Nothing's new Ear 3a can record calls and save what you're listening to
- Nothing Ear 3a introduces Audio Snapshot with onboard storage.
- The earbuds can also record phone calls and meetings.
- New 12mm drivers, 45dB ANC, and Hi-Res Audio support are included.
- Pricing starts at just $99.
Nothing makes some of the best wireless earbuds on the market, and the company today unveiled its latest pair, the Ear 3a, with a new feature that feels particularly relevant in the AI era.
The headline feature of the Nothing Ear 3a is built-in storage of 32MB. Nothing says this lets users record what it calls Audio Snapshots, essentially allowing you to save whatever is being heard through the earbuds at any given moment. The feature captures audio from both before and after the trigger gesture, creating an "audio screenshot" without you ever having to pull out your phone.
Recordings automatically sync to the companion app, where you can replay, edit, share, and transcribe them.
The storage also enables call and meeting recording directly on the earbuds. Users can start recording with a simple gesture and capture conversations for up to two hours. With privacy in mind, other participants are notified whenever a call or meeting is being recorded.
On the audio side, the Ear 3a gets a new 12mm dynamic driver designed to deliver stronger bass and improved detail. The earbuds also support Hi-Res Audio Wireless at up to 24-bit/96kHz and an 8-band equalizer that you can customize right in the app.
There are ANC upgrades as well. The Ear 3a now offers up to 45dB of wideband ANC, with Nothing claiming a 17.1% improvement in overall noise cancellation coverage compared to the previous generation.
In terms of design, they'll look familiar to anyone who's used Nothing's earbuds before. The case keeps the brand's signature transparent-ish aesthetic, while the earbuds themselves come in four colors: Black, White, Yellow, and a new Pink finish.
The Nothing Ear 3a are priced at $99, putting them in direct competition with the Google Pixel Buds 2a and the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.
Android Central's TakeI've stopped getting excited about ANC improvements and bigger drivers at this point. But built-in storage that records and transcribes what you're hearing? That's something I'd genuinely use every day, especially when my attention span is basically non-existent at this point.