Earbuds / Compare

Nothing Ear (3a) vs soundcore P42i

A

Product A: Nothing

Ear (3a)

84 of 166 known

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B

Product B: soundcore

P42i

80 of 166 known

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Every value links to where we found it.

Only differences

ANothing Ear (3a)

Bsoundcore P42i

General

6 of 8 differ

Series

Not available

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Model numbersiMaker identifiers for this exact model and its listed variants. Excludes sibling models and other generations.

B190, B190L, B190R11Owner's manualcdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0376/5420/0459/files/Ear_3a_Safety_information_Warranty_information.pdfRead 8 October 2026Original document cover identifies system model B190. Its compliance section names B190L and B190R left/right hardware. B162 Ear (a), B171 Ear and B173 Ear (3) are separate.

D1205, D1205Z11, D1205Z21, D1205Z31, D1205ZQ1, D1205G11, D1205G21, D1205G31, D1205GQ1, D1205N11, D1205N21, D1205N31, D1205NQ11Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026US store variant SKUs D1205Z11 Black, D1205Z21 Oat White, D1205Z31 Navy Blue and D1205ZQ1 Purple, from the store's product data.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Japan model list: D1205N11 Black, D1205N21 Off White, D1205N31 Navy and D1205NQ1 Purple.17Maker product pageuk.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-adaptive-anc-hi-res-audio-earbudsRead 14 October 2026UK store variant SKUs D1205G11 Black, D1205G21 Creamy White, D1205G31 Blue and D1205GQ1 Purple, from the store's product data.

GTIN / EAN

Not available

194644312381, 194644312398, 194644335762, 1946443357551Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026Variant barcodes in the US store's product data. The UK and Canada stores list the same barcodes.

AnnouncediThe maker's first announcement of this model. This is separate from first retail availability.

Not available

2 July 202616Press articleav.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2121578.htmlRead 14 October 2026Same article, published 2026-07-02. Taken as the announcement date because the product launched the same day.

Status

Available1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current US Black selector offers Add to bag. Its current USD 79 sale price is not stored as launch MSRP.

Available15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026On sale in Japan, with a stock warning on 2026-10-14.16Press articleav.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2121578.htmlRead 14 October 2026Launched in Japan on 2026-07-02.

PredecessoriThe model this one directly replaced, in the same line, tier and size, as the maker or a trusted review names it.

Nothing Ear (a)15Reviewsoundguys.com/nothing-ear-3a-review-159720Read 8 October 2026Exact review explicitly calls Ear (3a) the successor to Ear (a). The existing B162 record is the linked predecessor, not B171 Ear.

soundcore P40i16Press articleav.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2121578.htmlRead 14 October 2026The article calls it the next generation of the Soundcore P40i.22Press releaseprtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000662.000016775.htmlRead 23 October 2026Anker Japan's press release calls the Soundcore P42i the next-generation model of the Soundcore P40i.

SuccessoriThe model that directly replaced this one, in the same line, tier and size. A revision such as a Slim or OLED model does not count when a next generation exists.

Not available

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Launch price (US)iThe maker's US launch MSRP for the stated configuration, excluding tax. Current store prices and later discounts do not qualify.

$9912Press releasenothing.community/d/59486-ear-3a-available-nowRead 8 October 2026Official Nothing Available Now release post explicitly states purchase from July 7, 2026 and USD 99 / GBP 99 / EUR 99. Current sale price is separate.

$79.9918Press articlesoundguys.com/soundcore-anker-p42i-wireless-earbuds-deal-162007Read 14 October 2026SoundGuys, 2026-08-25: the recommended retail price is 79.99 USD. The US store regular price matches. US prices are shown before tax.

Launch price (EU)iThe maker's euro launch price for the stated configuration, including VAT as published. Current store prices and later discounts do not qualify.

€9912Press releasenothing.community/d/59486-ear-3a-available-nowRead 8 October 2026The official July 7 Available Now release explicitly gives EUR 99 launch pricing, separate from current US sale pricing.

Not available

MarketsiISO country or region codes where this exact model or variant is sold. A source page's language does not establish availability.

US1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

US, GB, JP1Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026The US store sells it at 79.99 USD. The listing showed Sold out for all four colours on 2026-10-14.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Anker Japan official store.17Maker product pageuk.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-adaptive-anc-hi-res-audio-earbudsRead 14 October 2026UK store sells it at 79.99 GBP.

ColoursiThe maker's own colour names

Black, White, Yellow, Pink1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Black, Oat White, Navy Blue, Purple, Creamy White, Blue, Off White, Navy1Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 202615Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Japan colours in the original are ブラック, オフホワイト, ネイビー and パープル. English names are translated here.17Maker product pageuk.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-adaptive-anc-hi-res-audio-earbudsRead 14 October 2026UK colour names in the store's product data.

Segment

Music1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

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Design

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Form factoriIn-ear seals the ear canal with a tip. Semi-in-ear rests in the outer ear without a seal. Open-ear leaves the ear canal unobstructed.

In-ear1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

In-ear2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Wearing guide: place the earbuds in the ear canal with ear tips.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Comparison table: canal type.

Bud shapeiStem describes an extending control or microphone stalk. Stemless describes a compact body without a stalk.

Stem1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Stem2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Overview: touch control area on the earbud stems.

Use one bud aloneiWhich earbud can operate alone. This does not mean two earbuds can play from different sources.

Either bud8Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974734200721-Can-I-use-just-one-of-the-earbudsRead 8 October 2026Maker explicitly permits wearing just the left or right bud after pairing. Initial re-pairing cannot be completed with a lone remaining bud if the other is lost.

Either bud5Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/Can-I-use-the-left-or-right-soundcore-P42i-earbud-independentlyRead 14 October 2026FAQ: yes, put one earbud in the case and use the other on its own.

RGB lighting

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Drivers and sound

9 of 17 differ

Drivers per budiAudio transducers in one earbud. Rows distinguish their type, acoustic role and published diameter. Do not count microphones.

ANothing Ear (3a)

Type	Diameter (mm)
Dynamic	12

Source1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Sound table explicitly identifies a 12 mm dynamic driver and 32 ohms. Physical transducer quantity per bud is not separately stated, so count is omitted rather than inferred from one table row.

Bsoundcore P42i

Type	Diameter (mm)	Count per earbud
Dynamic	11	1

Source2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table, last page: Driver Unit 11 mm. One driver per earbud is read from the single driver entry.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Specifications: driver size 11 mm dynamic driver.

Driver typeiPublished transducer technology. High-excursion, composite and neodymium do not by themselves establish a driver type.

Dynamic1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Dynamic15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Specifications and comparison table: 11 mm dynamic driver.

Driver sizeiLargest explicitly published circular driver diameter in one earbud. A rectangular driver width is not a diameter.

12mm=CalculatedFrom Drivers per bud

11mm=CalculatedFrom Drivers per bud

Drivers per budiTotal audio transducers in one earbud, summed from explicit driver quantities. A row with an unknown quantity makes the total unknown.

Not available

1=CalculatedFrom Drivers per bud

Diaphragm material

PMI + TPU1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Not available

Frequency responseiPublished acoustic frequency response of the earbuds. Codec transmission bandwidth alone does not qualify. Conditions belong in the source note.

Min20 HzMax40 kHz1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Sound table RF row explicitly states 20 Hz to 40000 Hz. This is published acoustic response, separate from LDAC sampling rate. No tolerance or playback-level condition is stated.

Min20 HzMax40 kHz2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: Frequency Response 20 Hz - 40 kHz. Test conditions and codec are not stated.

Impedance

32Ω1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

14.2Ω2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: Impedance 14.2 ohm.

SensitivityiPublished acoustic sensitivity. The electrical reference and frequency must be stated in sensitivity_reference or the source note.

Not available

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Sensitivity reference

Not available

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Max sample rateiHighest supported audio sample rate under the codec and source-device conditions in the source note. This does not establish lossless playback.

96kHz15Reviewsoundguys.com/nothing-ear-3a-review-159720Read 8 October 2026Exact review directly states LDAC up to 96 kHz on a compatible source. TechRadar likewise gives 96 kHz, but its generic codec discussion says 32-bit where SoundGuys says 24-bit. Without a direct maker bit-depth statement, max_bit_depth_bits is omitted. Codec sampling support is not acoustic frequency response.

Not available

Max bit depthiHighest supported audio bit depth under the codec and source-device conditions in the source note. Bluetooth version alone does not establish this.

Not available

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Adaptive EQiAn inner mic tunes the sound to your ear in real time

Not available

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Personalised soundiA profile from a hearing test or ear scan

Not available

Yes8Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-set-up-HearID-on-soundcore-P42iRead 14 October 2026FAQ: HearID creates a personalized EQ profile based on the listener's hearing preferences.

Onboard EQ

Not available

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Custom EQ bandsiNumber of independently adjustable custom equalizer frequency bands. Availability may require current firmware, an app or a compatible device.

812Press releasenothing.community/d/59486-ear-3a-available-nowRead 8 October 2026Official release names a fully adjustable eight-band equalizer and QR profile sharing. It does not establish the flagship hearing-test sound profile.

Not available

EQ presetsiNamed equalizer sound presets. Noise-control modes and spatial-audio modes are separate features.

Balanced, More Bass, More Treble, Voice10Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974778373393-How-many-types-of-EQ-effects-does-the-Earbuds-haveRead 8 October 2026The four maker-named Simple EQ presets. Additional Advanced EQ presets and shared user profiles are separate. Their complete names were not found and are not invented.

Not available

Volume limit

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Spatial audio

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Spatial audioiNamed spatial or surround audio processing supported with the source and platform conditions stated in the source note.

Static Spatial Audio1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Spatial Audio7Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-use-Spatial-Audio-on-soundcore-P42iRead 14 October 2026FAQ: Spatial Audio in the soundcore app under HearID. It reduces the playtime per charge. Head tracking is not mentioned.

Head trackingiSpatial audio changes with head movement. Static spatial processing alone does not qualify. Compatible device or content requirements belong in the source note.

Not available

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Noise cancelling

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Active noise cancelling

Yes1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Yes1Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026Page names real-time adaptive ANC.2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Ambient sound modes: Noise Canceling with Ultra ANC and Natural ANC.

ANC typeiFeedforward uses exterior microphones. Feedback uses interior microphones. Hybrid uses both. Adaptive control is separate from microphone placement.

Not available

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ANC microphones in both earbudsiPhysical microphones used by ANC across the pair. A shared call and ANC microphone counts once. Case microphones and vibration sensors are excluded.

Not available

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Adaptive ANCiANC strength or calibration adjusts automatically to noise, fit or ear acoustics. The source note states the adjustment conditions.

Yes1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Noise cancellation table explicitly names Adaptive ANC. This is variable cancellation strength, not proof of automatic blending with transparency or adaptive sound EQ.

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Ambient sound modes: Adaptive mode detects changes in ambient noise and adjusts the noise canceling level.

ANC levelsiNumber of selectable ANC strength levels. Excludes ANC off, transparency and activity profiles unless they explicitly set distinct strength levels.

314Reviewtechradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/nothing-ear-3a-reviewRead 8 October 2026Reviewed High, Mid and Low fixed ANC strengths. Adaptive is separate, not a fourth fixed level.

Not available

ANC attenuation (claimed)iManufacturer maximum claimed noise attenuation. Frequency and measurement conditions belong in the source note. This is not reviewer-measured overall attenuation.

45dB1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Maker disclaimer identifies 45 dB as its theoretical maximum from Nothing laboratory testing. The specification gives 40 to 5000 Hz cancellation bandwidth, without proving that the maximum occurs at all frequencies. This is not measured overall isolation.

55dB1Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026Page: noise reduction up to 55 dB. Frequency and test method are not published.3Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQRead 14 October 2026FAQ: 55 dB noise reduction.

Transparency mode

Yes1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Ambient sound modes: Transparency.10Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/Understanding-Noise-Cancelling-Modes-on-soundcore-P42i-Natural-Deep-and-Hearing-ProtectionRead 14 October 2026FAQ: Transparency mode lets outside sounds in.

Adjustable transparency

Not available

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Automatic ANC and transparency blendiAutomatically blends active cancellation with ambient sound. Automatic activity-based switching between separate modes alone does not qualify.

Not available

Not available

Conversation detection

Not available

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Wind noise reductioniA documented physical design or processing feature for reducing wind noise. The source note distinguishes mesh or shape changes from selectable processing.

Yes15Reviewsoundguys.com/nothing-ear-3a-review-159720Read 8 October 2026Review explicitly reports a newly added mesh for reducing wind noise. This is physical mesh design, not a separately selectable wind processing mode.

Yes9Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-to-reduce-wind-sound-outdoors-with-soundcore-P42iRead 14 October 2026FAQ: Wind Noise Reduction setting on the app's main screen. It is a selectable processing feature.

Measured

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Frequency response notes (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Bass amount (measured)iDeviation from the review source target in the bass range. Positive means more bass. Target, test method and settings belong in the source note.

Not available

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Treble amount (measured)iDeviation from the review source target in the treble range. Positive means more treble. Values from different targets may not be directly comparable.

Not available

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Deviation from target (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Consistency between fittings (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Harmonic distortion (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

0.025%16Measurementnotebookcheck.net/High-quality-in-ear-headphones-at-a-fair-price-Nothing-Ear-3a-review.1411007.0.htmlRead 8 October 2026Exact Ear (3a) White reference sample shown in original photos, firmware 1.0.1.65, September 29 review. Published THD 0.025 percent at 1 kHz, measured-signal RMS -3.0 dBFS. Method uses a low-harmonic sine signal, a linear microphone approximately 1 cm away in an artificial head. Playback level, codec, ANC and EQ settings are not separately documented. THD+N 0.41 percent is a different metric and not substituted. The review train-ride runtime came close to the claimed 4.5 hours but was not a fully specified discharged-battery rundown, so no measured-runtime number is imported from that paragraph.

Not available

Sound leakage (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Noise isolation (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Noise isolation, best (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Passive isolation (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

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Call quality notes (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

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Mic low-frequency extension (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Mic high-frequency extension (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Mic speech-to-noise ratio (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

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Latency (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

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Bluetooth latency, worst (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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2.4 GHz latency, worst (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

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Latency in game mode (measured)iThe best case the buds can reach. Measured by a reviewer

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Battery life (measured)iReviewer-tested operation from one full charge of the earbuds. Excludes case recharges. ANC, codec, connection, volume and tested edition belong in the row or source note.

ANothing Ear (3a)

ANC	Hours (h)
No	10

Source15Reviewsoundguys.com/nothing-ear-3a-review-159720Read 8 October 2026July 17 review reports four full-charge rundown tests around ten hours each, with the original waveform reaching the ten-hour mark. Stored 10 h is the published rounded approximate observation, not a calculated mean or invented seconds. Critically ANC was actually off because the wear sensor did not trigger in the normal laboratory setup, despite intended ANC testing. The review used a manufacturer-provided unit plus a separately purchased sample over four days. It does not identify which sample produced the displayed run, firmware, codec, host or playback level. These remain unknown. Its guessed six-hour ANC estimate is not a measured result.

Bsoundcore P42i

Not available

Longest tested use per chargeiHighest earbuds-only duration among stored reviewer tests. Modes and settings may differ between tests and products.

10h=CalculatedFrom Battery life (measured)

Not available

Battery life with case (measured)iReviewer-tested total including earbuds and case recharges. Do not calculate this by multiplying one-charge runtime by claimed recharge count.

Not available

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Full charge time (measured)iBuds in the case, 0 to 100 %. Measured by a reviewer

Not available

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Weight per bud (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

4.4g(0.2 oz)19Reviewgigazine.net/news/20260712-anker-soundcore-p42iRead 14 October 2026Gigazine weighed one earbud at 4.4 g. It weighed the earbuds and case together at 51.5 g. Whether the ear tip was fitted is not stated.

Microphones and calls

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Voice microphones in both earbudsiPhysical call and beamforming microphones across the pair. Excludes case microphones and vibration sensors. Shared ANC microphones can also count here when used for calls.

61Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Noise Cancellation table gives Total 6 mics and 3 per side, with three MEMS microphones used by ENC for calls. Counts across the pair without adding logical ANC functions as microphones.

61Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026Page: 6 AI-enhanced mics for calls.

All microphones in both earbudsiEvery physical microphone across the pair, including call and ANC microphones. Shared microphones count once. Excludes the charging case and voice vibration sensors.

61Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026The explicit total is six microphones across the pair. Case microphones and dedicated voice-vibration sensors are not inferred.

Not available

Bone conduction voice sensoriA dedicated bone or jaw conduction sensor for detecting speech vibrations. A microphone or speech-detecting accelerometer alone does not prove this architecture.

Not available

Not available

Mic noise reduction

AI12Press releasenothing.community/d/59486-ear-3a-available-nowRead 8 October 2026Official release directly describes three directional microphones on each bud with AI-powered noise-reduction algorithms for voice capture. Counts are taken from the explicit current maker specification, not inferred from the AI label.

AI1Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026Page: 6 AI-enhanced mics reduce the noise around the voice.

Call audio bandwidthiHighest supported call-audio bandwidth. Compatible phone, operating system, call app or network requirements belong in the source note.

Not available

Not available

Mic mute controliAn earbud control that mutes the microphone during calls. Includes touch or pressure gestures and physical buttons. Phone/app-only controls do not qualify.

Not available

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SidetoneiHear your own voice in calls

Not available

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Connectivity

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Chip

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Connections

Bluetooth1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Bluetooth3Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQRead 14 October 2026FAQ lists Bluetooth 6.1 only. No dongle or wired audio is listed.

Bluetooth

6.01Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

6.12Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: BT 6.1.

Bluetooth codecs

SBC, AAC, LDAC1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

SBC, AAC, LDAC3Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQRead 14 October 2026FAQ: SBC, AAC, LDAC and Hi-Res Wireless Audio. LDAC is Android only.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Specifications: SBC, AAC and LDAC. LDAC needs the app, updated firmware and Android 8.0 or later.

Bluetooth profiles

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LE Audio

No4Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974775592849-Does-the-Earbuds-support-LE-AudioRead 8 October 2026Exact Ear (3a) support explicitly says Not Support. SoundGuys infers LE Audio features from Bluetooth 6.0, but that does not override the device-specific maker answer. No Auracast support is inferred.

Not available

Auracast

Not available

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MultipointiConcurrent Bluetooth connections to multiple source devices. Pairing memory and switching through a manufacturer account alone do not qualify.

Yes1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Dual Connections chapter: two Bluetooth devices at the same time, on by default.

Multipoint devicesiMaximum source devices concurrently connected by Bluetooth, not the number remembered in pairing history.

21Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

22Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Dual Connections chapter: two devices.

Multipoint with LDACiMany buds turn multipoint off on LDAC

Not available

Yes6Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/Can-Dual-Connections-and-LDAC-be-used-at-the-same-time-on-soundcore-P42iRead 14 October 2026FAQ: yes. Battery life is significantly reduced if LDAC is on for both devices at once.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Comparison table: multipoint supported, LDAC can be used at the same time.

Paired devices rememberediMaximum remembered Bluetooth source pairings. This is separate from simultaneous multipoint connections.

87Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974743387793-How-many-devices-can-a-Earbuds-earbuds-be-paired-withRead 8 October 2026Exact maker says a maximum of eight saved source-device records. Concurrent Dual Connection is two devices, separate from remembered pairings.

Not available

Automatic switching between own devicesiThrough the maker's account

Not available

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Fast pairing

Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Google Fast Pair2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Pairing page: Google Fast Pair on Android 6.0 or above.

Audio sharingiShare one stream with a second pair

Not available

Not available

Wireless range (claimed)

15m1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

10m2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: Bluetooth Range 10 m / 33 ft.

Wireless receiveri2.4 GHz dongle

Not available

Not available

Receiver connector

Not available

Not available

Simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth audioiBoth connection types can play audio together. Quick switching between independent modes does not qualify.

Not available

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Latency

0 of 3 differ

Low latency mode

Yes1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Yes3Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQRead 14 October 2026FAQ: has a gaming mode.

Claimed latency

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Lowest claimed latency

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Compatibility

3 of 4 differ

PlatformsiPlatforms with documented audio support. App availability and advanced features can be more limited. Edition-specific support is listed in variants.

Android, iOS, Windows1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current maker marketing specifically names Android, Windows and iOS dual-device connectivity. App availability remains Android and iOS. Advanced codec and recording requirements are separate.

Windows, macOS, Android, iOS2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Pairing page lists Android and iOS. Windows and Mac are in the support FAQ.14Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-set-up-soundcore-P42i-as-the-audio-input-and-output-device-on-a-computerRead 14 October 2026FAQ covers Windows PCs and Macs.19Reviewgigazine.net/news/20260712-anker-soundcore-p42iRead 14 October 2026Review paired the earbuds with an iPhone.

Connection per platformiDocumented audio connection for each platform. USB-C phone routes require a compatible port. Platform edition and microphone restrictions belong in source notes or feature requirements.

ANothing Ear (3a)

Not available

Bsoundcore P42i

Platform	Connection	Microphone works
Windows	Bluetooth	Yes
macOS	Bluetooth	Not available
Android	Bluetooth	Not available
iOS	Bluetooth	Not available

Source2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Pairing page: Bluetooth on Android, iOS and other devices. LDAC chapter: Android 8.0 or later.14Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-set-up-soundcore-P42i-as-the-audio-input-and-output-device-on-a-computerRead 14 October 2026FAQ: Windows uses P42i Stereo for listening and P42i Hands-Free for calls. Mac uses P42i as input and output. Only the Windows microphone row is marked as working.

Features that need a specific deviceiDevice, operating system, firmware, codec, content, account or region requirements for a named feature.

ANothing Ear (3a)

Feature	Needs
LDAC playback	Compatible Android source with LDAC enabled. The maker lists Android 8.0 or later and iOS 13 or later for device compatibility. iOS uses AAC rather than LDAC.
Audio Snapshot	Nothing X account. Capture up to one minute of source-phone audio, optionally including the preceding 30 seconds. Snapshot stops automatically at the selected duration. Pre-recording increases power use. Recorded audio syncs to Nothing X on Android or iOS.
Call Recording	Nothing X account and a supported region, including the United States. Disabled by default until enabled after the app region check. Record up to two hours of calls or online meetings, with an audible notification.
Cloud Pro transcription	Internet connection and Nothing X account. Current maker offer includes 120 minutes monthly for the first three months. Continuing cloud Pro access requires a subscription. Exact pricing is only shown in the app.
Essential Space integration	Select Nothing devices with an Essential Key and current software. Ordinary recording does not universally require a Nothing phone.
Low Lag Mode	Game Mode on a compatible Nothing phone, or enable through Nothing X. Under-120-ms support wording differs from an as-low-as-120-ms product disclaimer, so no exact latency is stored.
Basic local transcription	Basic local transcription is free, separate from the cloud Pro subscription. The recording features still require a Nothing X account.

Source12Press releasenothing.community/d/59486-ear-3a-available-nowRead 8 October 2026Original current product Specs and Disclaimer sections 9 to 14 give recording-account, regional, trial, subscription and Essential Key conditions. Exact current call-recording support confirms United States in the supported list. Recording feature availability is not extended to unlisted regions. No future feature rollout or unlisted subscription price is invented.16Measurementnotebookcheck.net/High-quality-in-ear-headphones-at-a-fair-price-Nothing-Ear-3a-review.1411007.0.htmlRead 8 October 2026September 29 review of firmware 1.0.1.65 explicitly confirms free basic local transcription, distinct from the cloud Pro service. Account requirement comes from the current maker recording disclaimer.17Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Exact current product Disclaimer gives account, supported-region and paid-cloud-service limitations. The United States is explicitly supported for call recording. Essential Space requires eligible Nothing hardware, while the ordinary recording app supports Android and iOS.18Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/48012760112145-Why-can-t-I-use-Call-RecordingRead 8 October 2026Exact current maker region list includes the United States. Unlisted regions are not assumed to support Call Recording.20Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/categories/47340233372561-Nothing-Ear-3aRead 8 October 2026The model-specific How-to section explicitly describes automatic Snapshot completion at the configured duration, with no need to end it manually.

Bsoundcore P42i

Feature	Needs
LDAC	Android 8.0 or later. Turn it on in the soundcore app under Settings, Sound Mode, Preferred audio quality. iPhone and iPad do not support LDAC.
LDAC, Spatial Audio, Gaming mode and custom EQ	LDAC cannot run with Spatial Audio or Gaming mode. Custom EQ cannot run with Spatial Audio or Gaming mode. Spatial Audio cannot run with custom EQ, LDAC or Gaming mode.
Google Fast Pair	Android 6.0 or later.
AI translation	soundcore app with the earbuds connected to it. Dual Connections must be off. Face-to-face translation also works without an app connection.
Earbud volume control	Off by default. Turn it on in the soundcore app under Settings, Controls.
Phone voice assistant	Not set by default. Assign it in the soundcore app under Controls. A single tap cannot be assigned to it.
Microphone in Windows meeting apps	Select soundcore P42i Hands-Free as both microphone and speaker.

Source2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026LDAC chapter, AI translation chapter and pairing page.11Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-activate-my-phone-s-voice-assistant-while-using-soundcore-P42iRead 14 October 2026FAQ: not set by default. A single tap cannot be assigned to the voice assistant.12Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-adjust-the-volume-via-soundcore-P42i-earbudsRead 14 October 2026FAQ: turn on earbud volume control in the app.13Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/Which-soundcore-P42i-features-cannot-be-used-at-the-same-timeRead 14 October 2026FAQ lists the features that exclude each other: custom EQ, LDAC, Spatial Audio and Gaming mode.14Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-set-up-soundcore-P42i-as-the-audio-input-and-output-device-on-a-computerRead 14 October 2026FAQ: select soundcore P42i Hands-Free for microphone and speaker in Zoom or Microsoft Teams on Windows.

Official licence

Not available

Not available

Battery and charging

13 of 13 differ

Battery per budiBattery cell capacity of one earbud. The source note states typical or rated capacity. Charging input current is not capacity.

55mAh1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current Battery Capacity table states 55 mAh per earbud. Typical versus rated capacity is not labelled. B162 Ear (a) 46 mAh is not transferred.

60mAh2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: earbud (single) 60 mAh (0.231 Wh).

User-replaceable earbud batteryiThe maker documents normal battery replacement by the user with its approved procedure and tools. Service or recycling disassembly does not count.

No11Owner's manualcdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0376/5420/0459/files/Ear_3a_Safety_information_Warranty_information.pdfRead 8 October 2026Original maker safety instructions explicitly say not to replace the device battery yourself. This describes normal user replacement, not technician service or recycling disassembly.

Not available

Claimed battery lifeiManufacturer maximum runtime under the stated mode, codec and spatial processing state. Name the spatial or immersive processing mode and other conditions in source notes. Omit unspecified settings. with_case false means one charge of the earbuds. true means earbuds plus case recharges.

ANothing Ear (3a)

Mode	Codec	Includes case recharges	Hours (h)
ANC off	AAC	No	10
ANC off	AAC	Yes	42
ANC on	AAC	No	6
ANC on	AAC	Yes	25
ANC off	LDAC	No	6
ANC off	LDAC	Yes	28
ANC on	LDAC	No	4.5
ANC on	LDAC	Yes	20
Call	Not available	No	6
Call	Not available	Yes	25

Source2Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Exact current Battery Playback table separates AAC 10 h / 42 h ANC off and 6 h / 25 h ANC on, plus LDAC 6 h / 28 h ANC off and 4.5 h / 20 h ANC on. Rows with_case true are combined earbuds and case recharges. Talk rows are ANC-off 6 h / 25 h. Separate ANC-on talk 4.5 h / 18 h is stated here because the call enum cannot visibly distinguish ANC states. No call codec is assigned. Maker test conditions are 50 percent volume and Nothing laboratory 25 C. Its generic AAC test disclaimer is not used to relabel the explicitly LDAC rows. Other settings are default, and Snapshot pre-recording can increase power consumption. TechRadar mixes LDAC and talk figures in its generic battery table, so that table does not override these exact mode/codec claims.

Bsoundcore P42i

Mode	Codec	Includes case recharges	Hours (h)
ANC off	Not available	No	12
ANC off	Not available	Yes	56
ANC on	Not available	No	8.5
ANC on	Not available	Yes	40
ANC on	LDAC	No	6
Call	Not available	No	5

Source2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: ANC off 12 h (56 h with case), ANC on 8.5 h (40 h with case). LDAC and call rows are from the playtime FAQ.4Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/What-is-the-playtime-of-soundcore-P42i-on-a-single-charge-and-with-the-charging-caseRead 14 October 2026FAQ: Noise Cancelling 8.5 h and 40 h with case, Normal 12 h and 56 h with case, Calling (ANC) 5 hours for both earbuds, Noise Cancelling plus LDAC 6 hours. Anker lab test at room temperature with default settings and music at 50 percent volume.

Longest claimed use per chargeiHighest earbuds-only runtime among all stored modes. This can be ANC off, Hearing Aid, heart-rate or call use. Read the battery table and source conditions.

10h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

12h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

Playback per charge with ANC (claimed)iHighest claimed earbuds-only playback with ANC enabled. Codec and spatial-audio conditions belong in the source note.

6h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

8.5h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

Playback per charge without ANC (claimed)iHighest claimed earbuds-only playback with ANC disabled. Codec and volume conditions belong in the source note.

10h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

12h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

Total with case (claimed)iHighest claimed runtime including the initial earbud charge and all case recharges. It is not the case recharge runtime alone.

42h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

56h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

Total with case and ANC (claimed)iClaimed total playback with ANC, including the initial earbud charge and case recharges.

25h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

40h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

Talk time (claimed)

6h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

5h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

Full charge time, budsiTime to charge discharged earbuds to full in the case. Excludes charging the case itself or a combined buds-and-case result.

Not available

60min2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: full charging time for earbuds 1 hour.

Charging guidanceiPublished charging guidance or estimates that do not separate earbuds and case. Preserve the maker’s component scope and limits. Do not assign an unspecified or combined estimate to a component-specific numeric field.

The maker gives an unspecified-component USB-C full-charge estimate of 70 minutes and recommends a 5 V / 1 A or higher adapter. Five minutes in the case is claimed to provide one hour of earbud playback with ANC off. The specifications separately give ten minutes for ten hours including case recharges. A marketing footnote instead describes ten hours from the earbuds after ten minutes, so that component scope is unresolved. The original B190 safety booklet specifies a charger output range of 2.5 to 5 W. These are maker estimates and guidance, without an earbud-only or case-only full-charge time.2Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current Specs Charging table says Type-C wired charging-to-full time 70 minutes without a separate component label. Disclaimer says Ear (3a) 0 to 100 percent when the case is connected, with Nothing Power 45 W at 25 C. The test adapter rating is not device input power. Dedicated fast-charge support confirms 5 min / 1 h earbuds-only and 10 min / 10 h buds plus case. A conflicting 10-minute full-earbud implication in the marketing footnote and reviewer paraphrase is preserved here without assigning a numeric full-bud time.

The maker says the case with the earbuds inside takes about 3 hours to fully charge by cable and about 4 hours on a wireless charger. Rated input is 5 V 0.4 A (2 W) by cable and 5 V 0.33 A (1.65 W) wireless for the case, and 5 V 0.12 A (0.6 W) per earbud. Dry the earbuds and the USB-C port before charging.2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table input and output ratings and the charging page.

Quick charge timeiCharge duration corresponding to quick_charge_playback_h. Source note states earbuds-only or case-inclusive charging and playback settings.

5min3Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974738921745-Does-the-Earbuds-support-fast-chargingRead 8 October 2026

10min2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Charging page: 10 minutes gives up to 3.5 hours of playtime. ANC state and codec are not stated.

Earbud playback after quick chargeiEarbuds-only runtime after quick_charge_min of charging. A claimed case-inclusive total does not qualify. ANC, codec and volume conditions belong in the source note.

1h3Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974738921745-Does-the-Earbuds-support-fast-chargingRead 8 October 2026Dedicated B190 support explicitly says ANC off, five minutes of charge for one hour of earbud playback. Conditions are AAC, 50 percent volume, Nothing laboratory 25 C. Its separate ten-minute/ten-hour case-inclusive total is not used as earbuds-only runtime.

3.5h2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Charging page: a quick 10-minute charge gives the earbuds up to 3.5 hours of playtime. ANC state and codec are not stated.

Charging case

5 of 10 differ

Case batteryiCharging-case battery cell capacity. The source note distinguishes typical, rated and output capacity. USB output capacity alone does not qualify.

500mAh1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current Battery Capacity table explicitly states 500 mAh for the charging-case cell. No voltage or energy is derived.

690mAh2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: charging case 690 mAh (2.6565 Wh).

User-replaceable case batteryiThe maker documents normal case battery replacement by the user with its approved procedure and tools. Service or recycling disassembly does not count.

No11Owner's manualcdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0376/5420/0459/files/Ear_3a_Safety_information_Warranty_information.pdfRead 8 October 2026The safety instruction applies to the Ear (3a) device and its rechargeable components, forbidding self replacement. No approved normal user case-battery replacement is claimed.

Not available

Case charging port

USB-C1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

USB-C2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Overview: USB-C charging port.

Case full charge timeiBy cable, 0 to 100 %. A time the maker gives with the earbuds inside the case counts, and the source note says so.

Not available

180min2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: full charging time for the charging case by wired charging 3 hours. The charging page says about 3 hours via cable for the case with the earbuds inside.

Wireless charging

No5Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974690492305-Does-the-Earbuds-support-wireless-chargingRead 8 October 2026Exact current maker Ear (3a) support explicitly says wireless charging is not supported. No Ear B171 or Ear (3) case capability is transferred.

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Charging page: place the charging case at the center of a wireless charger. The charger is not included.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Feature section: wireless charging supported.

Wireless standardsiDocumented case charging standards or supported chargers. Magnetic alignment alone does not establish Qi2 certification.

Not available

Not available

Wireless charging poweriHighest wireless charging input the maker states for the case. The output of a charging pad does not count.

Not available

1.65W2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: rated input for wireless charging of the case is 5 V 0.33 A (1.65 W). This is a rated input, not a tested maximum.

Speaker in caseiAn audio speaker physically in the charging case, for locating or status sounds. A microphone in the case is separate.

Not available

Not available

Screen on case

Not available

Not available

Case works as audio transmitteriCase relays external source audio through USB or an analog audio input. A case microphone for recording or calls does not qualify.

Not available

Not available

Controls

4 of 5 differ

ControlsiPressure is a force sensor that does not move, such as a stem you squeeze. Button is a key that moves when pressed.

Pressure1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current Gesture controls table explicitly gives pinch, double pinch, triple pinch and pinch-and-hold operations. Generic support touch terminology does not override the documented pressure mechanism.

Touch2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Controls page: touch control area on the earbuds.

Earbud volume controliHow earbud controls adjust volume, including a voice command if supported. Phone or app controls alone do not qualify.

Pressure1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current Gesture controls table explicitly offers volume up/down through Pinch and Hold after custom assignment in Nothing X.

Touch12Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-adjust-the-volume-via-soundcore-P42i-earbudsRead 14 October 2026FAQ: volume control on the earbuds exists and is off by default. The gesture is set in the app under Settings, Controls. Touch is read from the touch-only controls.

Gestures

Single pinch: play/pause or answer/end call, Double pinch: skip forward or decline call, Triple pinch: skip back, Pinch and hold: noise control or assigned volume, Double pinch and hold: Audio Snapshot or Call Recording, Pinch both buds simultaneously: Audio Snapshot / Call Recording17Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current exact Gesture controls table provides pinch commands and simultaneous-bud recording controls. Preserves actual device operations rather than generic article wording. Simultaneous pinch is labelled Audio Snapshot / Call Recording. It is not a universal manual start/stop promise because Snapshot ends automatically at the configured duration.20Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/categories/47340233372561-Nothing-Ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Exact How to start Snapshot answer says simultaneous press starts Audio Snapshot, which automatically ends at the selected duration. Call Recording has its separate stop behavior. No universal manual start/stop action is promised.

Double tap right earbud: play or pause, Double tap left earbud: next track, Double tap either earbud: answer or end a call, Press and hold either earbud for 2 seconds: reject a call or switch ambient sound mode, Single earbud: double tap to play or pause2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Controls page table for both earbuds and for a single earbud. Press and hold for 2 seconds switches between ANC and Transparency by default.

Remappable controls

Yes1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Controls page: controls and touch sensitivity can be customized in the soundcore app.

Voice assistant

Not available

Phone voice assistant11Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/How-do-I-activate-my-phone-s-voice-assistant-while-using-soundcore-P42iRead 14 October 2026FAQ: assign the phone's voice assistant in the app under Controls. The assistant is not named.

Sensors and health

2 of 9 differ

In-ear detection

Yes6Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974821964177-Do-the-Earbuds-support-in-ear-detectionRead 8 October 2026Exact maker support says Support. Actual reviewer wear-sensor behavior is separately qualified for measured battery testing.

Yes3Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQRead 14 October 2026FAQ: wearing detection is supported.

Sensors

Not available

Not available

Heart rate sensor

Not available

Not available

Skin temperature sensingiA documented skin temperature sensor. This is separate from the operating temperature range or a heart-rate sensor.

Not available

Not available

Hearing aid featureiAmplification for mild to moderate hearing loss

Not available

Not available

Medical clearances

Not available

Not available

Hearing testiA documented hearing assessment feature, including consumer sound-personalization tests. Medical diagnostic clearance must be stated separately.

Not available

Not available

Hearing protectioniLimits sudden loud sounds

Not available

Yes10Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/Understanding-Noise-Cancelling-Modes-on-soundcore-P42i-Natural-Deep-and-Hearing-ProtectionRead 14 October 2026FAQ: Smart Hearing Protection acts in Transparency mode when sound suddenly gets loud. The app also has a Volume Limit from app version 5.0.20.

Health features

Not available

Hearing protection screen in the soundcore app shows in-ear volume and ambient noise level. Not a medical device.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026FAQ, translated from Japanese: the app's hearing protection screen shows the in-ear volume and the surrounding noise level in real time. It is not a medical device.

Fit and durability

3 of 7 differ

Ear tips includediTip sizes supplied with the product, including the pair fitted to the earbuds. Do not list separately sold sizes as included.

XS, S, M, L12Press releasenothing.community/d/59486-ear-3a-available-nowRead 8 October 2026Official release says four sizes including new XS. The actual-user Nothing Community unboxing separately lists XS, S, M and L with M fitted. Current specification independently gives four pairs. No extra separately sold size is included.13Reviewnothing.community/d/61192Read 8 October 2026Actual Ear (3a) unboxing states XS, S, M and L, with M fitted. This corroborates the maker four-pair list and new XS claim.

XXS, XS, S, M, L2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Wearing guide: five sizes of ear tips, XXS, XS, S, M and L. M is fitted.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Package contents: ear tips in 5 sizes.19Reviewgigazine.net/news/20260712-anker-soundcore-p42iRead 14 October 2026Review: five sizes XXS, XS, S, M and L, with M fitted.

Ear tip materials

Silicone9Maker product pagesupport.nothing.tech/hc/en-us/articles/47974756984977-What-is-the-shell-made-ofRead 8 October 2026Exact current maker support names silicone tips, plastic outer housings and stainless-steel hinges. Housing and hinge materials have no separate field in this schema.

Silicone21Reviewscarbir.com/tws/soundcore-p42i-reviewRead 14 October 2026Review: slim, round silicone tips. The review lists Bluetooth 6.0, three ear tip sets and no wireless charging. The maker documents say Bluetooth 6.1, five sizes and wireless charging, and win.

StabilisersiPhysical stabilizing fittings or structures. Stability bands are separate from fins, wings and ear hooks.

Not available

Not available

Ear tip fit test

Yes14Reviewtechradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/nothing-ear-3a-reviewRead 8 October 2026Reviewer directly confirms an ear-tip seal fit test. The current maker FAQ titled earbud fit test describes a hearing assessment and compensation instead, while this review explicitly says the hearing-test personal profile remains flagship-only. hearing_test and sound_personalization remain unresolved and omitted pending clarification. The Advanced eight-band equalizer is not itself a hearing test. Generic touch wording is not used to override pinch controls.

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Wearing guide: Fit Test feature in the soundcore app.

Dust and water rating, buds

IP541Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current Other features table and exact support page explicitly assign IP54 to both buds and case. This is not immersion protection. The old B162 case IPX2 claim is separate.

IP552Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026SPECS table: IP55, earbuds only.

Dust and water rating, case

IP541Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current maker specifically says IP54 for buds and case. No B162 Ear (a) case rating is inherited.

Not available

Water resistance depth

Not available

Not available

Software

3 of 6 differ

Companion app

Nothing X1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

soundcore2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026The guide names the soundcore app.

App platforms

Android, iOS1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

iOS, Android19Reviewgigazine.net/news/20260712-anker-soundcore-p42iRead 14 October 2026Review: the soundcore app is on the App Store and Google Play.

User firmware updates

Yes1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026Firmware update chapter: the app announces new firmware and updates the earbuds in the case.

Finding network

Not available

Not available

Precision findingiUWB in the case

Not available

Not available

Live translation

Not available

Yes2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026AI translation chapter: Real-Time Translation and Face-to-Face Translation in the soundcore app.

Dimensions and weight

4 of 4 differ

Weight per budiMass of one earbud. Tip size and approximate values belong in the source note. Do not store pair or case-inclusive mass.

4.53g(0.2 oz)1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Buds design table directly states 4.53 g. Tip size is not identified.

4.4g(0.2 oz)15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Specifications: about 4.4 g per earbud and about 51 g with the charging case (case with earbuds, not case-only).16Press articleav.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2121578.htmlRead 14 October 2026Article: about 4.4 g per earbud and about 51 g including the charging case.

Bud dimensionsiDimensions of one earbud on the explicitly identified width, height and depth axes. An unlabeled tuple cannot establish those axes.

Width21.7Height31.2Depth24mm(0.9 × 1.2 × 0.9 in)1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current maker explicitly labels one bud Height 31.2 mm, Width 21.7 mm and Depth 24 mm. Rounded reviewer tuples are not substituted.

Not available

Case weightiCharging case mass excluding earbuds. Case-inclusive product mass does not qualify unless the source explicitly gives the empty-case figure.

40.92g(1.4 oz)1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Case design table directly states 40.92 g, distinct from per-bud mass. No subtraction from combined product mass is used.

Not available

Case dimensionsiCharging-case width, height and depth on explicitly identified source axes. Report conflicting axis labels rather than reorder a tuple by appearance.

Width48.95Height64.8Depth22.8mm(1.9 × 2.6 × 0.9 in)1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current maker explicitly labels Height 64.8 mm, Width 48.95 mm and Depth 22.8 mm. These axes are retained as printed. The horizontal appearance of product photos is not used to swap labelled dimensions.

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Certifications

2 of 3 differ

Hi-Res AudioiThe Japan Audio Society logos. Hi-Res Audio Wireless is also written Hi-Res Wireless Audio.

Hi-Res Audio Wireless1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current Sound Features table names LDAC Hi-Res Wireless certification. No wired acoustic certification is inferred.

Hi-Res Audio Wireless, Hi-Res Audio1Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026Page: Hi-Res Certified Sound with LDAC and Hi-Res Audio. The specification FAQ lists Hi-Res Wireless Audio.3Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQRead 14 October 2026FAQ names Hi-Res Wireless Audio as a supported audio format.15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Comparison table marks Hi-Res playback as supported.

Communication certifications

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FCC IDs

2AZEQ-B190L, 2AZEQ-B190R11Owner's manualcdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0376/5420/0459/files/Ear_3a_Safety_information_Warranty_information.pdfRead 8 October 2026Original maker safety booklet explicitly lists left and right FCC IDs 2AZEQ-B190L and 2AZEQ-B190R. No case FCC ID is guessed.

Not available

Other certifications

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EU Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU conformity, EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU and amendment (EU) 2015/863 conformity20Maker spec sheet (PDF)salesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036802/en_US/000036802.pdfRead 14 October 2026EU and UK Declaration of Conformity V5.0 for soundcore P42i, model D1205, signed 2026-05-20. It lists Directive 2014/53/EU and Directive 2011/65/EU with amendment (EU) 2015/863. FCC ID not found in the open documents.

In the box

2 of 2 differ

In the box

Two earbuds, Charging case, Four pairs of ear tips, Safety and warranty information with User Guide1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Current complete maker table lists two earbuds, one case, four tip pairs and one safety/warranty/user-guide booklet. No cable or adapter is listed. A generic charging support answer refers to an included cable, so cable inclusion is unresolved and no cable table or explicit absence is inferred.

Earbuds, Charging case, Five sizes of ear tips, USB-A to USB-C cable, Quick start guide, Safety manual, Warranty card15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Package contents, translated from Japanese: earbuds, charging case, ear tips in 5 sizes, USB-C and USB-A cable, safety manual, quick start guide, warranty.19Reviewgigazine.net/news/20260712-anker-soundcore-p42iRead 14 October 2026Review box photo: quick start guide, warranty card, earbuds, USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable and ear tips.

Cables included

ANothing Ear (3a)

Not available

Bsoundcore P42i

Type	Count
USB-A to USB-C	1

Source15Maker product pageankerjapan.com/products/d1205Read 14 October 2026Package contents: USB-C and USB-A cable. The Gigazine unboxing shows a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable. Length not stated.

Links

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Product page

us.nothing.tech/products/ear-3a1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026

us.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-anc1Maker product pageus.soundcore.com/products/d1205-p42i-true-wireless-earbuds-with-adaptive-ancRead 14 October 2026

Spec sheet

us.nothing.tech/products/ear-3a1Maker product pageus.nothing.tech/products/ear-3aRead 8 October 2026Full current US maker Specs tables are embedded in the public product-page data. Original HTML and the decoded model-specific specification tables were captured October 8, 2026. No data from the malformed legacy Ear (3a) checkout page, which repeats Ear (1) content, is used.

service.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQ3Maker product pageservice.soundcore.com/article-description/soundcore-P42i-Specifications-FAQRead 14 October 2026Maker support FAQ with the quick specs for D1205. The full table is in the user guide.

Manual

cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0376/5420/0459/files/Ear_3a_Safety_information_Warranty_information.pdf11Owner's manualcdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0376/5420/0459/files/Ear_3a_Safety_information_Warranty_information.pdfRead 8 October 2026Original maker-hosted Ear (3a) Safety information and Warranty information PDF, discovered through an indexed link to the maker CDN. It explicitly prints model B190 and left/right FCC identifiers. This is the safety/warranty booklet, not a claimed complete operating guide. Its original text and relevant charge instructions were inspected.

salesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdf2Owner's manualsalesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/000036800/en_US/000036800.pdfRead 14 October 2026English user guide for model D1205, 13 pages. Download from the soundcore support page for the P42i.

EPREL registration numberiId in the EU energy label database. Each size or model of a series has its own id, so it is per variant.

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Warranty

None of 1 known

Manufacturer warranty (source market)iThe maker's warranty period for the exact SKU or configuration and market named in the source note. It applies only to that stated market, not every regional variant. Statutory consumer rights are excluded. The base term is stored. An extension that needs registration goes in the source note.

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Both are also in the API. Back to all earbuds.