The Nothing Ear 3 earbuds have arrived, boasting a stylish design and a unique "Super Mic" feature, alongside solid sound and active noise cancellation. These fourth-generation earbuds from Nothing refine the company's signature design, incorporating metal accents for a more premium feel.

Design and Comfort:

The Ear 3 maintains the familiar transparent design, now enhanced with polished aluminum metal finish on the case and metal accents visible through the transparent casing of the earbuds themselves. The design feels more durable and premium, aligning with Nothing's overall aesthetic. They fit comfortably and securely in the ear, with four sizes of silicone ear tips provided to ensure a good seal. Both the earbuds and the charging case have an IP54 rating for resistance to dust, sweat, and light rain. A new addition is a lanyard loop on the side of the case.

"Super Mic" Feature:

A key feature of the Nothing Ear 3 is the "Super Mic," built into the charging case. By pressing a button on the case, it transforms into a microphone for calls and voice notes. While opinions vary on its practicality, the Super Mic delivers noticeably better-sounding calls by cutting out background noise, making it suitable for voice memos, transcriptions or calls. However, connecting to two devices simultaneously may cause the Super Mic to be less responsive.

Sound Quality:

The Nothing Ear 3 delivers an energetic listening experience with a strong bass and treble presence. The updated 12mm drivers and a redesigned diaphragm contribute to better bass and treble reproduction compared to the previous model, with a 20% larger radiating area exaggerating the bass. The soundstage is wider, with enhanced clarity in the mids and highs, and improved instrument separation. While the default tuning might be too bass-heavy for some, the Nothing X app offers granular adjustments with an advanced equalizer. The sound quality receives high ratings, with particularly impressive low distortion.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC):

The active noise cancellation is decent, effectively reducing consistent humming and background noises like air conditioning. However, it may not be as potent as top-tier competitors like Sony or Apple, letting through some speech and traffic noise. The transparency mode is good, providing clear directional audio of the outside world.

Battery Life:

The battery life is a solid six hours of playback with noise canceling. The charging case provides at least 22 hours of total playtime. The case charges via USB-C in a little over an hour, or about two hours via Qi wireless charging.

Other Features:

• Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint connectivity
• Spatial Audio
• Advanced EQ via the Nothing X app
• Stem pinch controls

Conclusion:

The Nothing Ear 3 offers a combination of stylish design, solid sound quality, and a unique feature in the "Super Mic". The improved build quality and rich feature set contribute to a premium product experience. While the ANC might not be the best in class, the overall package provides a compelling option for those seeking earbuds with a distinctive design and good performance.