AirPods Pro 3
H2 chip · IP57 · 8 h ANC
Nothing Ear (a)
LDAC · Transparent design · $99
AirPods Pro 3 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, AirPods Pro 3 lands at 92 and Nothing Ear (a) at 85. That puts AirPods Pro 3 ahead by 7 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick AirPods Pro 3 if…
- ✓Up to 8 hours ANC on a single charge
- ✓IP57 dust + water resistance
- ✓MagSafe, Qi, Apple Watch + USB-C charging
Pick Nothing Ear (a) if…
- ✓Amazing value at $99
- ✓LDAC support
- ✓Great sound for price
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testFeatures
AirPods Pro 3Compared on the features sub-score
AirPods Pro 3 leads on features (96 vs 88).
Sound
AirPods Pro 3Compared on the sound sub-score
AirPods Pro 3 leads on sound (90 vs 88).
Comfort
AirPods Pro 3Compared on the comfort sub-score
AirPods Pro 3 leads on comfort (92 vs 86).
Value for money
Nothing Ear (a)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Nothing Ear (a) more score per dollar ($99 vs $249).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | AirPods Pro 3 | Nothing Ear (a) |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple H2 headphone chip | — |
| Battery (ANC on) | Up to 8 hours | — |
| Battery (with case, ANC on) | Up to 24 hours | — |
| Microphones | Dual beamforming + inward-facing + speech-detecting accelerometer | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | — |
| Water rating | IP57 (case + earbuds) | IP54 |
| Charging | MagSafe / Apple Watch charger / Qi / USB-C | — |
| Drivers | — | 11 mm dynamic |
| Codecs | — | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Battery | — | 5.5 h (ANC) / 24.5 h case |
AirPods Pro 3
- +Up to 8 hours ANC on a single charge
- +IP57 dust + water resistance
- +MagSafe, Qi, Apple Watch + USB-C charging
- −Android features remain limited
- −Premium price
- −In-ear fit not for everyone
Nothing Ear (a)
- +Amazing value at $99
- +LDAC support
- +Great sound for price
- −ANC trails flagships
- −App required for full customization
- −Build is plasticky
FAQ: AirPods Pro 3 vs Nothing Ear (a)
Which is better, AirPods Pro 3 or Nothing Ear (a)? +
AirPods Pro 3 scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is AirPods Pro 3 worth the price? +
At $249, AirPods Pro 3 delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in features.
Is Nothing Ear (a) worth the price? +
At $99, Nothing Ear (a) delivers a Specdex score of 85 — strongest in sound.
Does AirPods Pro 3 or Nothing Ear (a) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for features, AirPods Pro 3 or Nothing Ear (a)? +
AirPods Pro 3 — leads on features (96 vs 88). Compared on the features sub-score.
Which is better for sound, AirPods Pro 3 or Nothing Ear (a)? +
AirPods Pro 3 — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Compared on the sound sub-score.