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Deal.ai › Compare

Skullcandy Rail vs Nothing Ear (3a)

The Nothing Ear (3a) is the stronger pick for most people. It has rated ANC up to 45dB, Bluetooth 6.0, lighter buds and a much higher owner rating (4.6 vs 3.9). The Skullcandy Rail counters with IP55 water resistance, multipoint pairing, Personal Sound by Mimi and Skull-iQ voice controls. Build is plastic on both, but the Rail's higher water rating suits sweaty workouts better.

  • Choose the Skullcandy Rail if you want multipoint pairing, IP55 sweat resistance and hands-free voice control for workouts and switching between phone and laptop.
  • Choose the Nothing Ear (3a) if you want stronger noise cancellation, newer Bluetooth and lighter buds for all-day listening.

Prices

  • Skullcandy Rail: $40.00 at Whatnot (checked today)
  • Nothing Ear (3a): $79.99 at Amazon (last seen Nov 5)
  • Difference: the Skullcandy Rail is $39.99 cheaper than the Nothing Ear (3a) at the latest prices (Nov 5 and Nov 15)
Skullcandy
Skullcandy Rail True Wireless Earbuds

Skullcandy Rail

Skullcandy Rail True Wireless Earbuds

3.9(379 ratings)
$40.00at WhatnotChecked 4 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Whatnot
Pros
  • Multipoint pairing across two devices
  • IP55 sweat and water resistance
  • Personal Sound by Mimi hearing personalization
  • Skull-iQ hands-free voice control
  • Custom EQ modes including bass boost
Cons
  • Lower owner rating than the Ear (3a)
  • Older Bluetooth 5.2
  • ANC strength not specified
  • Driver size listed inconsistently as 6mm and 12mm
Nothing
Ear (3a)

Nothing Ear (3a)

Ear (3a)

4.6(243 ratings)
$79.99at AmazonChecked Nov 5
See all prices and details
Visit Amazon

Store links may earn us a commission. As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

Pros
  • ANC rated up to 45dB
  • Bluetooth 6.0
  • Light 4.53g buds
  • 4.6 out of 5 owner rating
  • Up to 10 hours per charge without ANC
Cons
  • IP54 is a step below IP55
  • Multipoint pairing not listed
  • Battery drops to 6 hours per charge with ANC on
  • Only one color, white

What separates them

Skullcandy RailNothing Ear (3a)
Noise cancellationActive, strength not specifiedRated up to 45dB
Bluetooth5.26.0
Water resistanceIP55IP54
Battery with caseUp to 42 hoursUp to 42 hours
Battery with ANC onNot specifiedUp to 25 hours total, 6 hours per charge
Multipoint pairingYesNot listed
Earbud weightNot specified4.53g per bud
Owner rating3.9 out of 5 from 379 ratings4.6 out of 5 from 243 ratings

Price history

$99.99$29.99
Oct 28Nov 15
  • Skullcandy Rail: lowest $29.99 on Oct 28 at eBay; $33.25 on Nov 15.
  • Nothing Ear (3a): lowest $79.00 on Nov 2 at Amazon; $79.99 on Nov 5.

Prices at every store

Skullcandy Rail

  • eBayNew

    In stockSold by buytheworld999

    $33.25+ $7.00 shippingChecked 4 h ago
    Visit eBay
  • WhatnotNew

    Availability unknown

    $40.00Checked 4 h ago
    Visit Whatnot
  • PoshmarkNew

    Availability unknown

    $45.00Checked 4 h ago
    Visit Poshmark
  • Dressinn.comNew

    Availability unknownShips from abroad · duties may apply

    $51.99Checked 4 h ago
    Visit Dressinn.com

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
  • eBayCheck price at eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 17 stores and price history →

Nothing Ear (3a)

  • Nothing USNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $99.00Checked Nov 11
    Visit Nothing US
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $79.99Checked Nov 5
    Visit Amazon
  • Newegg.comNew

    Availability unknown

    $173.41Checked Nov 5
    Visit Newegg.com

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 3 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecSkullcandy RailNothing Ear (3a)
Bluetooth Version5.2Bluetooth 6.0
Driver Size6 mm12mm dynamic driver
ColorBlack, White, Gray, Orange, TransparentWhite
Headphone Cup TypeIn-ear—
Body Part UseEar—
Noise Cancellation TypeActive—
Max Battery Life42 Hours—
Recharge Time42 Hours—
Rechargeable BatteryYes—
Driver TechnologyDynamic (DD)—
Connectivity TechnologyWireless—
Wireless TypeBluetooth—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecSkullcandy RailNothing Ear (3a)
Compatible DevicesBluetooth Devices, iPhone—
Ports And InterfacesUSB—
Transmission Range30 Ft—
Frequency Response20 KHz—
Headphone Impedance16 Ohms—
Sensitivity100 dB—
Sound OutputStereo—
Audio HighlightsPersonal Sound by Mimi, Stay-Aware Mode—
Total Harmonic Distortion3%—
Water Protection

What reviewers say

Skullcandy Rail

  • 3.9 / 5379 ratings

Ratings average 3.9 out of 5 across 379 reviews, which points to a mixed reception rather than a clear favorite. Buyers tend to weigh the low price and feature list against sound and fit expectations.

What people mention
  • ValuePraisedOwners see ANC, multipoint and long battery as a lot for the money.
  • Sound qualityMixedSome find the tuning pleasant, others call the 6 mm drivers thin.
  • FitMixedThe in-ear seal works for some ears and loosens for others.
  • Noise cancellationMixedANC cuts steady background noise but is not class-leading.

Nothing Ear (3a)

  • 4.6 / 5243 ratings

Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 243 ratings, buyers are positive overall and treat the Ear (3a) as strong value for what it offers. Complaints center on battery life once noise cancellation is on.

What people mention
  • Noise cancellationPraisedBuyers say the ANC blocks a good amount of noise for earbuds at this tier.
  • BatteryMixedOwners like the 10-hour figure but note it drops to about 6 hours with ANC on.
  • FitPraisedThe 4.53g buds are described as light and comfortable for long sessions.
  • CallsCriticised

Questions and answers

Which is better for the gym?
The Skullcandy Rail. Its IP55 rating tolerates more sweat and spray than the Ear (3a)'s IP54, and multipoint keeps your phone and watch connected.
Which has better noise cancellation?
The Nothing Ear (3a). Nothing rates it up to 45dB, while Skullcandy does not publish a figure for the Rail.
Which lasts longer on a charge?
The Ear (3a) claims up to 10 hours per charge without ANC, but only 6 with ANC on. Both reach up to 42 hours with the case.
Is the Ear (3a) worth stepping up to over the Rail?
Yes for most listeners. You get stronger ANC, Bluetooth 6.0, lighter buds and a higher owner rating. Pick the Rail only if multipoint and IP55 matter more.
Do both support multipoint?
Only the Skullcandy Rail lists multipoint pairing. Nothing does not list it for the Ear (3a).
Which is better for calls?
The Rail lists a Clear Voice Smart microphone and hands-free voice control. The Ear (3a) gives up to 4 hours of talk time per charge.

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Water Resistant
—
WirelessYes—
MicrophoneYes—
BluetoothYes—
Speaker Configuration2.0 (stereo)—
Construction & ElementsDynamic—
Detachable CableNo—
Frequency Response (min) (Hz)20.0—
Frequency Response (max) (Hz)20000.0—
Buttons & ControlsAnswer/Hang Up, Volume, Play/Pause—
MultipointNo—
Water ResistantYes—
Noise CancellingActive Noise Cancelling—
Wireless TechnologyBluetooth—
FoldableNo—
Type of HeadphoneIn-Ear—
Noise cancellation—up to 45dB
Battery life earbuds—up to 10 hours
Battery life with case—up to 42 hours
Talk time of up to 4 hours and call clarity draw complaints.