# Nothing Ear (3a) Can Record Calls and Audio Without Your Phone

Source: https://idevice.com/nothing-ear-3a-can-record-calls-and-audio-without-your-phone
Published: 2026-07-07

> The $99 Nothing Ear (3a) adds onboard recording for calls and audio snapshots, plus 45dB noise cancellation and 42 hours of battery life.

Nothing's Ear (3a) does something most sub-$100 earbuds don't. It can [record straight to the buds themselves](https://9to5google.com/2026/07/07/nothing-ear-3a-price-features-release/), no phone required. Pinch both buds and it grabs a buffer of whatever you're listening to, up to 60 seconds, and saves it to the Nothing X app with transcription and editing built in. A separate [Call Recording feature captures up to two hours](https://www.soundguys.com/nothing-ear-3a-launch-159572/) of an actual phone call or meeting through the mic, with a spoken alert letting both people know it's recording. All of this runs on just 32MB of onboard storage, small, but enough for short clips and calls without needing your phone nearby.

You also get [45dB noise cancellation](https://www.androidpolice.com/latest-nothing-ear-3a-earbuds-clip-your-calls-and-record-your-meetings/), LDAC support for higher-quality wireless audio, and [42 hours of total battery life with the case](https://www.androidcentral.com/accessories/earbuds/nothing-launches-ear-3a-earbuds), though that number drops with ANC turned on. At [$99](https://9to5google.com/2026/07/07/nothing-ear-3a-price-features-release/), that's a lot of hardware for the price.

## Sources

- [Nothing’s Ear 3a Wireless Earbuds Can Take ‘Audio Snapshots’](https://gizmodo.com/nothings-ear-3a-wireless-earbuds-can-take-audio-snapshots-2000782277) (Gizmodo)
- [Nothing announces Ear (3a) sub-$100 ANC earbuds](https://www.engadget.com/2202348/nothing-announces-ear-3a-sub-dollar100-anc-earbuds/) (Engadget)
- [9to5Google](https://9to5google.com/2026/07/07/nothing-ear-3a-price-features-release/) (9to5Google)
- [SoundGuys](https://www.soundguys.com/nothing-ear-3a-launch-159572/) (SoundGuys)
- [Android Police](https://www.androidpolice.com/latest-nothing-ear-3a-earbuds-clip-your-calls-and-record-your-meetings/) (Android Police)