Nothing Ear (3)
Earbuds

Nothing Ear (3)Price, Battery Life, Super Mic & Noise Cancelling

Ask about the Nothing Ear

6
TO SHELF

Released Guide updated

The Nothing Ear (3) are Nothing's flagship noise cancelling earbuds, in a see-through design with a recycled aluminium case. The case holds a Super Mic: press its TALK button and hold it near your mouth, and it cuts up to 95 dB of noise on calls. Nothing rates the noise cancelling at up to 45 dB and the battery at up to 38 hours with the case.

Where it shines

  1. Calls

    The Super Mic in the case cuts up to 95 dB of background noise on calls, on top of three microphones and a voice pickup unit in each earbud.

  2. Noise cancelling

    Adaptive noise cancelling up to 45 dB that rechecks your surroundings every 600 milliseconds.

  3. Sound quality

    24-bit Hi-Res Audio over LDAC, a 12 mm driver and an 8-band equaliser in the Nothing X app.

Comparison

Compare earbuds

How it compares

Price

$149

The official list price to buy it.

Weight

5.2g

Grams in your ears. Lower is lighter.

Battery life

~10 hrs

How long it lasts on its own, away from a charger.

Price

Nothing Ear (3)
$149
Nothing Ear (a)
$79
AirPods 5
$129
soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
$169.99
Powerbeats Fit
$199.99

Current list prices.

One earbud, not the pair, and not the case.

Hours on one charge with noise cancelling on, where that figure is officially stated; otherwise the official headline figure. Prices are each product's lowest version. Battery life varies with use, settings and firmware.

If not this one

  • If noise cancelling decides itSony WF-1000X

    Noise drops a further 25% from the WF-1000XM5, thanks to the QN3e processor and four microphones.

    $329.99
  • If comfort and fit decides itsoundcore AeroClip

    It clips outside the ear with an open ring, so nothing presses into the ear canal, at 6.0 grams per earbud.

    $169.99
  • If battery life decides itOnePlus Buds 4

    11 hours per charge and 45 with the case with noise cancelling off, and 11 hours from a 10-minute charge.

    $129.99

Release dates

An average of 498 days between updates.

Nothing Ear: Every Release Date

582 days397 days514 daysAug 17, 2021Nothing Ear (1)Mar 22, 2023Nothing Ear (2)Apr 22, 2024Nothing EarSep 18, 2025Nothing Ear (3)202120222023202420252026
ShippedExpected

An average of 498 days between updates.

GenerationOn saleGap
Nothing Ear (2)Mar 22, 2023582 days since Nothing Ear (1)
Nothing EarApr 22, 2024397 days
Nothing Ear (3)Sep 18, 2025514 days

Shows the latest 3 of 4 models. The first one shipped in 2021.

Show all 4 modelsShow fewer
GenerationOn saleGap
Nothing Ear (3)Sep 18, 2025514 days
Nothing EarApr 22, 2024397 days
Nothing Ear (2)Mar 22, 2023582 days
Nothing Ear (1)Aug 17, 2021first

Most paired with

Everything it works with

What the Nothing Ear (3) work with

Earbuds that work with iPhone and Android.

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with iPhone?

Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with the Apple Watch SE 3?

Yes. Apple Watch SE 3 plays audio to Bluetooth headphones or speakers, and can also play music and podcasts through its own speaker.

See the Apple Watch SE 3 Guide

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with Windows PC?

Works

Microsoft Swift Pair makes pairing with a Windows PC quicker.

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with Android?

Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls

Quick answers

All FAQs

Quick answers

How much does the Nothing Ear (3) cost?
Nothing lists it at $149, and its US store shows it at $109. It launched at $179.
When did the Nothing Ear (3) come out?
Nothing launched the Ear (3) on 18 September, in black or white, through nothing.tech and select partners.
Which Ear (3) features need a Nothing phone?
Essential Space voice notes and talking to ChatGPT through the earbuds need a Nothing phone. On other phones, the TALK button opens your voice assistant.

Get Nothing Ear (3) updates

Email me when there's news.

Works with

Does it work with…?

Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls
Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls
WorksWorked out from the official minimum

They work with every iPhone that runs iOS 13 or later, from the iPhone 6s on.

  • iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air and iPhone 17e: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16e: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone X: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone SE (3rd generation) and iPhone SE (1st generation): yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 17 Pro: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone 17 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone Air: yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation): yes, on iOS 13 or later
  • Any iPhone not listed: no, it cannot run that iOS version

Worked out from the official minimum ("iOS 13 or later") and Apple's list of the iPhones that run it, not a separate test. See the sources.

Works

Microsoft Swift Pair makes pairing with a Windows PC quicker.

Most paired with

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with iPhone?

Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with the Apple Watch SE 3?

Yes. Apple Watch SE 3 plays audio to Bluetooth headphones or speakers, and can also play music and podcasts through its own speaker.

See the Apple Watch SE 3 Guide

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with Windows PC?

Works

Microsoft Swift Pair makes pairing with a Windows PC quicker.

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with Android?

Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with the Apple Watch Ultra 4?

Yes. Apple Watch Ultra 4 plays audio to Bluetooth headphones and speakers.

See the Apple Watch Ultra 4 Guide

What you need

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with Android?

Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with iPhone?

Works

Nothing Ear (3) works with your phone.

What you need
iOS 13+ or Android 6+
What works
Bluetooth audio, app pairing and controls

Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with Windows PC?

Works

Microsoft Swift Pair makes pairing with a Windows PC quicker.

Supports

Some features missing

Ear (3) supports Nothing X on iPhone and Android, but app connectivity pauses during iPhone calls.

What you need
Nothing X app from the iOS App Store or Google Play
What works
Earbud controls, assistant mapping and other Nothing X functions
Good to know
On iPhone, the Nothing X app temporarily loses BLE communication during active calls.
Some features missing

Ear (3) audio calls work but Nothing X cannot remain connected during an iPhone call.

What you need
iOS phone using Ear (3) and Nothing X
What works
Normal calls through the phone Bluetooth connection
Good to know
Nothing says BLE app communication is halted during an iOS call.
Some features missing

Nothing Ear (3) offers LDAC with a supported source and AAC elsewhere.

What you need
LDAC-supporting phone for LDAC; Bluetooth otherwise
What works
LDAC, AAC and SBC
Good to know
Codec availability differs across phone operating systems.
Some features missing

Ear (3) has a configurable voice-assistant gesture that must first be enabled in Nothing X.

What you need
Nothing X app and phone with an enabled voice assistant
What works
Double-pinch-and-hold assistant invocation
Good to know
Disabled by default; actual assistant depends on handset settings.
Sep 18, 2025 · Went on sale
Nothing launches the Ear (3)
Nothing launched the Ear (3) with a Super Mic in the case, in black or white, at $179.

Reveal to on sale

How long after the reveal can you actually buy one?

Ear (1)21 days
Ear (2)same day
Ear4 days
Ear (3)same day

Two of the four went on sale the day they were revealed. Nothing Ear waited 4 days and Nothing Ear (1) waited 21.

At a glance

Nothing Ear (3)THIS PRODUCTNothing Ear (3)Nothing Ear (a)COMPARE WITHNothing Ear (a)
Noise cancellation
Real-time adaptive noise cancelling up to 45 dB, plus Transparency mode
Noise cancelling up to 45 dB: high, mid, low and adaptive
Earbud battery
Up to 10 hrswith noise cancelling off, 5.5 hrs with it on (AAC)
Up to 9.5 hrswith noise cancelling off, 5.5 hrs with it on
Works with
iPhone and AndroidiPhone (iOS 13 and above) and Android (6.0 and above), with the Nothing X app
iPhone and Androidthe Nothing X app is on Google Play and the iOS App Store
Water resistance
IP54earbuds: dust, sweat and light rain; not for swimming or the shower
IP54earbuds, IPX2 case
Price
From $149
From $79
Case battery
Up to 38 hrs with noise cancelling off, 22 hrs with it on, earbuds and case together
Up to 42.5 hrs with noise cancelling off, 24.5 hrs with it on, earbuds and case together
Weight
5.2g per earbud71.4g earbuds and case together
4.8g per earbud49.2g total
Technical specs
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC, AAC and LDACdual connection to 2 devices at once; pairs with up to 6 devices
Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDACdual connection to 2 devices at once
Status light
LED charging status light on the case
LED charging status light on the case
Controls
Pinch controls for music, calls, volume and noise cancelling, customizable in the Nothing X app
Pinch controls for music, calls and noise cancelling, customizable in the Nothing X app
Battery
Up to 10 hrsand 38 hrs with the case, noise cancelling off; 5.5 and 22 hrs with it on
Up to 42.5 hrs with the case and 9.5 hrs per charge, noise cancelling off
Lossless audio
24-bit Hi-Res Audio over LDAC
Hi-Res Audio with LDAC
Case
Recycled aluminium case with a TALK button and Super MicUSB-C and wireless charging
Charging case with USB-C wired chargingno wireless charging
Buy
See prices
See prices

Where to buy

We do not have a store link for Nothing Ear (3) yet.

What's in the box

What comes in the box with the Nothing Ear (3)?

Here is what you get when you open it.

Earbuds
Charging case
Ear tips
USB-C to USB-C cable
User guide
Safety and warranty information

From Nothing. Checked Nov 1, 2026.

Price compared to others

Price compared to others

Nothing Ear (3)
$149
Nothing Ear (a)
$79
AirPods 5
$129
soundcore Liberty 5 Pro
$169.99
Powerbeats Fit
$199.99
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Available nowGuide News
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)$299Available nowGuide News
Bose Sport Open Earbuds$199Available nowGuide News
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8$499Available nowGuide News

Frequently asked questions

Questions about Nothing Ear (3)

Top questions

How much does the Nothing Ear (3) cost?
Nothing lists it at $149, and its US store shows it at $109. It launched at $179.
When did the Nothing Ear (3) come out?
Nothing launched the Ear (3) on 18 September, in black or white, through nothing.tech and select partners.
Which Ear (3) features need a Nothing phone?
Essential Space voice notes and talking to ChatGPT through the earbuds need a Nothing phone. On other phones, the TALK button opens your voice assistant.
How long does the Nothing Ear (3) battery last?
Up to 10 hours per charge and 38 hours with the case with noise cancelling off. With it on, 5.5 hours and 22 hours. Nothing measured this with AAC at 50% volume.
What is the Super Mic?
A pair of microphones built into the charging case. Press the TALK button and hold the case near your mouth, and it cuts up to 95 dB of background noise on calls and voice notes.
How strong is the Nothing Ear (3) noise cancelling?
Up to 45 dB. It adapts in real time, checking your surroundings every 600 milliseconds. Transparency mode lets outside sound in when you want it.
Does the Nothing Ear (3) case charge wirelessly?
Yes. The case charges on a wireless pad or over USB-C. A full charge takes 70 minutes by cable and 120 minutes wirelessly.
How fast does the Nothing Ear (3) charge?
A 10-minute charge gives up to 10 hours of playback across the earbuds and case, with noise cancelling off.
Does the Nothing Ear (3) support LDAC?
Yes. It plays LDAC, AAC and SBC, and is certified for Hi-Res Audio.
Can the Nothing Ear (3) connect to two devices at once?
Yes. Dual Connection keeps it linked to two devices at the same time, and it pairs with up to 6. With Dual Connection on, the Super Mic takes longer to turn on.
Is the Nothing Ear (3) waterproof?
No. The earbuds are rated IP54 for dust, sweat and light rain. Nothing says not to swim or shower with them.
Is the Nothing Ear (3) good for gaming?
It has a low latency mode. With a Nothing phone in Game Mode, the delay drops below 120 ms.
Does the Nothing Ear (3) have an equaliser?
Yes. The Nothing X app has an 8-band equaliser, and it can build a Personal Sound profile from a quick hearing test.
What comes in the Nothing Ear (3) box?
The two earbuds, the charging case, 3 pairs of ear tips, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a user guide and safety and warranty information.

Using it

What does it cost?
It costs $149. That is the list price.
How heavy is it?
It weighs 5.2g.

Water

Can it get wet (shower, pool, swimming)?
Yes for sweat and rain, but not for the shower. Its rating is IP54. It is rated for splashes, not immersion.

Price and models

Is there a newer one?
No. The Nothing Ear is the current model.
How much does the Nothing Ear cost?
List price: $149 list; $109 at Nothing's US store on November 1, 2026.

In the box

What's in the box?
Earbuds, Charging case, Ear tips, USB-C to USB-C cable, User guide, Safety and warranty information.

Works with

Do the Nothing Ear (3) support Voice assistant / AI?
Partly, Ear (3) has a configurable voice-assistant gesture that must first be enabled in Nothing X. Some features missing
Do the Nothing Ear (3) work with Windows PC?
Yes. Microsoft Swift Pair makes pairing with a Windows PC quicker. Works
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