HEADPHONES · YOUR NEXT FACE-OFF

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Nothing Ear (3a)

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

Compared products

YOUR FIRST CHOICE

Apple AirPods Max 2

Midnight

Full product profile Official image

Exact model & source notes

AirPods Max 2 in Midnight (UK part MHWK4ZM/A, US part MHWK4AM/A) are Apple's over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, with an H2 chip in each ear cup and nine microphones. Apple lists Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking and Adaptive EQ among their audio features. They connect over Bluetooth 5.3, and a wired USB-C connection adds Lossless and ultra-low-latency audio. Apple rates them at up to 20 hours with noise cancellation on.

Specifications checked 26 Sept 2026.

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

Manufacturer specifications

WHAT DIFFERS

6 verified differences, led by Wired / wireless connections, battery life and driver construction. Compared in full below. Not a rating.

See the 6 verified differences

THE CONTENDER

Nothing Ear (3a)

6974434228757 · White · UK

Full product profile Official image

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 Max 2 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 Max 2Not verified

Bluetooth 5.3; USB-C for charging and wired Lossless / ultra-low-latency audio. Manufacturer specification · No analogue input is listed on the specifications page; only the USB-C charge cable is in the box.

Source 1

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.

Source 1

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 ↓

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

Wired / wireless connections

Apple AirPods Max 2Bluetooth 5.3; USB-C for charging and wired Lossless / ultra-low-latency audio

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

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · No analogue input is listed on the specifications page; only the USB-C charge cable is in the box.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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

Apple AirPods Max 2Up to 20 hours of listening on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation on; 5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours

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 Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Each figure has its own Apple test: the 20-hour figure is from testing in January and February 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 17 Pro Max units; the 5-minute charge figure is from testing in March 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 15 Pro Max units. Both used pre-release software, volume at 50%, Active Noise Cancellation enabled and Spatial Audio set to fixed. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage and many other factors.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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 specifications Nothing (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 construction

Apple AirPods Max 2Apple-designed dynamic driver with custom high-dynamic-range amplifier

Nothing Ear (3a)12 mm dynamic driver, 32 Ω, PMI+TPU diaphragm

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple does not publish the driver diameter on the specifications page.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification

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

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

Wearing style

Apple AirPods Max 2Over-ear wireless headphones

Nothing Ear (3a)In-ear, true wireless (liquid-silicone ear tips in four sizes)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple does not describe the ear cups as open or closed-back on the pages read.

Apple Store UK — Buy AirPods Max 2 (colour part numbers)

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 Max 2Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking

Nothing Ear (3a)Static Spatial Audio

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple: compatible hardware and software required; works with compatible content in supported apps; not all content is available in Dolby Atmos.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Dimensions

Apple AirPods Max 2168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm including cushions

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 Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification

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

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

Missing or non-comparable evidence (16)

Companion app

Apple AirPods Max 2Not 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 Max 2

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 specifications Nothing (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.

Listed audio technology

Apple AirPods Max 2Apple-designed dynamic driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier; Active Noise Cancellation; Adaptive Audio; Transparency mode; Conversation Awareness; Voice Isolation; Personalised Volume; Loud Sound Reduction; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; studio-quality audio recording; Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency audio via USB-C; Live Translation

Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple's footnotes tie several of these features to compatible Apple devices running the latest software; Lossless and ultra-low latency audio need a wired USB-C connection and compatible content.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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.

Battery capacity

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)Earbuds 55 mAh each; case 500 mAh

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

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

Apple AirPods Max 2USB-C

Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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.

Chip

Apple AirPods Max 2Apple H2 headphone chip in each ear cup

Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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.

Bluetooth codecs

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)SBC, AAC, LDAC (Hi-Res certified)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

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.

Controls

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

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 Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

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 specifications Nothing (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.

Quick pairing

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

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 specifications Nothing (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 Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)20 Hz - 40,000 Hz

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing Ear (3a)

Manufacturer specification · Listed as 'RF' under Sound in Nothing's specification table.

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

In the box

Apple AirPods Max 2AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation

Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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 Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)Low lag mode (latency as low as 120 ms)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

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 specifications Nothing (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 Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)Yes

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

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 specifications Nothing (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.

Platform compatibility

Apple AirPods Max 2Full feature set with current Apple devices; works as Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices with possibly limited functionality

Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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 Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)IP54 (earbuds and case)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

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.

Weight per earbud

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing Ear (3a)4.53 g

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

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

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

Weight

Apple AirPods Max 2386.2 g

Nothing Ear (3a)Not verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Headphones including cushions; the Smart Case adds 134.5 g. Apple notes that weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

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.

Open-back designFor a quiet listening spaceClosed-back designAn enclosed outer earcupDetachable cableUnplug the cable at the headphonesBuilt-in microphoneFor calls and voice chatActive noise cancellationNot the same as a closed back

YOUR CHOICE

Apple AirPods Max 2

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 Max 2

What it brings

USB-C does more than charge: Apple lists wired Lossless and ultra-low-latency audio over it, with compatible content from supported apps and services.
Manufacturer source
Apple lists nine microphones in total, eight for noise cancellation and three for voice pickup, two of them shared. There is an Apple H2 chip in each ear cup.
Manufacturer source

What to check

Apple states 386.2 g including cushions, a figure worth weighing up for long listening sessions, and the Smart Case adds another 134.5 g when carried.
Manufacturer source
Many features rely on Apple devices with current software. Apple notes that functionality may be limited on non-Apple devices, and no analogue input or cable is listed in the box.
Manufacturer source

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.
Manufacturer source
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.
Manufacturer source

What to check

The case charges only over USB-C according to the specification, with no wireless charging listed.
Manufacturer source
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.
Manufacturer source

COMPARE THE DETAILS

Full specifications

How we verify

Differences only

24 of 24 specifications Sources in each row

Source-backed specifications for Apple AirPods Max 2 and Nothing Ear (3a)
Specification	Apple AirPods Max 2	Nothing Ear (3a)

Wearing styleDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple does not describe the ear cups as open or closed-back on the pages read. Apple Store UK — Buy AirPods Max 2 (colour part numbers) 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	Over-ear wireless headphones	In-ear, true wireless (liquid-silicone ear tips in four sizes)
Weight Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Headphones including cushions; the Smart Case adds 134.5 g. Apple notes that weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) No source recorded.	386.2 g	Not provided
DimensionsDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm including cushions	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)
Weight per earbud Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. 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	Not provided	4.53 g
Dust, sweat and water resistance Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 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 provided	IP54 (earbuds and case)

Wired / wireless connectionsDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · No analogue input is listed on the specifications page; only the USB-C charge cable is in the box. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications 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 5.3; USB-C for charging and wired Lossless / ultra-low-latency audio	Bluetooth 6.0 (SBC, AAC, LDAC) with dual connection; USB-C charging on the case
Battery lifeDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Each figure has its own Apple test: the 20-hour figure is from testing in January and February 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 17 Pro Max units; the 5-minute charge figure is from testing in March 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 15 Pro Max units. Both used pre-release software, volume at 50%, Active Noise Cancellation enabled and Spatial Audio set to fixed. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage and many other factors. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications 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 specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Up to 20 hours of listening on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation on; 5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours	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.
Charging Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) No source recorded.	USB-C	Not provided
Platform compatibility Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) No source recorded.	Full feature set with current Apple devices; works as Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices with possibly limited functionality	Not provided
Bluetooth codecs Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing Ear (3a) Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	SBC, AAC, LDAC (Hi-Res certified)
Multipoint (dual connection) Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 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 specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Yes
Low lag mode Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 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 specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Low lag mode (latency as low as 120 ms)
Quick pairing Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 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 specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair
Battery capacity Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing Ear (3a) Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Earbuds 55 mAh each; case 500 mAh

Spatial audioDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple: compatible hardware and software required; works with compatible content in supported apps; not all content is available in Dolby Atmos. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications 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 specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking	Static Spatial Audio
Listed audio technology Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple's footnotes tie several of these features to compatible Apple devices running the latest software; Lossless and ultra-low latency audio need a wired USB-C connection and compatible content. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) No source recorded.	Apple-designed dynamic driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier; Active Noise Cancellation; Adaptive Audio; Transparency mode; Conversation Awareness; Voice Isolation; Personalised Volume; Loud Sound Reduction; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; studio-quality audio recording; Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency audio via USB-C; Live Translation	Not provided
Driver constructionDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple does not publish the driver diameter on the specifications page. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Apple-designed dynamic driver with custom high-dynamic-range amplifier	12 mm dynamic driver, 32 Ω, PMI+TPU diaphragm
Chip Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) No source recorded.	Apple H2 headphone chip in each ear cup	Not provided
Frequency response Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing Ear (3a) Manufacturer specification · Listed as 'RF' under Sound in Nothing's specification table. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	20 Hz - 40,000 Hz

Microphone Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Nine microphones in total; three pick up voice, two of which are shared with noise cancellation. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications 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	Yes	Yes
Active noise cancellation Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Also offers Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications 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	Yes	Yes

Companion app Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 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 specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Nothing X app: Custom EQ with profile sharing, Advanced EQ (an 8-band equaliser), customisable controls, find my earbuds, dual connection and firmware updates
Controls Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. 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 specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — Ear (3a) product page with technical specifications	Not provided	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.

In the box Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing Ear (3a) No source recorded.	AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation	Not provided

First product manufacturer source Second product manufacturer source

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Wired / wireless connections: Bluetooth 5.3; Classic Audio or compatible LE Audio (LC3)

Prices & product profile

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE

Weight per earbud: 5 g
Wireless audio connections: Bluetooth v5.4 (Bluetooth Version); A2DP, AVRCP, HFP (Bluetooth Profiles); Auto Switch (yes)
Microphone: Yes

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.