Nothing has built a distinctive style since launching the Ear 1 in 2021 at $99, proving that premium features do not demand premium costs. The Ear 3A keep the signature see-through aesthetic with a clear case and stem, paired with a solid body in fresh pink along with yellow, black, and white choices. Audio and noise cancellation both see gains, yet the buds retain the occasional software hiccups seen in earlier models. At $99 the price appeals, though users should expect occasional quirks in adaptive ANC and voice calls.

Verge Score

$99

The Good

Strong overall results for the cost
Flexible EQ tools

The Bad

Stock tuning leans too bassy
Adaptive ANC shows occasional inconsistency

The Ear 3A use 12mm drivers and handle LDAC, SBC, and AAC codecs. Out of the box the sound tilts heavily toward bass, giving low notes extra weight while masking mids such as vocals and guitars. Bass fans may approve, yet most listeners will find the balance off. The saving grace is the capable EQ inside the companion app, which offers four presets, a basic three-band slider, an eight-band parametric mode for finer tweaks, and community-curated profiles.

Within moments I dialed in a more even curve by easing bass below 115 Hz, lifting mids from 220 to 540 Hz, softening harsh peaks between 2 and 3.5 kHz, and adding a touch of air above 6.6 kHz. Chris Robinson's vocals gained clarity on "Thorn in My Pride," while the guitars cut through with better definition, and the bass line still anchored the track.

Nothing introduced a pink finish alongside yellow, white, and black variants.

Noise cancellation improves on prior Nothing models, especially blocking low-end rumble from engines or HVAC systems. At this price the higher frequencies are handled reasonably well, though coffee-shop chatter may still leak through. Three fixed ANC levels let users choose how much outside sound to admit, while an adaptive mode aims to adjust automatically.

That adaptive mode introduced the first minor hiccups. During neighborhood walks the intensity would suddenly drop for a couple of seconds before returning to normal, happening two or three times per hour. No clear trigger emerged, and the shifts felt abrupt compared with the smoother transitions on pricier rivals.

Call performance showed a related volume quirk. When listening only, the other party heard complete silence, prompting one contact to ask if the line had dropped. My voice came through clearly when I began speaking in quiet surroundings, yet louder background noise caused the buds to filter highs, leaving my voice dull while still suppressing the din.

The Ear 3A retain the transparent styling Nothing introduced with the Ear 1 in 2021.

The Nothing X app provides ANC controls, a strong parametric EQ, and customizable buttons.

Both the ANC jumps and call quirks may be fixed in later firmware (tested on version 1.0.1.59). Using fixed ANC levels or avoiding calls in noisy spots sidesteps the problems entirely.

The Ear 3A also pack 32 MB of onboard memory for recording up to two hours of calls or capturing one-minute audio snapshots. A voice prompt alerts participants when recording starts. While useful for preserving key conversations, the snapshot feature records only what the buds are playing at reduced quality and feels more like a novelty.

It is welcome to see Nothing return below the $100 mark after the $179 Ear 3. The brand shines when pushing limits at lower prices, and the small flaws are easier to overlook. Although the default sound needed adjustment, the strong EQ options make these buds more adaptable than most competitors at the same cost.

Photography / The Verge

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John Higgins