Nothing launches the new Ear (3a): smart audio with integrated memory and Hi-Res

Nothing impresses once again, bringing a breath of fresh air to the true wireless earbud market.

The London tech company has officially unveiled the new Ear (3a), the latest iteration of the successful series "a", designed for those seeking style, cutting-edge technology, and a democratic price.

The new earbuds are hitting the market at €99, introducing novel colors – including a striking pink and a renewed yellow, along with classic white and black – and a redesigned charging case inspired explicitly by the shapes of pill blister packs.

The "screenshot" of audio

However, the real revolution of the Ear (3a) lies in the smart features, particularly in the Audio Snapshot functionality. Nothing has integrated 32 MB of flash memory directly into the earbuds. This allows users to save audio snippets on the fly (such as a part of a podcast or a voice note) simply by pinching the stems of the earbuds.

The system records what happens immediately before and after the command, then sends the clip to the Nothing X app, where the audio can be replayed, edited, or even transcribed into text.

Additionally, it allows for call recordings of up to 2 hours, with a voice alert to protect the privacy of participants.

Enhanced bass and Hi-Res Wireless

From a purely acoustic perspective, Nothing's engineers have implemented a new 12 mm dynamic driver equipped with an aerospace-derived PMI diaphragm. The generous size of the driver allows for more air movement, resulting in a bass response up to 5 dB more powerful than before, while maintaining crystal-clear highs.

Audiophiles will appreciate the Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification and full support for the LDAC codec, enabling streaming reaching 24-bit/96 kHz. An advanced 8-band equalizer and support for static Spatial Audio for a greater immersion with video content are also included.

Acoustic isolation and energy efficiency

On the active noise cancellation (ANC) front, Nothing promises broad-spectrum isolation capable of reducing external noise by up to 45 dB. Improvements to the algorithms and acoustic grids focus particularly on mid frequencies (between 400 Hz and 2000 Hz), typical of urban environments or public transport, bringing a 17.1% upgrade in overall coverage compared to the previous generation.

For calls, three microphones per earbud work in synergy with AI to clean the voice from wind and background noise.

Great news also regarding battery life: Ear (3a) guarantees up to 42 hours of total playback using the case (10 hours with just the earbuds and ANC off), which drops to 25 total hours if noise cancellation is activated.

Finally, fast charging provides an hour of listening with just 5 minutes of plugging in.

As for the European market, the earbuds are available for purchase starting today, July 7, directly on the manufacturer's official website for €99 in yellow, black, white, and pink.