Nothing Ear 3 vs Technics EAH-AZ100: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Technics EAH-AZ100 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Technics EAH-AZ100 - Outstanding overall at around $250.

True Wireless

Nothing Ear 3

78Great

$150

Full review data

True Wireless

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Technics EAH-AZ100 leads on 4 of 7 measures.

Nothing Ear 3
Technics EAH-AZ100

HearWiki score

Sound

8.0

9.2

Noise cancelling

7.8

8.6

Battery

6.4

8.7

Calls

8.3

7.8

Value

8.2

8.1

Price (USD)

$150

$250

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Mixed generations

Both shipped in 2025. Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Nothing Ear 3 brings Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.3, while the Technics EAH-AZ100 answers with LE Audio (LC3). The Nothing Ear 3 answers on convenience features: it adds Water resistance IP54 against IPX4.

Ear 32025
EAH-AZ1002025

What differsEar 3EAH-AZ100

Bluetooth: 5.4; 5.3
LE Audio (LC3): No; Yes
Water resistance: IP54; IPX4

Level on: Top codec, ANC type, Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Ear 3EAH-AZ100

Type: True Wireless; True Wireless
Price (USD): $150; $250
HearWiki score: 78; 86
Released: 2025; 2025
Availability: Sold new; Sold new
Driver: 12 mm dynamic; 10 mm dynamic
Driver type: dynamic; dynamic
Driver size: 12 mm; 10 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 1
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 40 kHz; 20 Hz - 40 kHz
Sound signature: bass-heavy; -
Impedance: 32 Ω; 16 Ω
Bluetooth: 5.4; 5.3
Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC; SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing: Yes; Yes
Latency: 120 ms; -
Wireless range: 10 m; 10 m
Battery life: 10 h; 12 h
Battery life (ANC on): 5.5 h; 10 h
Battery incl. case: 38 h; 28 h
Full charge time: 70 min; 120 min
Quick charge: 5 min → 10 h; 15 min → 1.2 h
Wireless charging: Yes; Yes
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: hybrid; hybrid
Transparency mode: Yes; Yes
Companion app: Yes; Yes
Custom EQ: Yes; Yes
Wear detection: Yes; Yes
Controls: touch; touch
Voice assistant: -; Yes
Weight: 10.4 g; 11.8 g
Case weight: 71.4 g; 42 g
Water resistance: IP54; IPX4
USB-C: Yes; Yes
Microphones: 6; 2
Microphone type: MEMS; MEMS

Specification comparison of Nothing Ear 3 vs Technics EAH-AZ100
Spec	Nothing Ear 3	Technics EAH-AZ100
Type	True Wireless	True Wireless
Price (USD)	$150	$250
HearWiki score	78 / 100 Great	86 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2025	2025
Audio
Driver	12 mm dynamic	10 mm dynamic
Driver type	dynamic	dynamic
Driver size	12 mm	10 mm
Drivers per side	1	1
Frequency response	20 Hz - 40 kHz	20 Hz - 40 kHz
Sound signature	bass-heavy	-
Impedance	32 Ω	16 Ω
Wireless
Bluetooth	5.4	5.3
Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC	SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing	Yes	Yes
Latency	120 ms	-
Wireless range	10 m	10 m
Battery
Battery life	10 h	12 h
Battery life (ANC on)	5.5 h	10 h
Battery incl. case	38 h	28 h
Full charge time	70 min	120 min
Quick charge	5 min → 10 h	15 min → 1.2 h
Wireless charging	Yes	Yes
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	hybrid	hybrid
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Companion app	Yes	Yes
Custom EQ	Yes	Yes
Wear detection	Yes	Yes
Controls	touch	touch
Voice assistant	-	Yes
Design
Weight	10.4 g	11.8 g
Case weight	71.4 g	42 g
Water resistance	IP54	IPX4
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Calls
Microphones	6	2
Microphone type	MEMS	MEMS

What reviewers said

Nothing Ear 3

The Nothing Ear 3 wireless earbuds blend a distinctive, playful design with robust features like hybrid active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, and LDAC support. They deliver a bass-forward, bright sound signature with solid battery life, though the microphone performance may not fully match expectations. Overall, they're a feature-rich, stylish option, but their audio tuning might not justify the price for everyone.

Pro:Distinctive, stylish design
Pro:Effective hybrid ANC with transparency mode
Pro:Solid battery life with wireless charging case

Con:Microphone performance may not fully deliver
Con:Bass-forward and bright tuning may not suit all tastes
Con:Audio quality may not justify the price for everyone

Technics EAH-AZ100

The Technics EAH-AZ100 are premium true wireless earbuds that deliver rich, detailed sound through a 10mm dynamic driver, with support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They combine effective hybrid active noise cancellation with a comfortable, IPX4-rated design, plus smart features like multipoint pairing and wireless charging for versatile daily use. With up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge, they are built to last through long listening sessions.

Pro:Excellent sound quality with LDAC support
Pro:Strong hybrid ANC and transparency modes
Pro:Long battery life with wireless charging case

Con:Premium price point
Con:Touch controls may be overly sensitive
Con:No aptX codec support

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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