Nothing Ear 3 Premium Earbuds Launch with Super Mic and Aluminum Design Nothing has officially launched its latest premium wireless earbuds, the Ear 3. Priced at $179, the new model features a refined design with an aluminum finish on both the earbuds and the charging case, marking a step up in build quality from previous offerings. The most significant new feature is the Super Mic, a secondary microphone system built directly into the charging case. Designed to function like a futuristic walkie-talkie, the Super Mic uses beamforming technology to better isolate the user’s voice and cancel out background noise. It is positioned to be held like a traditional handheld microphone. In practice, the Super Mic delivers clearer voice quality on supported apps, which include Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and WeChat. It also works with native voice memo apps on Android and iOS, and with the Blackmagic video app. However, its functionality is limited. It cannot override the default microphone for system-wide use, meaning it won’t work for sending voice notes in messaging apps or for general video recording outside of specific supported software. Beyond the case microphone, the earbuds themselves have been upgraded. Each bud now contains three directional microphones and a bone conduction sensor, known as a Voice Pickup Unit (VPU), to improve speech clarity during calls by reducing wind interference. Nothing claims its active noise cancellation can block over 25 dB of external sound, though initial impressions suggest it may not be as effective as competitors like the AirPods Pro 2 or Pixel Buds Pro 2, with some environmental hiss still audible. The internal 12mm dynamic drivers have been redesigned, resulting in a sound signature with more prominent bass and richer, less sharp trebles compared to the Ear 2. Users can further customize the sound through the Nothing X app’s equalizer settings. The design has also been tweaked for a better fit, with a more natural stem angle and internal venting to reduce pressure in the ear. Nothing states these changes also contribute to a 20 percent improvement in signal sensitivity for a more stable connection. The case itself is constructed using a new nano-injection process that fuses recycled aluminum with plastic, eliminating the need for glue. It includes a USB-C port and a lanyard loop, following the recent trend of attachable accessories. Battery life sees an improvement. The Ear 3 offers an estimated 5.5 hours of listening with ANC enabled, with the case providing an additional 22 hours. A five-minute quick charge can provide up to an hour of playback. The earbuds also include AI features, but these are exclusive to recent Nothing smartphones. These include Essential Space integration for syncing and transcribing Super Mic recordings, and a double-pinch gesture to activate ChatGPT for voice requests. The Nothing Ear 3 will be available in white and black starting September 25th for $179. Pre-orders are now open on Nothing’s website and through various retail partners.
