Overview: Nothing elevates its audio game with the Ear (3) and Super Mic
Nothing’s latest release, the Ear (3) wireless headphones, arrives with a bold claim: enhanced call quality powered by a feature named Super Mic. Unveiled alongside the Nothing Phone (3) in September, the Ear (3) aims to redefine how we hear and are heard during calls. The blend of eight microphones, bone-conducting tech, and AI-driven noise cancellation signals a holistic approach to voice capture and audio clarity in everyday environments.
Eight microphones and bone-conducting tech
Where many wireless earbuds rely on a small microphone array to pick up voice, the Ear (3) ups the ante with eight microphones distributed around the housing and stem. This extensive array helps isolate the user’s voice from ambient noise while maintaining a natural, balanced sound profile. Complementing the mics is bone-conduction technology, which offers an alternate path for voice pickup in noisy environments. By sensing vibrations through the skull, Nothing provides an additional channel when air-conduction mics struggle with wind, chatter, or crowd noise.
AI-powered noise cancellation for calls and music
AI noise cancellation is a core pillar of the Ear (3) strategy. The system analyzes environmental sounds in real-time and dynamically prioritizes the user’s voice over background noise. While several brands offer ANC primarily for music, Nothing positions AI-driven cancellation as a central feature for calls, promising clearer conversations in urban settings, home offices, and on the move. The balance between effective noise suppression and voice fidelity is crucial—Nothing emphasizes preserving natural speech intonation while reducing intrusive sounds like traffic and café chatter.
What this means for daily use
For commuters, remote workers, and multitaskers, the Ear (3) promises fewer interruptions from ambient noise during calls. For media consumers, the same microphone and AI stack helps ensure that conversations, voice notes, and virtual meetings feel more human and less strained by background din. The dual approach—bone conduction for redundancy and a robust mic array for precision—gives users more confidence that their voice will be heard, even in challenging environments.
Design, fit, and battery life
Nothing continues its minimalist design language with the Ear (3), focusing on comfort and long listening sessions. The earbuds are built to sit securely in the ear while maintaining a compact, lightweight profile. Battery life remains a key consideration for all-day calls and music, with fast charging and a charging case designed for on-the-go use. In addition to sound quality, the fit and seal are important for effective microphone pickup and overall user experience, especially with Noise Cancellation engaged.
Integration with Nothing Phone (3) and ecosystem
Released in tandem with the Nothing Phone (3), the Ear (3) is designed to work in harmony with Nothing’s ecosystem. Seamless pairing, quick-switching, and feature alignment—such as call handling, voice assistant access, and equalizer profiles—are positioned to enhance productivity and media consumption. The combined hardware and software approach aims to deliver a more cohesive user experience, where both devices reinforce each other in daily tasks, conference calls, and casual listening sessions.
Verdict: Are the Ear (3) with Super Mic worth it?
Nothing’s Ear (3) introduces a compelling set of technologies for anyone who values clear calls as much as immersive sound. The eight microphones, bone-conduction support, and AI-powered noise cancellation work in concert to reduce background noise while keeping the user’s voice natural and intelligible. If call quality is a priority—whether for remote work, online classes, or frequent phone calls—the Ear (3) represents a serious option in a crowded wireless earbud market. As with any premium audio device, hands-on testing will reveal how well the Super Mic setup performs across real-world scenarios, but the trajectory is clear: Nothing is pushing for a more connected, clearer calling experience.
Key takeaways
- Super Mic combines eight microphones with bone-conduction tech for versatile voice capture.
- AI-powered noise cancellation targets ambient noise during calls and in recordings.
- Strong integration with Nothing Phone (3) enhances the overall user experience.
- Comfortable design and reliable battery life support long sessions on the go.
