July 9, 2026, 9:58 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The London-based company Nothing has launched new earbuds, the Ear (3a), for under 100 euros. However, the model includes a feature that might catch many by surprise: The headphones can record spoken words directly during a call—without an app or detours.
Recordings Directly via the Earbuds
The Ear (3a) contains a 32-megabyte flash memory that enables a recording function, which the manufacturer Nothing calls “Audio Snapshot.” This allows users to record the sound currently playing through the headphones at the press of a button. The manufacturer compares “Audio Snapshot” to a screenshot on a smartphone.
The function can be activated by squeezing the earbuds’ stems and has two options that users can set via the Nothing-X app:
- Record up to 60 seconds after activation.
- Record the last 30 seconds before activation.
Phone calls and online meetings can also be recorded by the Nothing Ear (3a) thanks to “Call Recording.” According to Nothing, up to two hours of recording is possible. When the function is activated, all participants hear a tone indicating that recording is taking place, which aims to prevent secret recordings.
Recordings from “Audio Snapshot” and “Call Recording” can be played back, edited, and even transcribed in the Nothing-X app. The latter works with limitations offline. For precise transcription, an internet connection and a Pro-Transcription subscription are required, which is free for three months.
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Familiar Approach with Updated Design
Otherwise, the Ear (3a) builds on the Ear (a), which Nothing introduced in 2024 as a more affordable model. The case is slightly heavier, larger, and more rounded inside, while the earbuds themselves remain practically unchanged.
New, however, is a pink color variant. Additionally, Nothing offers the earbuds in black, white, and a customized yellow color. The package now includes an especially small ear tip. A three-stage LED on the case indicates the battery level.
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Improved Sound and Stronger ANC
Unlike the Ear (a), the Ear (3a) uses slightly larger 12-mm drivers, which are supposed to deliver deeper bass (+5 decibels) and more details. Also new is an adjustable Advanced EQ, which was missing in the predecessor.
The active noise cancellation (ANC) is said to cover up to 45 decibels, as with the Ear (a). However, Nothing specifies a 17 percent wider frequency range from 4,000 to 5,000 hertz.
The battery capacity in the individual buds has significantly increased from 46 to 55 milliampere-hours. However, due to the new drivers and additional features, this does not translate into longer runtime. In fact, the Nothing Ear (3a) lasts 5.5 hours per earbud with active ANC, compared to 6 hours for the Ear (a).
The Nothing Ear (3a) is available at launch for 99 euros on Nothing’s website. Although they are already listed on Amazon, they are not yet directly available.