Nothing Ear (3a) vs Sony WF-1000XM4: Which to Buy?

The Sony WF-1000XM4 spent years as the earbuds to beat, and now that they have been succeeded they can be found for far less than at launch — which puts them up against value stars like the Nothing Ear (3a). One is a former flagship at a reduced price; the other is a budget pair that behaves like something dearer. The question is which makes more sense today. This comparison draws only on the complete published reviews of each pair; Truthful Reviews has not independently tested either.

Sound

Both sound better than their positions suggest. The Nothing Ear (3a) use a large 12 mm dynamic driver with a wide 20 Hz to 40 kHz frequency response, and the published test made the point plainly: controlled, mature sound is no longer reserved for premium earbuds. The Sony WF-1000XM4 pair a smaller 6 mm driver with Sony's own V1 processor and DSEE Extreme upscaling, plus a five-band equaliser with seven presets for shaping the sound, and remain a reference for balanced, refined audio. Both support the LDAC codec for Hi-Res streaming from a compatible phone. The WF-1000XM4 were also the first Sony earbuds to gain LDAC, a codec that had until then been reserved for the brand's over-ear headphones, while the Nothing's 12 mm driver uses a PMI and TPU diaphragm and inherits most of the features of Nothing's pricier models rather than being stripped back. The Sony still edge it for outright polish and control, but the Nothing get impressively close for the money.

Noise Cancellation

This is where the former flagship shows its class. The Sony WF-1000XM4 deliver high-level, reference-grade active noise cancellation, helped by that dedicated V1 chip, and they have been a benchmark since launch. The Nothing Ear (3a) offer capable wideband active cancellation that is genuinely strong for a budget pair, but it does not hush the world quite as thoroughly as the Sony. For serious commuting or a noisy office the WF-1000XM4 remain the stronger choice; for everyday use the Nothing hold up better than their price implies.

Battery Life

The two are close, with a twist. The Nothing Ear (3a) carry a 55 mAh battery in each earbud and a 500 mAh case, and are rated for up to 6 h with noise cancellation on, rising to about 25 h with the case. The Sony WF-1000XM4 last longer per charge — around 8 h with cancellation on and up to 12 h with it off — with the case bringing the total to a comparable figure. Both recharge over USB-C. So the Sony win the single-charge stamina, while the Nothing hold a slight edge on the combined total.

Fit, Comfort and Durability

The two take opposite approaches. The Nothing Ear (3a) are featherweights at just 4.53 g per earbud, with silicone tips and an IP54 rating that adds dust resistance to the usual splash protection. The Sony WF-1000XM4 are heavier and drew a repeated criticism for being bulky — too large for smaller ears — but they ship with polyurethane foam tips that many find more comfortable and better at sealing out noise, and include a fit-check tool to confirm you have the right size. Sony's rating is IPX4, so splash but not dust. Nothing supplies several silicone tip sizes to help each user find a secure seal. In short, the Nothing win on weight and dust-proofing; the Sony's foam tips give better passive isolation for those they fit. A quick charge gives both pairs a useful top-up from just a few minutes in the case.

Features and Connectivity

Both are well specified. Alongside LDAC, the Nothing Ear (3a) add newer Bluetooth 6.0, a six-microphone array with ENC for calls, and Nothing's Audio Snapshot feature. The Sony counter with a deeper, more mature toolkit — 360 Reality Audio spatial sound, DSEE Extreme, a rich companion app with that five-band equaliser, and multipoint pairing added through a firmware update. Both offer transparency modes and app control, so the everyday experience is close, with the Sony's software the more powerful and the Nothing's connectivity the more modern.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Sony WF-1000XM4 if you want a proven flagship experience now available for less: reference-grade noise cancellation with the V1 chip, refined sound with DSEE upscaling and a five-band equaliser, comfortable foam tips and a deep feature set — accepting a bulkier fit that can trouble smaller ears and only IPX4 splash resistance. Choose the Nothing Ear (3a) if value leads: a big 12 mm driver, LDAC Hi-Res support, capable wideband noise cancellation, a remarkably light 4.53 g fit, dust-resistant IP54 build and newer Bluetooth 6.0 — accepting sound and cancellation that trail the Sony, but by a smaller margin than the price gap suggests. The Sony are the better earbuds outright; the Nothing are the smarter buy for most budgets.