Nothing shares the first official full image of the Ear 3 earbuds

Nothing’s earbuds have always leaned on design as their biggest differentiator, and with the newly revealed Ear 3, that philosophy isn’t going anywhere. The company just shared the first clear look at its next set of wireless earbuds ahead of a Sept. 18 launch, and at first glance, they look almost identical to the Ear 2s that dropped back in 2023. The transparent housings and sci-fi-inspired circuit aesthetic remain untouched — if you’ve seen one pair of Nothings, you’ve basically seen them all (and a coherent design language isn’t exactly a bad thing).

What we know is new with the Ear 3

Materials, case features, and possibly built-in AI

But there are a couple of important changes worth paying attention to. The biggest is the materials, which now include 100% recycled anodized aluminum. It’s a small shift away from the all-plastic builds of earlier models, but Nothing says the move should make the case and earbuds more durable while giving them a more premium feel. Similarly, Nothing says it’s redesigned the earphones’ antennas to allow for a slimmer construction.

The second change is the real head-scratcher: a microphone built into the case itself — branded the “Super Mic” — along with a new “Talk” button sitting on the front edge. What exactly these two additions do is anybody’s guess.

Naturally, speculation is running wild. Some Reddit threads and Twitter sleuths suggest the case could double as a wireless clip-on microphone, similar to what DJI and Insta360 already ship with their camera kits. That would be a genuinely useful feature for vloggers or anyone recording audio on the go. Others think the button might be a glorified smart assistant trigger, tying into Nothing’s ChatGPT partnership for quick voice prompts. A few fans even wonder if it could be a talk-through mode toggle — basically pausing ANC so you can have a quick conversation without pulling your earbuds out.

Right now, though, all we have is speculation. Nothing hasn’t said a word about what the button actually does, and there’s no telling whether this “Super Mic” will end up being a killer feature or just another bit of hype.

We’ll know more soon when the Ear 3s get a full reveal on Sept. 18 at 8 a.m. ET. Until then, the only sure thing is that Nothing’s sticking to its playbook — familiar looks, flashy marketing, and just enough mystery to keep people talking.