Nothing has built a reputation for stylish tech with substance, and the new Ear (3) earbuds push that philosophy further. Priced at $179 and launching September 25, the Ear (3) pairs futuristic design with some clever—and quirky—new tricks.

The standout feature is Nothing’s Super Mic, tucked inside the aluminum-accented charging case. Acting like a futuristic walkie-talkie, it uses beamforming tech to isolate your voice for clearer calls and notes. While support is limited—working best with Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp, and Google Meet—it’s an inventive solution to the everyday pain of muffled earbud calls.

Inside the buds, Nothing upgraded its 12mm dynamic drivers for deeper bass and richer treble, while bone conduction voice pickup units help your voice cut through wind and background noise. Noise cancellation has been improved to reduce noise by up to 25dB, although it still trails behind heavyweights like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2. Battery life now hits 5.5 hours with ANC (plus 22 more via the case), giving the Ear (3) solid stamina for daily use.

The buds also carry over Nothing’s minimalist, transparent design language with a subtle aluminum finish. A more natural stem angle and internal venting should mean better comfort, while the lanyard loop adds practicality. AI integrations, like voice-to-text transcription and ChatGPT commands, are exclusive to recent Nothing phones, but they hint at where the ecosystem is headed. Stylish, smart, and conversation-starting, the Ear (3) aims to prove that earbuds can still surprise us.

In other audio news, check out the Apple AirPods Pro 3.