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Are you tired of seeing the same design, the same aesthetics from every tech company out there?
These days, it’s hard to even tell the difference between tech products.
With this in mind, the Nothing company set out to design an earbud like no other, and this year, they’ve done it again!
Pros:
This year, nothing has reshaped the material use of the Ear 3, replacing most of the plastic from last year with a premium, aluminum finish.
Have you ever so desperately wanted to just speak quietly into a microphone and the other person still hear you? Maybe you didn’t want to disturb the others around you? Well, Nothing has shaped the new Ear 3 just around that idea; they’ve added the new Super Mic. Now you can hold a “Talk” button on the side of the case and speak directly into the microphone built into the case.
Nothing’s audio products are widely known to have the most intricate and customizable EQ system on the market for earbuds. With the Nothing app, you get access to change a ‘simple’ EQ if you’re not sure what you’re doing, but if you do, you also have access to a more ‘advanced’ EQ system. Do the mid-basses feel too strong for what you listen to? Maybe the highs are too sharp? Change the exact frequency you feel right.
Many reviewers of the Ear lineup from Nothing have noted its signature sound profile. It tends more to the bassy, energetic, and exciting side of audio. But because of the intricate EQ system Nothing provides, you can always tune that sound profile for your liking (that’s how it is out of the factory).
Finally, the Nothing team has loaded the Ear 3 with 12mm drivers (up from 11 mm in the older Nothing Ear 2 / Ear line). For you, this means deeper, crisper bass, and a fuller low end. It also means a wider sound-stage, meaning you can hear the drums to your right, and the solo guitar playing on your left, as if there is a whole band in front of you (disclaimer, this is exaggerated, there is a limit to how big a sound-stage you can have with close-eared audio products).
Cons:
Battery life with ANC on (when active noise cancellation is turned on, which helps block background noise) is about 5.5 hours per charge, which is lower than most competitors in this price range. Some rival earbuds offer 7-9 hours with ANC, so if you use them all day with ANC, you’ll need to recharge more often.
The new Ear 3 looks premium, but the price tag also reflects that idea. It’s pricier than the previous generations of Nothing’s ear lineup, $30 more than the Ear 2. Though $70 seems like a big difference between Apple’s flagship earbuds and the Ear 3, if your budget stretches a bit, it does bring the AirPod Pros into the conversation. And given all the other features Apple has that Nothing hasn’t dove into yet, it does make competition even tighter than before.
ANC is improved, but it’s still not as effective as top noise-cancelling earbuds. Quiet ambient sounds are reduced well, but loud, sudden noises like traffic or wind sometimes creep through. So don’t expect to wear these in an airplane and hear silence. It’s not a deal breaker; for many users, it’s "good enough" in public or commuting, but if you want near silence in noisy places, others do a better job.
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Carl Pei, Nothing’s CEO, has repeatedly made remarks on how the iPhone and now, even the earbud industry, is “getting boring.” The designs are the same across generations, and competition between companies is leading to very similar-looking products across the board.
That’s exactly why, year after year, Nothing has strived to make their products “different” from the standard definition, in this case, their earbuds. With so many positive reviews for the previous generation, the Nothing team found it challenging to further improve. But with the motivation to be a unique brand, they found ways to push the limits of an already excellent product.
They highlighted changes in the materials they used this year, replacing a mostly plastic case from last year with a premium, aluminum finish for the case. But the feature that clearly took the spotlight was the ‘Super Mic’ this year, something no other company has come up with so far, exactly what distinguishes Nothing from the rest. And of course, they’ve made the usual improvement every other company makes: bigger driver, better ANC, longer battery, an intricate EQ, and several more improvements.
Should You Buy It:
Well, you’ve probably seen quite a bit on this product, maybe even watched a couple of reviews on it. The question is, do you buy it? Are you going to cave in and pay for that $179 price tag?
Here’s a simple guideline to resolve this dilemma:
Buy them if:
You’re a content creator or are absolutely in love with the Nothing aesthetic, the earbuds are worth buying just because of their design to some people!
You have an Android or Sony phone, and the Ear 3 now supports LDAC, which, in simple terms, is better-quality wireless audio.
Don’t buy them if:
You’re on a tight budget. At this price level, there are many options to choose from, and it would be wise to do your research before buying something.
You want head-tracking spatial audio wizardry. Many other earbuds out there have ‘cool’ features like these that might change your mind. So look carefully before you buy something.
If you want a closer, deep dive into Nothing’s Ear 3, here are other sources that could help you along the way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM67Za_8C1U (YouTube Review)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aSHIYP9F2I (Nothing Official)
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