Nothing will launch the Nothing Ear (3a) on July 7, 2026 —the budget version of its current true wireless earbuds. The company officially confirmed the release date in a teaser, also revealing four color options: white, black, yellow, and, for the first time, pink. According to a leak, the price is rumored to be 99 euros—exactly the same as its predecessor, the Ear (a), from 2024. However, Nothing has not yet officially commented on the price.
This launch will coincide with that of the Nothing Phone (4b); both products will be featured in the same livestream. We’ve compiled a list of what’s already confirmed and what’s still in the realm of rumors.
The most important details at a glance
- Launch: Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (German time), alongside the Nothing Phone (4b).
- Colors: White, black, yellow, and pink. Pink is a new addition to the Nothing lineup.
- Price: 99 euros according to a leak; not yet officially confirmed. That would be the same starting price as the Ear (a).
- Positioning: A more affordable spin-off of the Nothing Ear (3), likely with a scaled-back feature set.
- Specs: No official spec sheets yet. However, ANC and LDAC are considered likely.
If you’re currently looking for affordable earbuds, it’s worth checking out our roundup of the best in-ear headphones for 2026. There, we break down what earbuds in this price range currently offer.
Launch on July 7, alongside the Nothing Phone (4b)
The date is set: On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Nothing will unveil the Ear (3a) at 12:00 p.m. German time (11:00 a.m. BST). The manufacturer confirmed this in a short teaser video on X. The clip features a summer DJ theme with a spinning turntable and the tagline, “Only dating DJs this summer.” The message is clear: Nothing is positioning these affordable earbuds as earbuds for going out and listening to music.
“Only dating DJs this summer.”
Ear (3a)
July 7, 11:00 BSTShot on Nothing
w/ Phone (4b) pic.twitter.com/srMb5bykNe— Nothing (@nothing) June 30, 2026
The bundling with the Phone (4b) is a clever move. This way, Nothing gets two product unveilings from a single event and films the teaser right with the smartphone that’s set to go on sale during the same livestream. One product becomes an advertisement for the other. If you’d like, you can sign up for launch updates at nothing.tech.
Four colors, including pink for the first time
The vinyl record shown in the video lists the four color options: white, black, yellow, and pink. White, black, and yellow are already familiar from earlier Nothing models, but the bright pink is new. This is an understandable strategy, especially for an entry-level product. Color sells, and where features might be scaled back, design can make all the difference. Nothing won’t reveal whether the pink variant will be available in all markets until July 7.
99 euros? What we know about the price
The figure circulating everywhere is 99 euros. It’s important to put this in context: This price wasn’t announced by Nothing itself, but comes from a leak by the French blog Dealabs. So far, Nothing has only officially confirmed the date, time, and colors. So the price is plausible, but not yet set in stone.
It’s plausible because the Ear (a) launched in 2024 at exactly the same starting price of 99 euros. If Nothing sticks to this price, it would be quite a statement, despite inflation and the tight supply of memory chips. By comparison: The standard Nothing Ear (3) launched at 179 euros and is now available starting at around 129 euros. On paper, the Ear (3a) would thus be the clearly more affordable alternative.
A model numbered B190 also appeared in an Indonesian certification database, confirming the existence of the earbuds. However, the entry did not provide any technical details.
Features: What the Nothing Ear (3a) Might Offer
Official spec sheets are not yet available. However, a look at the predecessor and the flagship model helps in assessing their capabilities. The Ear (a) already offered ANC, LDAC support, and 11-mm drivers, but lacked wireless charging. The more expensive Ear (3) steps it up with adaptive ANC up to 45 dB, 12-mm drivers, and the so-called Super Mic in the charging case. This dual microphone is designed to clearly capture phone calls and voice memos even in noisy environments.
This is precisely where the big question lies: Will the 3a inherit the Super Mic, or will Nothing remove it to maintain a distinction from the top-of-the-line model? Several sources consider its removal likely, as well as the omission of wireless charging. None of this has been confirmed. The following table shows where the Ear (3a) fits in. All information in the 3a column is based on expectations, not confirmed specifications.
| Feature | Nothing Ear (a), 2024 | Nothing Ear (3) | Nothing Ear (3a), expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 11 mm | 12 mm | TBD |
| ANC | Yes, adaptive | adaptive, up to 45 dB | probably yes |
| Bluetooth codec | LDAC (BT 5.3) | LDAC (BT 5.4) | LDAC likely |
| Super Mic in the case | No | Yes | Unconfirmed, possibly removed |
| Wireless charging | no | yes | Probably no |
| Battery with case | up to 42.5 h | up to 38 h | TBD |
| MSRP at launch | €99 | 179 € | 99 € (according to a leak) |
| Colors | including yellow | Black, White | White, Black, Yellow, Pink |
Context: More Than Just New Colors?
The naming logic reveals the positioning. At Nothing, the lowercase “a” stands for the stripped-down, value-for-money variant. The Ear (3a) thus fits between the basic Ear (a) and the regular Ear (3). For 99 euros, you’d get a model with select features from the current generation, without the full premium price tag.
The real question is whether Nothing strikes the right balance or if, in the end, it’s mainly the design that sells. Four colors sound more like a lifestyle choice than a tech product at first glance. If ANC, LDAC, and a decent driver remain on board, the price would be a real challenge to Soundcore and the like. Bose and Sony often charge 50 euros more in this mid-range segment. If, on the other hand, Nothing cuts too many features, what’s left in the end is just a nicely painted entry-level model. July 7 will tell. If you don’t want to wait that long, the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 is already an exciting alternative from the Nothing universe for under 100 euros.
FAQ on the Nothing Ear (3a)
When are the Nothing Ear (3a) coming out?
Nothing will officially unveil the Ear (3a) on July 7, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. German time, alongside the Nothing Phone (4b).
How much do the Nothing Ear (3a) cost?
According to a leak, the Ear (3a) are expected to cost 99 euros. Nothing has not yet officially confirmed the price. For comparison: The predecessor, the Ear (a), also launched at 99 euros in 2024.
What colors are the Nothing Ear (3a) available in?
Nothing has confirmed four colors: white, black, yellow, and pink. Pink is a new addition to the Nothing lineup.
What is the difference between the Ear (3) and the Ear (3a)?
The Ear (3) is the flagship model, featuring a Super Mic in the charging case, adaptive ANC up to 45 dB, and wireless charging. The Ear (3a) is the more affordable version, in which Nothing is expected to omit some of these features to lower the price.
Do the Nothing Ear (3a) have ANC?
It hasn’t been officially confirmed, but it’s considered likely. The predecessor, the Ear (a), already offered active noise cancellation.
Conclusion
The Nothing Ear (3a) represent the next chapter in Nothing’s affordable audio lineup, and the July 7 launch is fast approaching. The release date and the four color options—including the new pink—have been confirmed. The price of 99 euros sounds attractive, but until the official announcement, it’s just a leak and not a guarantee. The key factor will be how much tech Nothing packs into this price point. If there’s enough ANC, LDAC, and sound quality left, the Ear (3a) could become the next best value pick under 100 euros. We’ll take a closer look at them after the launch and update this article.
You won’t be able to pre-order or buy the Nothing Ear (3a) until they go on sale. As soon as they’re listed, you can find them via the Amazon search for the Nothing Ear (3a). If you don’t want to wait and would rather go for the flagship model, the Nothing Ear (3) are already available on Amazon.
Sources: Nothing (X), Nothing
