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HEADPHONES · YOUR NEXT FACE-OFF

Apple AirPods 5 vs Nothing Ear (3a)

Real specs. Clear sources.Exact models · UK & US buying links

Compared products

YOUR FIRST CHOICE

Apple AirPods 5

USB-C charging case

Apple AirPods 5 with USB-C charging case, earbuds seated in the open white case
Exact model & source notes

AirPods 5 are Apple’s open-ear Bluetooth earbuds with active noise cancellation and an H2 chip. This configuration comes with the USB-C charging case. Apple rates listening at up to four hours with ANC on, or six hours with noise control off.

Specifications checked 17 Oct 2026.

Amazon links open search results. Check the exact variant, current price and availability with the retailer.

Manufacturer specifications
WHAT DIFFERS
4.3 gWeight of each earbud4.53 g
1 of 8 verified differences, in the order listed below. Not a rating.
See the 8 verified differences
THE CONTENDER

Nothing Ear (3a)

6974434228757 · White · UK

Nothing Ear (3a) white earbuds with transparent stems in an open white charging case
Exact model & source notes

Nothing Ear (3a) (store SKU 6974434228757 in White, the same on the UK and US stores) are true wireless earbuds with adaptive ANC up to 45 dB, Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC, a 12 mm driver and on-bud call recording and Audio Snapshot capture.

Specifications checked 26 Sept 2026.

Amazon links open search results. Check the exact variant, current price and availability with the retailer.

Manufacturer specifications

Apple AirPods 5 UK & US retailers

UK & US price history: no verified listing yet

Nothing Ear (3a) UK & US retailers

UK & US price history: no verified listing yet

Search links open retailer results, not a matched listing; eBay listings are checked daily. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

THE DIFFERENCES, MADE VISIBLE

Visual facts

Differences first. Select a topic for its graphic, sources and conditions.

How to read this comparison
  • Manufacturer facts for the exact models shown. Not a quality rating or a test result.
  • “Different” means the known values differ, not that one is better.
  • Missing or conflicting evidence is marked and never counts as a difference. Source chips hold each fact’s sources and conditions.
FEATURES SIDE BY SIDE4 topics

Yes and No describe the listed feature. Missing evidence stays unverified.

SELECTED TOPIC
01 / 04

Detachable cable

A detachable cable unplugs at the headphones. A fixed cable does not. Always check the model-specific connector before buying a replacement.

Apple AirPods 5Not verified

Bluetooth 5.3. Manufacturer specification · USB-C is listed for case charging; no wired USB audio capability is asserted.

Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified

Bluetooth 6.0 (SBC, AAC, LDAC) with dual connection; USB-C charging on the case. Manufacturer specification · The specification lists only Type-C wired charging (full in 70 minutes); no wireless case charging is listed.

Choose your must-haves

Start with your listening environment. Open and closed earcups suit different surroundings. A closed back is not the same as active noise cancellation. Check the exact cable and headphone output. We do not turn impedance, driver size or unpaired lab results into a sound-quality score.

WHAT CHANGES BETWEEN THEM?

Key differences

Full specifications ↓

8 verified differences, most decision-relevant first. Missing information stays separate.

Audio connection

Apple AirPods 5Bluetooth 5.3
Nothing Ear (3a)Bluetooth 6.0 (SBC, AAC, LDAC) with dual connection; USB-C charging on the case
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · USB-C is listed for case charging; no wired USB audio capability is asserted.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · The specification lists only Type-C wired charging (full in 70 minutes); no wireless case charging is listed.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Battery life and conditions

Apple AirPods 5Up to 4 h per charge with ANC on, 6 h with noise control off; up to 20 h with the charging case with ANC on
Nothing Ear (3a)AAC: earbuds up to 6 hours with ANC on and up to 10 hours with ANC off; with the charging case up to 25 hours with ANC on and up to 42 hours with ANC off. LDAC: earbuds up to 4.5 hours ANC on / 6 hours ANC off; with case up to 20 hours ANC on / 28 hours ANC off.
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Apple manufacturer testing in July–August 2026 with pre-production AirPods 5 and iPhone 18 Pro, pre-release software, 256 Kb/s AAC playlist and 50% volume; Spatial Audio and Conversation Awareness off. Case totals use repeated recharging. Actual runtime varies by settings, use and environment.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Nothing laboratory results at 25 °C, 50% volume, AAC, other features at default settings; actual life varies with use. Talk time is listed separately (earbuds 4.5 h ANC on / 6 h ANC off; with case 18 h / 25 h).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Manufacturer claims for the stated mode and equipment. Read each test condition; this is not measured everyday battery life.

Driver and amplifier

Apple AirPods 5Custom high-excursion Apple driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier
Nothing Ear (3a)12 mm dynamic driver, 32 Ω, PMI+TPU diaphragm
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · No driver diameter is stated on the technical specifications page.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations

Check whether the diameter describes the complete transducer or only its diaphragm. Different labels and driver sizes do not establish better sound.

Controls

Apple AirPods 5Force sensor; press for playback, calls and camera remote; press and hold for listening modes
Nothing Ear (3a)Pinch controls on the earbuds: pinch for play/pause or to answer/end a call; double pinch to skip forward or decline a call; triple pinch to skip back; pinch and hold for noise control or volume up/down; double pinch and hold, or pinch both buds at once, for Audio Snapshot or call recording.
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Volume swipe is explicitly listed only for AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. Camera remote and some controls require compatible devices, current software and firmware.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Skip forward, skip back and noise control are marked customisable in the Nothing X app; custom controls need to be set up from a phone (footnote 5). Call recording is only available in selected regions (footnote 10).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Wearing style

Apple AirPods 5Open-ear wireless earbuds
Nothing Ear (3a)In-ear, true wireless (liquid-silicone ear tips in four sizes)
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Apple describes an open-ear design; no silicone ear-tip fit is inferred.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 design and configuration overview
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Two earbuds and a charging case; four pairs of ear tips are in the box.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Spatial audio

Apple AirPods 5Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
Nothing Ear (3a)Static Spatial Audio
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Compatible hardware, software and content required; a TrueDepth iPhone creates the personal profile. Not all content is in Dolby Atmos; Personalised Spatial Audio is unavailable on other devices.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Listed under Sound features. Nothing says it spreads sounds across a virtual 3D field; the pages do not mention head tracking.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Show 2 more verified differences

Weight of each earbud

Apple AirPods 54.3 g
Nothing Ear (3a)4.53 g
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Per-earbud mass: Apple’s Size and Weight (Each) section. Not the combined weight of two earbuds or of the charging case; configuration and manufacturing variation apply.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Each earbud. The charging case weighs 40.92 g.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.

Dimensions of each earbud

Apple AirPods 530.2 × 18.3 × 18.1 mm (height × width × depth)
Nothing Ear (3a)Each earbud 31.2 x 21.7 x 24 mm; charging case 64.8 x 48.95 x 22.8 mm (height x width x depth)
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Each earbud; size varies by configuration and manufacturing process.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations

A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.

Missing or non-comparable evidence (19)

Companion app

Apple AirPods 5Not verified
Nothing Ear (3a)Nothing X app: Custom EQ with profile sharing, Advanced EQ (an 8-band equaliser), customisable controls, find my earbuds, dual connection and firmware updates
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Nothing X is for Android 8.0 and above and iOS 13 and above; on Nothing OS 1.5.6 and higher the settings are built into the phone. Custom EQ and Advanced EQ are listed under Sound features.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Audio features

Apple AirPods 5Adaptive EQ; Voice Isolation; studio-quality audio recording; vent system for pressure equalisation
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Compatible Apple devices, current operating-system software and compatible applications or firmware are required where Apple specifies them.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Charging-case mass

Apple AirPods 532.3 g
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Charging case only; not a total set mass. Configuration and manufacturing variation apply.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Case charging

Apple AirPods 5USB-C connector
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Charging methods for this selected case only. An omitted charging standard is not an explicitly disproved capability.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Quick pairing

Apple AirPods 5Not verified
Nothing Ear (3a)Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Fast Pair works on supported Android devices running Google Play services 11.7+ (back to Android 6.0); Find My and device renaming support need Android 10 or later.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Frequency response

Apple AirPods 5Not verified
Nothing Ear (3a)20 Hz - 40,000 Hz
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

In the box

Apple AirPods 5AirPods 5; USB-C charging case; documentation
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · This is Apple’s listed inventory for the selected configuration; no charging cable or mains adapter is added to it.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Dust, sweat and water rating

Apple AirPods 5Conflicting evidence
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Apple’s UK specifications heading and product overview state IP57, but specifications footnote 9 states that the products including the charging case were tested to IP54 under IEC 60529. The rating is unresolved; no water-resistance requirement match is awarded. · Manufacturer specification · Resistance is not permanent and can decrease with wear. Do not charge when wet; intended for non-water sports and exercise.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurationsApple UK — AirPods 5 design and configuration overview
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Live Translation

Apple AirPods 5Available in beta with compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled devices
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Compatible Apple device, latest software and AirPods firmware with Apple Intelligence enabled; availability varies by region and language. No universal offline or language support is inferred.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Low lag mode

Apple AirPods 5Not verified
Nothing Ear (3a)Low lag mode (latency as low as 120 ms)
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Latency can be reduced to as low as 120 ms only when the earbuds are paired with Nothing phones with Game Mode turned on (footnote 3).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Multipoint (dual connection)

Apple AirPods 5Not verified
Nothing Ear (3a)Yes
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Dual connection is listed as Yes; Nothing describes dual-device connections on Android, Windows and iOS.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

System requirements

Apple AirPods 5Latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS or visionOS for the applicable Apple device; earlier Apple software and non-Apple Bluetooth devices may have limited functionality
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Short-charge claim

Apple AirPods 5About 1 h of listening after 5 min in the case
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Apple July–August 2026 pre-production testing with fully drained earbuds, 50% volume and Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness and Noise Control off. Not an ANC-on runtime guarantee.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Sensors

Apple AirPods 5Optical in-ear sensor; motion-detecting accelerometer; speech-detecting accelerometer; force sensor
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Dust, sweat and water resistance

Apple AirPods 5Not verified
Nothing Ear (3a)IP54 (earbuds and case)
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Nothing's table wording is 'IP54 water and water resistance for buds and case'. · Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Charging-case dimensions

Apple AirPods 546.2 × 50.1 × 21.2 mm (height × width × depth)
Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Selected USB-C charging case; size varies by configuration and manufacturing process.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

2 shared fields have the same recorded value.

YOUR HEADPHONES. YOUR RULES.

Check against your must-haves

Feature matching for the features you select. It doesn’t rate sound or comfort.

Start with your listening setup.

Choose a starting point, then fine-tune your must-haves.

FINE-TUNE THE DETAILS

Your essentials.

These shortcuts select the features shown above. Check the fit against your own equipment and listening space.

A feature match describes the selected requirements. It doesn’t rate sound or comfort.

YOUR CHOICE

Apple AirPods 5

Select a feature to check your fit.

YOUR CHOICE

Nothing Ear (3a)

Select a feature to check your fit.

Feature matching, not a sound-quality score. The specification table links to the evidence for each feature.
WHAT EACH CHOICE ASKS OF YOU

What it brings and what to check

Apple AirPods 5

What it brings

What to check

  • The maximum listening figures depend on noise-control settings and Apple’s test conditions; case-inclusive totals are not continuous listening on one earbud charge.
  • Many features need compatible Apple hardware and current software. The published IP57 headline and IP54 test footnote disagree, so the exact ingress rating remains unresolved.

Nothing Ear (3a)

What it brings

  • Nothing rates up to 10 hours per charge and 42 hours with the case using AAC with ANC off, or 6 and 25 hours with ANC on.
  • Pinching the buds can record calls or save up to a minute of what you are hearing (Audio Snapshot), which is then managed in the Nothing X app; call recording depends on region.

What to check

  • The case charges only over USB-C according to the specification, with no wireless charging listed.
  • LDAC cuts the rated figures to 4.5 hours per charge and 20 hours with the case with ANC on, and dust and water resistance is IP54.
COMPARE THE DETAILS

Full specifications

How we verify
29 of 29 specifications Sources in each row
Source-backed specifications for Apple AirPods 5 and Nothing Ear (3a)
SpecificationApple AirPods 5Nothing Ear (3a)
Wearing styleDifferent
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Apple describes an open-ear design; no silicone ear-tip fit is inferred.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 design and configuration overview
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Two earbuds and a charging case; four pairs of ear tips are in the box.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Open-ear wireless earbudsIn-ear, true wireless (liquid-silicone ear tips in four sizes)
Weight of each earbudDifferent
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Per-earbud mass: Apple’s Size and Weight (Each) section. Not the combined weight of two earbuds or of the charging case; configuration and manufacturing variation apply.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Each earbud. The charging case weighs 40.92 g.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
4.3 g4.53 g
Dimensions of each earbudDifferent
Sources
30.2 × 18.3 × 18.1 mm (height × width × depth)Each earbud 31.2 x 21.7 x 24 mm; charging case 64.8 x 48.95 x 22.8 mm (height x width x depth)
Charging-case dimensions
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Selected USB-C charging case; size varies by configuration and manufacturing process.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

46.2 × 50.1 × 21.2 mm (height × width × depth)Not provided
Charging-case mass
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Charging case only; not a total set mass. Configuration and manufacturing variation apply.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

32.3 gNot provided
Dust, sweat and water resistance
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Nothing's table wording is 'IP54 water and water resistance for buds and case'. · Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Not providedIP54 (earbuds and case)
Audio connectionDifferent
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · USB-C is listed for case charging; no wired USB audio capability is asserted.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · The specification lists only Type-C wired charging (full in 70 minutes); no wireless case charging is listed.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Bluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 6.0 (SBC, AAC, LDAC) with dual connection; USB-C charging on the case
Battery life and conditionsDifferent
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Apple manufacturer testing in July–August 2026 with pre-production AirPods 5 and iPhone 18 Pro, pre-release software, 256 Kb/s AAC playlist and 50% volume; Spatial Audio and Conversation Awareness off. Case totals use repeated recharging. Actual runtime varies by settings, use and environment.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Nothing laboratory results at 25 °C, 50% volume, AAC, other features at default settings; actual life varies with use. Talk time is listed separately (earbuds 4.5 h ANC on / 6 h ANC off; with case 18 h / 25 h).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Up to 4 h per charge with ANC on, 6 h with noise control off; up to 20 h with the charging case with ANC onAAC: earbuds up to 6 hours with ANC on and up to 10 hours with ANC off; with the charging case up to 25 hours with ANC on and up to 42 hours with ANC off. LDAC: earbuds up to 4.5 hours ANC on / 6 hours ANC off; with case up to 20 hours ANC on / 28 hours ANC off.
Case charging
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Charging methods for this selected case only. An omitted charging standard is not an explicitly disproved capability.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

USB-C connectorNot provided
Short-charge claim
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Apple July–August 2026 pre-production testing with fully drained earbuds, 50% volume and Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness and Noise Control off. Not an ANC-on runtime guarantee.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

About 1 h of listening after 5 min in the caseNot provided
System requirements
Sources
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

Latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS or visionOS for the applicable Apple device; earlier Apple software and non-Apple Bluetooth devices may have limited functionalityNot provided
Bluetooth codecs
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Not providedSBC, AAC, LDAC (Hi-Res certified)
Multipoint (dual connection)
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Dual connection is listed as Yes; Nothing describes dual-device connections on Android, Windows and iOS.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Not providedYes
Low lag mode
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Latency can be reduced to as low as 120 ms only when the earbuds are paired with Nothing phones with Game Mode turned on (footnote 3).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Not providedLow lag mode (latency as low as 120 ms)
Quick pairing
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Fast Pair works on supported Android devices running Google Play services 11.7+ (back to Android 6.0); Find My and device renaming support need Android 10 or later.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Not providedGoogle Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair
Battery capacity
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Not providedEarbuds 55 mAh each; case 500 mAh
Audio chip
Sources
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

Apple H2 headphone chipNot provided
Driver and amplifierDifferent
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · No driver diameter is stated on the technical specifications page.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Custom high-excursion Apple driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier12 mm dynamic driver, 32 Ω, PMI+TPU diaphragm
Spatial audioDifferent
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Compatible hardware, software and content required; a TrueDepth iPhone creates the personal profile. Not all content is in Dolby Atmos; Personalised Spatial Audio is unavailable on other devices.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Listed under Sound features. Nothing says it spreads sounds across a virtual 3D field; the pages do not mention head tracking.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head trackingStatic Spatial Audio
Audio features
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Compatible Apple devices, current operating-system software and compatible applications or firmware are required where Apple specifies them.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

Adaptive EQ; Voice Isolation; studio-quality audio recording; vent system for pressure equalisationNot provided
Frequency response
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Not provided20 Hz - 40,000 Hz
Microphone
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Dual beam-forming microphones and inward-facing microphone.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Three microphones per earbud (six in total) with Clear Voice Technology for calls; the buds also support call recording and Audio Snapshot where available.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
YesYes
Active noise cancellation
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Also supports Adaptive Audio, Transparency and Conversation Awareness; requires compatible software for the listed features.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Adaptive ANC up to 45 dB (Nothing's laboratory theoretical maximum) over a 40–5000 Hz range, with Transparency Mode.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
YesYes
ControlsDifferent
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Volume swipe is explicitly listed only for AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. Camera remote and some controls require compatible devices, current software and firmware.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Skip forward, skip back and noise control are marked customisable in the Nothing X app; custom controls need to be set up from a phone (footnote 5). Call recording is only available in selected regions (footnote 10).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Force sensor; press for playback, calls and camera remote; press and hold for listening modesPinch controls on the earbuds: pinch for play/pause or to answer/end a call; double pinch to skip forward or decline a call; triple pinch to skip back; pinch and hold for noise control or volume up/down; double pinch and hold, or pinch both buds at once, for Audio Snapshot or call recording.
Sensors
Sources
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

Optical in-ear sensor; motion-detecting accelerometer; speech-detecting accelerometer; force sensorNot provided
Live Translation
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · Compatible Apple device, latest software and AirPods firmware with Apple Intelligence enabled; availability varies by region and language. No universal offline or language support is inferred.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

Available in beta with compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled devicesNot provided
Companion app
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

No source recorded.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Nothing X is for Android 8.0 and above and iOS 13 and above; on Nothing OS 1.5.6 and higher the settings are built into the phone. Custom EQ and Advanced EQ are listed under Sound features.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specificationsNothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications
Not providedNothing X app: Custom EQ with profile sharing, Advanced EQ (an 8-band equaliser), customisable controls, find my earbuds, dual connection and firmware updates
In the box
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Manufacturer specification · This is Apple’s listed inventory for the selected configuration; no charging cable or mains adapter is added to it.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurations
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

AirPods 5; USB-C charging case; documentationNot provided
Show unverified (1)Not verified, not provided or conflicting for both products. Kept for completeness; never counted as a difference.
Specifications without verified values for either product
Dust, sweat and water rating
Sources
Apple AirPods 5

Apple’s UK specifications heading and product overview state IP57, but specifications footnote 9 states that the products including the charging case were tested to IP54 under IEC 60529. The rating is unresolved; no water-resistance requirement match is awarded. · Manufacturer specification · Resistance is not permanent and can decrease with wear. Do not charge when wet; intended for non-water sports and exercise.

Apple UK — AirPods 5 technical specifications, both case configurationsApple UK — AirPods 5 design and configuration overview
Nothing Ear (3a)

No source recorded.

Conflicting sourcesNot provided
FIND YOUR CONTENDERS

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Closest headphones to this pair by shared key specifications. Not a popularity ranking.

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Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, earbuds above the open white case

Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case

Wearing style
Open-ear wireless earbuds
Audio connection
Bluetooth 5.3
Microphone
Yes
Prices & product profile
Galaxy Buds4 Front White

Samsung Galaxy Buds4

Weight per earbud
4.6 g
Wireless audio connections
Bluetooth v6.1 (Bluetooth Version); A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, PBP, TMAP (Bluetooth Profiles); LE Audio (yes); Auto Switch (yes)
Microphone
Yes
Prices & product profile
front White

Samsung Galaxy Buds3

Weight per earbud
4.7 g
Wireless audio connections
Bluetooth v5.4 (Bluetooth Version); A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, PBP, TMAP (Bluetooth Profiles); LE Audio (yes); Auto Switch (yes)
Microphone
Yes
Prices & product profile
Sony LinkBuds Fit in Pink

Sony LinkBuds Fit

Weight per earbud
4.9 g
Wearing style
In-ear true wireless earbuds with fitting supporters
Wired / wireless connections
Bluetooth 5.3; Classic Audio or compatible LE Audio (LC3)
Prices & product profile

Each record represents an explicitly checked model and configuration. Original import: 5 Sept 2026; this is not its verification date. This is not a list of current offers or a popularity ranking.