Nothing launches Ear 3a earbuds with audio recording $99

The consumer electronics company Nothing has launched its latest wireless earbuds, the Ear 3a, introducing a novel audio recording feature rarely seen in the product category. The earbuds became available for purchase on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, priced at $99.

The most significant addition to the Ear 3a is a feature called Audio Snapshot, which allows users to capture short audio clips directly on the earbuds. This is enabled by 32MB of built-in flash storage. By pinching both earbud stems simultaneously, users can record snippets of whatever audio is playing through them, such as music, podcasts, or lectures. The feature is designed to capture a few seconds of audio both before and after the activation gesture, ensuring context is preserved. These recordings automatically sync to the companion Nothing X app for playback, editing, sharing, and transcription.

The same local storage also supports direct call and meeting recording for up to two hours. The company states that a privacy notification alerting all participants will play when a recording is activated. Recorded calls are also managed within the Nothing X app, where users can access transcription services. The company...