Nothing Ear (3) review: The AirPods killer that will have you talking to your hand

I've relied on my AirPods 4 for a while now, yet every time my phone rings on the packed 5:14 pm train, a little wave of dread washes over me. It's that unwarranted anxiety of people listening in as I'm forced to speak up that will always make me avoid calls in public.

Sure, the active noise cancellation (ANC) dulls the noise for me, but it does little to protect the person on the other end from the dissonant cacophony of peak-hour traffic.

This is the exact problem Nothing's Ear (3) aims to solve, and its innovation isn't in the earbuds entirely – but rather, in the case. A built-in microphone they've dubbed the Super Mic, and it might just be the AirPods killer we've been waiting for.

Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.

Nothing Ear (3) at a glance...

Get yours for $299

Standout feature: Nothing X App has some of the best EQ customisation I've seen

The good:

• Super Mic provides great call quality
• Easy to tune sound quality
• ANC is good
• Premium and transparent design
• Decent battery

The bad:

• Super Mic remains a bit gimmicky
• Contains a Nothing phone exclusive feature
• The default sound profile has too much bass (although that can be easily changed)

The verdict: An excellent pair of buds for $299 that challenges, and in some cases, surpasses my pair of Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation

A brilliant core experience with some fine-tuning

When you first insert the Ear (3), it's immediately clear that Nothing aimed for an extremely bassy but vibrant sound profile. In 'professional' terms, there's too much oomph with the newly upgraded 12mm dynamic driver. So, I had some fine-tuning to do.

This is where the Ear (3) pulls ahead of my AirPods 4. While Apple's sound is balanced, it's a fixed 'take it or leave it' experience. The Ear (3) offers a fantastic array of simple or complex EQ customisation that can even be adjusted using a personalisation test that will match your hearing.

Crucially, the customisable silicon tips of the Ear (3) ensure a secure fit, which delivered a level of comfort and isolation I realised couldn't make me go back to the fixed plastic design of my AirPods.

And complementing the rich audio is a good level of active noise cancellation that offers up to 45dB reduction. I usually listen at a lower volume, but at about halfway turned up, I could hardly hear any noises on my morning bus rides.

Introducing the Super Mic... so what's the point?

Let's be clear: The Ear (3) already provides great call clarity, with each earbud incorporating three directional microphones combined with bone-conduction voice pick-up units (VPU) – technology similarly seen in running and swimming headphones.

So, why the need for a microphone in the case? To win the war against extreme noise.

The Super Mic is a dual-microphone system designed to filter ambient noise up to a powerful 95dB. When a call comes in, you simply hold (or double-press to lock) the tactile 'TALK' button on the case. I found that it cuts through human chatter a lot better compared to my AirPods 4, which is perfect for any loud setting.

The case's other trick is that it records voice notes, though the experience depends on your phone. Using the Nothing Phone (3), holding the 'TALK' button offered me instant, transcribed recordings. On other devices, like my iPhone, you lose that button shortcut. You can still use the Super Mic in apps like Voice Memos and WhatsApp, but you have to be deliberate with it, as it lacks the seamless Nothing OS integration.

There is another frustrating limitation that is holding the earbuds back. For any Super Mic function to work, you must have at least one earbud out of the case and ideally in your ear. As a journalist, there's lost potential in having the case as a standalone, high-quality microphone for a quick interview or grab for social media. I hope Nothing unlocks this feature in a future iteration or software update, as it would make the microphone truly live up to its super name.

Nothing X is an unbeatable app for customisation

The Nothing X app has continued to outshine the competition through its promise of an extremely cohesive ecosystem. It's a central hub for all your Nothing tech, stylised by their signature dot-matrix aesthetic (which I adore).

For the Ear (3), the app is where you unlock the earbuds' true potential. It allows you to customise controls, access simple or advanced equaliser settings, and much more. My favourite recent addition is the 'Curated by Nothing' explore page on the equaliser itself, which allows you to browse and download popular sound profiles. I love this, as it makes the troubles of customising the equaliser yourself that much simpler.

If you're afraid of losing the fluidity of your Apple AirPods and their instant Bluetooth connection, don't worry, as your Nothing Earbuds connect instantly with the app installed.

Design, durability and all-day power

The transparent design of Nothing continues to improve, and this year, Nothing has introduced polished metal accents and a bottom case crafted from 100 per cent recycled aluminium – giving it a premium feel. Despite being bigger than my AirPods case, I quickly got used to it.

There are improvements for better connectivity too, and the Ear (3) retains an IP54 rating for dust, sweat and light rain. I also never had a problem with the battery life, promising up to a full 10 hours with ANC off, and an extended 38 hours with the case.

Are the Nothing Ear (3) worth it?

For the $299 price point, I'd say so. Nothing continues to innovate in ways that people don't really ask for, but it's great to see them doing it.

If you value deep customisation, fantastic audio tuning, in-ear comfort and unparalleled call quality in loud environments, the Ear (3) is a no-brainer that decisively beats my AirPods 4. They also offer fantastic value if you're an Android user or seeking a cheaper alternative to the latest AirPods Pro, with superior style.

So yes, this is the AirPods killer you've been waiting for – you just have to be prepared to start talking to your hand.

READ MORE: Nothing Headphones are a must-see, but are they a must-buy?