[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Nothing has unveiled new wireless earbuds priced under $100. The company is targeting the budget market with features including active noise cancellation (ANC) and spatial audio, as well as an on-earbud function that records voice and converts it to text.

According to IT outlet Engadget on Monday, Nothing launched its new wireless earbuds, the Ear 3a, at $99 (about 150,000 won). The product sits between the existing budget Ear (a) and the higher-end Ear 3, offering key features from the top model at a lower price.

The most notable feature is Audio Snapshot. It is designed to let users instantly store important audio using 32MB of flash memory built into the earbuds. Users can record audio during an online lecture, meeting or conversation by pressing both earbuds at the same time. Recordings also save sounds from just before and after the press to avoid missing key content.

Saved audio is automatically synced to the Nothing X app. In the app, users can replay or edit recordings, share them with others, or convert them to text. It also supports generating shareable quote cards to help users find what they need more easily.

Meeting and call recording has also been added. The Ear 3a can store up to 2 hours of calls and meetings, and files are automatically sent to the app after recording ends. Nothing said it was designed to deliver a notification to the other party when recording is in progress to protect personal information.

Audio performance has also been improved. The new product uses a 12 mm dynamic driver to enhance bass and detail, and supports the LDAC high-quality wireless audio codec and an 8-band equalizer. It also offers spatial audio for a more immersive listening experience.

Noise cancelling reaches up to 45 dB. Nothing said it improved the algorithm and acoustic mesh structure to remove noise across a wider frequency range, and that ANC performance improved by about 17.1 percent compared with the previous product.

The design keeps Nothing's signature translucent look. In addition to black and white, pink and yellow colors have been added, and ear tips now include a new XS size to broaden fit options.

Battery life is up to 42 hours including the charging case. With ANC off, the earbuds alone can be used for up to 10 hours, while with ANC on, total use time is up to 25 hours.

The Ear 3a is positioned not as a simple budget model with a lower price, but as a product that adds productivity features such as recording and text conversion. Nothing is seeking to boost competitiveness in the mid- to low-priced wireless earbuds market by bringing the user experience of higher-end models to the $99 price point. The new product has now started sales in the global market.