Nothing is releasing its new Ear (3) wireless earbuds sooner than expected.

The Ear (3) are destined to fix at least one annoyance with Nothing’s earbuds.

Nothing posted an image of the Ear (3) on X on September 8, 2025.

The images indicate that the Ear (3) will have a similar design to prior audio products from the company. The stem of the device seems to use the same clear plastic as earlier versions, and the black silicon tips may mean a black version will be available. A new feature seems to be a dip on the stem under the model name.

With the Ear (3), Nothing is going back to using numbers to name its earbuds. The new model is the successor to the Nothing Ear (no number in the name) from 2024, which followed the Nothing Ear (2). This naming convention has been confusing, but it should become simpler going forward.

Nothing's release of new earbuds shortly after the debut of the iPhone 17 could be seen as a bold move. Apple is anticipated to release the AirPods Pro 3 on September 9, the successor to the AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 are expected to resemble the previous model, but include a live translation feature, along with heart rate and temperature sensors.

The author liked the Ear (1) buds and is looking forward to the Ear (3). While probably not a direct competitor to the AirPods Pro 3, the Ear (3) could be a worthwhile and affordable alternative if Nothing executes it well.