Nothing Ear 3’s Talk Button and Super Mic take on AirPods Pro 3
The wireless earbud fight just got more interesting. Nothing has shown off the first full looks of Nothing Ear 3, and the early focus is not on bigger drivers or wild colors. The company is putting attention on two fresh ideas on the charging case itself: a physical Talk Button and a built-in Super Mic. The full reveal is set for September 18, 2025, which makes the timing a direct response to Apple’s newly announced AirPods Pro 3.
Design and build
Ear 3 keeps the brand’s clear aesthetic, but the case steps up in materials. Nothing says the shell now uses 100 percent anodized recycled aluminum, which should feel sturdier and age better than the older plastic housings. The transparent lid remains while the base gets a smooth metallic finish. The earbuds themselves look familiar at first glance, yet the radio hardware has been re-engineered to a flat metal antenna that the company highlights as extremely thin. Reports mention a thickness of about 0.35 mm, which hints at tighter internal tolerances and a slimmer profile without losing signal strength.
A small design note that matters in real use: the case shape appears a touch more compact than before, with smoother corners for pocket carry. That is not flashy, but it is the kind of change you notice after a week in jeans or a backpack.
What the Talk Button could do
The new Talk Button sits on the front of the case. Nothing has not published a full manual yet, so there is room for educated guesses. A dedicated case button suggests hands-first voice control without reaching for the phone. Press to wake a voice assistant, start a quick voice note, or trigger a temporary conversation mode that lowers your music so you can talk to someone for a few seconds. Even a simple press-to-pair shortcut would be useful on day one. The company’s teaser language and the hardware placement both point toward fast, on-device interaction rather than a cosmetic flourish.
Super Mic use cases
The Super Mic is the other surprise, placed on or near the case’s USB-C edge. That gives the case a voice of its own. In practice, this could improve voice pickup for commands when the buds are not in your ears, or help you dictate a quick note with clearer audio by holding the case closer to your mouth in a noisy street. Some creators are already imagining the case as a pocket voice capture tool for short clips where a phone microphone struggles. The idea is simple: the case stops being a passive charger and becomes a tiny utility.
Core features to expect
Nothing has not published the spec sheet yet. Looking at the brand’s recent releases, expect adaptive noise cancellation, multipoint connectivity, and customization through the Nothing X app. One detail that stands out this year is Nothing’s public partnership with the British hi-fi brand KEF for audio work. That collaboration began earlier in 2025 on Nothing’s over-ear project and carries into new audio products, which suggests tighter tuning and clearer highs rather than a bass-heavy tilt. We will know the exact driver setup at launch, but the KEF link signals that sound quality is a priority.
Battery life and durability are also on watch. An aluminum base should help the case resist scuffs and may aid heat management during charging. Water resistance on the buds will likely be gym friendly at minimum. The important part is how the Talk Button and Super Mic fit daily habits. If they save time or reduce friction, they will matter more than chasing headline numbers on driver diameter.
Ear 3 vs AirPods Pro 3
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 set a high bar this week. Apple is promising stronger active noise cancellation, a tighter in-ear fit with more ear tip sizes, heart rate sensing for workouts, and live translation features that lean on Apple Intelligence. The price in the United States is 249 dollars, which keeps them firmly in the premium tier.
That defines the comparison. Apple goes deep on health, fit, and ecosystem polish. Nothing appears to be going deep on interaction and flexibility. AirPods Pro 3 will likely hold the advantage for users who live across iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch because of instant pairing, automatic switching, and spatial audio hooks inside Apple Music. Ear 3 counters with a platform-agnostic approach that plays nicely with Android and still pairs with iOS, while adding case-level controls that Apple does not offer today. On microphones, Apple’s beamforming stack is proven for calls, yet Ear 3’s extra case microphone could create situations where your voice cuts through better when the case is in hand. Time and testing will decide how big that gap is in both directions.
Sound quality is the most subjective part. If KEF’s guidance translates to cleaner treble and a stable soundstage, Nothing could win fans among listeners who prefer a neutral tilt. If you want live translation in your ear or workout heart rate inside the Apple Health ecosystem, Apple is the straightforward pick. Different tools for different jobs.
Price and availability
Nothing has confirmed the September 18 event for Ear 3. Pricing is not official. For context, Ear 2 launched in India at ₹9,999 in 2023, and early coverage hints that Ear 3 could land in the same ballpark if Nothing wants to keep pressure on the premium tier. A midrange tag would make the gap to AirPods Pro 3 very clear and should appeal to Android users who want strong ANC and distinct design without a flagship bill.
Outlook
Nothing is not trying to be Apple. It is trying to teach the earbud case a few new tricks. A button you can actually press. A microphone you can actually use. Transparent hardware that still looks like Nothing, now finished with metal that feels grown up. If the execution is smooth and the features fit naturally into daily life, Ear 3 could become the most practical version of Nothing’s design-first philosophy.
The final questions are simple. Will the Talk Button become second nature or sit untouched. Will the Super Mic produce cleaner voice pickup than a phone when the street is loud. Will battery life and ANC meet what commuters expect in 2025. If Nothing clears those bars at the right price, Ear 3 will be easy to recommend to anyone who wants thoughtful convenience instead of one more spec race.
For Apple users who care about health tracking and deep iOS perks, AirPods Pro 3 remain the obvious choice. For Android users and design fans who like the idea of a case that does more than charge, Nothing Ear 3 belongs on the shortlist. We will know the full story soon enough when Nothing pulls the wraps on September 18.