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The Nothing Ear 3A deliver great, but sometimes buggy, performance for the price
The Verge has reviewed Nothing's new Ear 3A wireless earbuds, priced at $99, finding they offer strong overall performance for the money despite some minor software quirks. The earbuds continue Nothing's distinctive transparent design language, now available in a new pink colourway alongside yellow, black and white, and the brand has improved both active noise cancellation and audio quality over previous models, though buggy behaviour that has affected earlier Nothing earbuds persists in areas such as adaptive ANC.
The Ear 3A use 12mm dynamic drivers and support the high-resolution LDAC codec alongside SBC and AAC. Out of the box the sound is notably bass-heavy, which the reviewer felt overwhelmed vocals and guitars, though a robust equaliser in the companion app — including four presets, a 3-band custom EQ and an 8-band parametric EQ — allowed for significant tonal adjustment. Noise cancellation was praised for effectively filtering low-frequency drones such as air conditioning or aircraft cabin noise, with mid and low ANC settings also available, though the adaptive ANC mode and call quality showed occasional inconsistencies during testing.
In short
- Nothing's $99 Ear 3A earbuds reviewed by The Verge
- Strong sound and ANC, but adaptive ANC has minor bugs
- Robust in-app EQ fixes bass-heavy default sound signature
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
At $99, these earbuds offer strong value with genuine technical advantages—12mm drivers, LDAC codec support, and effective noise cancellation for everyday sounds. The sophisticated EQ system means the bass-heavy sound profile is easily correctable. Software quirks are frustrating but relatively isolated, and Nothing's history suggests they are amenable to fixes through updates rather than inherent hardware flaws. For budget-conscious listeners, the performance-to-price ratio is genuinely competitive.
The case against
The pattern of software bugs persisting across Nothing's product range suggests systemic quality-control issues rather than isolated teething problems. When core features like adaptive ANC and call quality are inconsistent, this directly compromises the earbuds' primary function. The apparent reliability gaps may render the price advantage illusory; consumers might find it wiser to pay marginally more for earbuds from established manufacturers with proven track records of stable software and dependable performance.
Explained simply
Nothing is a technology company known for distinctive transparent designs on its products. The Ear 3A are wireless earbuds—small battery-powered devices worn in the ears to listen to music or take calls—priced at $99.
This price point is significant because wireless earbuds range from $20 to $300 or more depending on brand and quality. Nothing has become known for offering products with distinctive design and strong performance at mid-range prices, though the company has experienced software reliability issues with earlier models.
The Ear 3A include features such as active noise cancellation—which reduces unwanted background sounds—and customisable audio settings through a smartphone app, features typically found only in much more expensive models. However, reviewers have found that some software inconsistencies affecting earlier Nothing earbuds have persisted with this new model, indicating ongoing reliability challenges.