Nothing Ear (3a) Review: Simply the best earbuds – and they’re only $99

9to5google.com Aug 7, 2026

Nothing Ear (3a) Review: Simply the best earbuds – and they’re only $99

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 7, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Nothing released the Ear (3a) earbuds at a $99 price point, positioning them as the most affordable option in the brand’s lineup while retaining the transparent design and new pink colorway. The earbuds feature a compact case, three LED battery indicators, and a direct pairing button, with Fast Pair support for Android. Battery life reaches 3‑5 hours per charge and 42 hours total with the case. Sound quality improves over the previous model, offering a customizable EQ and decent noise‑cancellation. The Ear (3a) also introduces an “Audio Snapshot” feature, though its practical value is limited.

💡 Why It Matters

· The Ear (3a) demonstrates that premium audio performance can be delivered at a budget price, potentially reshaping consumer expectations for mid‑tier earbuds.
· Its integrated LED indicators and Fast Pair support enhance usability, setting a new standard for convenience in the segment.

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Audeze is quietly becoming a dominant force in gaming audio

Audeze, long‑known for its audiophile planar‑magnetic headphones, has expanded its dominance in gaming audio with the launch of the Maxwell 2 ANC headset. Building on the success of the 2023 Maxwell, the company spent years engineering active‑noise‑cancellation that preserves the full‑range planar driver sound, achieving virtually identical frequency response with ANC on or off—a first in the market. Lab tests show the Maxwell 2 ANC out‑performing rivals such as Razer’s BlackShark 5 and SteelSeries Elite in low‑mid fidelity while remaining competitive with premium consumer ANC models like Sony’s WH‑1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra. The headset also offers 80‑hour battery life, Dolby Atmos with head tracking, 24‑bit/96 kHz hi‑res audio, and Audeze’s SLAM bass‑enhancement technology, positioning it as a high‑performance, all‑day solution for gamers and audio professionals alike.

💡 By finally marrying true planar‑magnetic fidelity with uncompromising ANC, Audeze sets a new benchmark for immersive gaming sound, forcing competitors to rethink the trade‑off between noise isolation and audio accuracy.

appleinsider.com · Aug 7

AirPods Pro 3 plunge to $189 at Amazon, 30-day best price

Amazon reduced the price of AirPods Pro 3 to $189.99, a $60 discount and the lowest since Prime Day 2026. The sale also includes AirPods 4 without ANC for $99 and with ANC for $148.99, and the AirPods Max 2 at $449 after a $100 cut. The deals are available on Amazon and Walmart, with a continuously updated price guide. The promotion highlights a significant price drop across Apple’s wireless earbud lineup.

💡 The steep discounts make premium Apple audio more accessible, potentially shifting consumer expectations for pricing in the high‑end earbud market.

ign.com · Aug 7

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Drop to $189.99 at Amazon and Best Buy

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are now available for $189.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, a $60 discount from the $249.99 MSRP. The earbuds, released in September, feature upgraded active noise cancellation, improved battery life, an IP57 dust‑water rating, built‑in heart‑rate monitoring, and Apple Live Translation. They remain the top choice for iPhone users seeking premium audio and seamless ecosystem integration. The price drop offers a rare year‑long deal for the model.

💡 The discount makes high‑end Apple audio more accessible, potentially shifting consumer preference toward Apple’s ecosystem over competing brands. It also signals Apple’s willingness to price competitively outside major sales events.

9to5google.com · Aug 6

Nothing is using AI-generated people to show off its new earbuds –…

Nothing’s CMF brand unveiled the Clip Pro open‑ear earbuds, but the launch has been eclipsed by criticism of the AI‑generated marketing images the company used. The promotional posts feature synthetic people with a disclaimer that any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental, and several visuals—including a deleted image and a video showing a mountain backdrop and a subway scene—have been flagged as poorly edited or implausible. Online users have expressed fatigue with “AI slop,” accusing the brand of relying on low‑quality synthetic media instead of authentic photography. Nothing has not responded to inquiries about its AI strategy, though the company has indicated a broader commitment to AI as part of its future roadmap. The backlash highlights growing consumer sensitivity to artificial visual content in product marketing.

💡 The controversy shows that even tech‑savvy audiences can reject AI‑driven advertising when it feels lazy, forcing brands to rethink authenticity in digital promotion.

9to5mac.com · Aug 5

Spotify reaches huge subscriber milestone as Apple Music readies iOS 27 upgrades

Spotify announced it has surpassed 300 million paid subscribers, a 9 % year‑over‑year increase, during its second‑quarter earnings. The streaming giant now reports 777 million monthly active users and has broadened its catalog to include audiobooks and podcasts. Apple Music, which has not disclosed subscriber numbers since 2019, reported 1.5 billion paid subscriptions across all Apple services, though many are third‑party app purchases. Both services raised individual plans this year, and Apple is preparing iOS 27 updates.

💡 Spotify’s milestone underscores its growing dominance in the music‑streaming market, challenging Apple’s long‑standing lead. The simultaneous price hikes and feature expansions signal a shift toward higher‑value, diversified audio offerings.

channelnews.com.au · Aug 5

Hisense’s New Ultra-Short-Throw Projector Adds Devialet Audio And 200-Inch Gaming

Hisense unveiled the PX4 Pro, an ultra‑short‑throw 4K projector priced at A$4,499, matching the cost of its 2024 predecessor while delivering notable upgrades. The device uses a TriChroma RGB triple‑laser system to project images from 80 to 200 inches at a minimal distance from the wall, and its brightness rises to 3,500 ANSI lumens with a contrast ratio claimed at 6,500:1. Powered by the LPU Digital Laser Engine 3.0, it covers 118% of the BT.2020 colour space and features a seven‑level iris plus CineBlack Pro technology for deeper blacks. Audio has been revamped with a six‑speaker, 66 W Dolby Atmos system tuned by Devialet, replacing the former Harman Kardon setup. The PX4 Pro is the first ultra‑short‑throw laser projector certified for AMD FreeSync Premium, offering variable refresh rates, Dolby Vision Gaming and as low as 1 ms input latency at 2K 240 Hz, alongside HDMI 2.1, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and upcoming Xbox Cloud Gaming support.

💡 By marrying high‑end laser imaging with Devialet‑tuned Dolby Atmos sound and elite gaming features, the PX4 Pro positions ultra‑short‑throw projectors as a true all‑in‑one alternative to traditional TV and sound‑bar setups for premium home entertainment.