their flexible EQ and unusual Audio Snapshot recording feature. However, unlike the flagship Ear (3), they don't support wireless charging.
Our Verdict
The Nothing Ear 3a earbuds are very good for sports and fitness. They're comfortable and stable enough for walks and gentle jogs, although faster running and impact-heavy exercises can loosen their fit. Their IP54 rating also provides protection against dust and water splashes, and their bass-heavy sound adds oomph to your pump-me-up gym playlists.
Impressive ANC.
Comfortable, shallow fit.
Fit can loosen during impact-heavy exercise.
The Nothing Ear 3a are very good for travel. Their ANC does a good job reducing low-frequency noise like the rumble from a bus engine, and they also block out mid-range sound like passenger chit-chat. They're comfortable enough for long journeys and come with a compact case, so they're easy to toss in a pocket. They lasted just over six hours with ANC on, which isn't quite enough to get you through a transatlantic flight, but is enough for everyday travel. The case also provides three additional charges.
Impressive ANC.
Comfortable, shallow fit.
Very good microphone noise handling.
Heavily boosted bass can overwhelm some mixes.
The Nothing Ear 3a are decent for office work. Their ANC does a good job blocking out the noise of chatty coworkers and the hum of nearby AC units. They also don't leak much audio, so you won't disturb any coworkers when blasting your favorite tunes. Their mic does a very good job separating your voice from background noise, but it renders your voice thin and nasal-sounding, so they're better for occasional calls than a meeting-heavy workday. Still, they're comfortable enough to wear all day.
Impressive ANC.
Comfortable, shallow fit.
Very good microphone noise handling.
Mic makes your voice sound nasally.
Heavily boosted bass can overwhelm some mixes.
The Nothing Ear 3a aren't suitable for wireless gaming. They don't support a non-Bluetooth wireless connection or come with a dedicated gaming dongle. You can connect them to a Bluetooth-compatible PC, but their latency remains high even with Low Lag mode enabled. That said, they'll do the job for mobile games that don't require accurate timing, such as turn-based RPGs.
The Nothing Ear 3a can only be used wirelessly, so they aren't suitable for wired gaming.
The Nothing Ear 3a have satisfactory audio reproduction accuracy. Out of the box, they have a well-controlled but bass-heavy sound that adds heaps of rumble and thump to your audio. That's great for techno bangers, but it can overwhelm more vocal-driven tunes. On the plus side, the mid-range and treble are pretty well-balanced. And the companion app comes with a detailed EQ, so you can easily dial back some of the bass. While we measured some differences in phase and amplitude between the left and right drivers, these are hard to notice during regular listening, and driver matching can vary with every unit. Harmonic distortion is also extremely low.
The Nothing Ear 3a have great noise isolation. Their ANC does an impressive job blocking out noise across the whole frequency range, from rumbly bus engines to higher-pitched fan whine. They also don't leak much audio, so people nearby are unlikely to hear your audio unless you're blasting your ears in a quiet space like a library.
The Nothing Ear 3a have an okay microphone system. The main downside is that the mic renders your voice thin and nasal-sounding. You're intelligible, but if you take a lot of calls, this isn't the most ear-friendly system. On the plus side, the mic's noise handling is very good, so your voice remains intelligible against most day-to-day background noise like people talking.
The Nothing Ear 3a have impressive frequency response consistency. Once you've selected the right ear tips and passed the fit test, you can expect their sound to remain consistent each time you wear them.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Nothing Ear (3a) earbuds come in four colors: 'Black,' 'White,' 'Yellow,' and 'Pink.' We bought and tested a 'Pink' unit and took a photo of its label.
If you come across a different variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll add it to our review.
Popular Headphone Comparisons
The Nothing Ear 3a succeed the Nothing Ear (a) as the latest in the lower-priced branch of Nothing's earbud lineup. They retain the familiar shallow fit, pinch controls, and transparent design, but add much stronger ANC, more advanced sound customization, and a new Audio Snapshot feature, which records calls or media playing through the earbuds rather than ambient sound. In general, the Ear (3a) are the clear step-up, but they ship with a very bass-heavy tuning. If you don't like messing about with EQs, the Ear (a) remain appealing. The main reason to upgrade to the flagship Nothing Ear (3) is the better call quality and wireless charging. Looking outside the Nothing brand, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless offer stronger ANC than the Ear (3a), along with a longer battery life, an auto-off timer to conserve battery, and wireless charging. For most people, the Anker are better value. But if you like dialing in your preferred sound to taste, the Ear (3a) earbuds are a better bet, since they come with detailed EQ in their companion app.
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The Nothing Ear (3) are the flagship alternative to the more affordable Nothing Ear (3a). But the differences are smaller than you might think, and if mic quality isn't important for you, the Ear (3a) offer better value. The main reason to get the flagship Ear (3) model is the improved microphone, which captures your voice more accurately than the Ear (3a)'s. The Ear (3)'s case also supports wireless charging, and they come with Quick Pair for iOS, which is handy if you're enmeshed in Apple's ecosystem. That said, the Ear (3a) offer a longer continuous battery life, comparable ANC, and a similar suite of EQ tools in the companion app.
The Nothing Ear (3a) are better earbuds than the Nothing Ear (a), with one caveat. The Ear (3a) block out considerably more outside noise, last a bit longer, and come with a more extensive parametric EQ in the companion app. Their main downside is that they ship with a very bass-heavy tuning, which might not be to your taste. Of course, you can dial that bass back with the EQ, but if you prefer a more balanced sound without tweaking, the Ear (a)'s more balanced tuning is easier to recommend.
The Nothing Ear (3a) and CMF Buds Pro 2 are close relatives: both are part of the same parent company, and they both ship with bass-heavy tunings and comparable battery lives. But the Nothing are the better earbuds. They're more comfortable, use pinch controls that respond more reliably, and offer a more detailed parametric EQ in their companion app. Still, the CMF record speech more naturally in quieter conditions and have a distinctive case dial for controlling playback and volume, but their touch controls occasionally misread inputs.
For most people, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are a better pair of affordable earbuds than the Nothing Ear (3a). That's largely due to their superior ANC and longer battery life. But the Anker also have an auto-off timer to conserve battery, and their case supports wireless charging. That said, the Nothing are slightly more stable in-ear and come with a detailed parametric EQ in the companion app, so you can really dial in your preferred sound. The Nothing's mic system also does a better job separating your voice from any noise around you, but your voice will still sound harsh to whoever you're speaking to.
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