Nothing has introduced the Ear (3a), an updated version of its entry-level Ear (a) wireless earbuds, priced at $99.
The most notable addition to the Ear (3a) is a function called Audio Snapshot, which allows users to record audio directly onto the earbuds without needing a connected phone.
The feature relies on 32 megabytes of onboard flash storage, a relatively small amount of memory by modern standards.
Unlike the more expensive Ear 3, released last year, the Ear (3a) does not include an upgraded microphone system built into its charging case.
The earbuds support the SBC, AAC and LDAC audio codecs, and include a static spatial audio mode, though without head tracking.
Nothing has introduced the Ear (3a), an updated version of its entry-level Ear (a) wireless earbuds, priced at $99. The price matches that of the original Ear (a), notable at a time when many technology companies have been raising prices on new products.
The earbuds are available in black, white and yellow, alongside a new pink colourway. The launch coincides with the release of the Nothing Phone (4b), a lower-cost handset that is being sold in the UK, Europe and India.
The most notable addition to the Ear (3a) is a function called Audio Snapshot, which allows users to record audio directly onto the earbuds without needing a connected phone. The feature relies on 32 megabytes of onboard flash storage, a relatively small amount of memory by modern standards. Recording is triggered by pinching both earbuds simultaneously, and the system captures a short period of audio before the trigger point as well as after it, so the beginning of a recording is not missed. Nothing has suggested the function could be used to capture material such as lecture audio or a live performance, though the company has stated the feature is intended for personal, non-commercial use.
Picture: Nothing
Recordings made using Audio Snapshot are synced automatically to the Nothing X companion app, where they can be played back, edited, shared or transcribed. The same onboard storage can also be used to record phone calls, though this is limited to around two hours of audio given the storage constraints. Call recordings are likewise synced to the app once completed, and other participants on a call reportedly receive an audible alert when a recording is taking place.
Unlike the more expensive Ear 3, released last year, the Ear (3a) does not include an upgraded microphone system built into its charging case. That case has instead been redesigned primarily for storage and charging, with reports pointing to a revised charge status light and an altered shape. Battery life has increased significantly compared with the outgoing Ear (a): up to ten hours of playback from the earbuds alone with noise cancellation switched off, rising to a stated 42 hours when combined with a full charging case. With noise cancellation enabled, battery life is reduced to around six hours on the earbuds and roughly 25 hours in total with the case.
Picture: Nothing
Other changes include a new 12-millimetre dynamic driver intended to improve bass response, along with noise cancellation reported to cover a broader range of frequencies than the previous model, particularly in the 400Hz to 2000Hz range associated with everyday environmental noise. The earbuds support the SBC, AAC and LDAC audio codecs, and include a static spatial audio mode, though without head tracking. An additional extra-small ear tip has also been added to the existing range of sizes.
