Nothing has sparked intrigue ahead of the September 18 launch of its flagship Ear (3) wireless earbuds, teasing a new “Super Mic” feature built into the charging case.

The announcement, shared on Nothing’s X account, showed a model holding the Ear 3 case near her mouth with the caption: “Ear (3) with Super Mic. Now they can hear you.”

While the image hints at a push-to-talk “Talk” button on the case, the London-based brand has yet to clarify its exact function.

Many observers speculate it could support voice assistant commands, enhanced call quality, or even content creation.

The Super Mic has already sparked discussion online, with some users excited by the prospect of professional-grade audio recording via the case, while others have voiced privacy concerns about a microphone integrated outside the earbuds.

The earbuds maintain Nothing’s signature transparent aesthetic but add a metallic finish to the bottom of the case, where the Talk button and Super Mic are located.

The charging case is crafted from 100% recycled anodised aluminium, while the earbuds themselves feature re-engineered metal antennas just 0.35mm thick, promising design refinements alongside improved audio quality from Nothing’s partnership with British audio brand KEF.

Nothing is positioning the Ear 3 against premium rivals such as Apple AirPods Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM5, and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4.

Battery life, noise cancellation, driver specifications and pricing for the Ear 3 remain unconfirmed, though it’s expected to retail between US$150–$250 (A$230–$380).

Nothing’s push into AI is also expanding beyond earbuds.

The company has announced plans to launch its first AI-native devices in 2026, powered by a new AI-centric operating system, following a US$200 million (A$310 million) Series C funding round led by Tiger Global.