If you want longer battery life and a workout-ready design for jogging, choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2; if you need dual-device switching and more adjustable noise control, choose Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling.
For the specific choice behind cmf by nothing vs nothing earbuds, I’d pick the Buds 2 for a run-focused routine and the Ear (3a) for commuting, work, or switching between a phone and computer. Both offer hybrid active noise cancellation and app-based sound controls, but their battery claims and extra features point to different priorities.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2: Up to 55 hours with the case and IP55 water and dust resistance; its stated ANC figure is higher, but it lacks the listed dual-device connection feature.
• Nothing Ear (3a): Bluetooth 6.0, dual-device connections, Transparency Mode, and three ANC strength modes; its stated total battery life is shorter.
• Buds 2 sound: An 11 mm driver, Dirac Opteo tuning, and a 360° spatial audio effect; the supplied information does not list multipoint connectivity.
• Ear (3a) sound: A 12 mm driver, Hi-Res Audio, and an 8-band EQ in the app; it does not have the Buds 2’s IP55 rating in the supplied details.
• Choose Buds 2 if you want more stated listening time and a clear fit for workouts.
• Choose Ear (3a) if you want convenient switching between two devices and more ways to manage what you hear.
The Buds 2 make the clearest case for someone who wants a pair of earbuds to cover workouts and long stretches away from a charger. CMF lists up to 13.5 hours of listening on one charge and up to 55 hours with the case. A 10-minute top-up is said to provide up to 7.5 hours of playback. Those figures make the case less dependent on frequent charging, although actual listening time can vary with settings and use.
For jogging, the practical draw is the IP55 water and dust resistance, alongside hybrid ANC and Environmental Adaptive mode, which adjusts noise reduction to surroundings. The 11 mm driver, Dirac Opteo tuning, Ultra Bass settings, and spatial audio effect give listeners a few distinct sound options. Six microphones and wind-noise reduction features are also listed for calls. I’d shortlist these if workout resistance and battery endurance matter more than seamless switching between devices.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-20 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The trade-off is that the supplied Buds 2 details do not list dual-device connectivity or a Transparency Mode. That matters if you often move between a laptop and phone, or want to hear outside sounds without removing an earbud. The stated ANC figure is 48 dB, but a higher specification alone does not establish how noise cancellation will feel in every setting. If your routine is mainly desk work and device switching, the Ear (3a) has a more directly relevant feature set.
Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling is identified in its product details as the Nothing Ear (3a). Its strongest everyday convenience feature is dual-device connectivity: the earbuds can connect to two devices, making it easier to move between a phone and computer. Bluetooth 6.0 is also specified. For someone who takes calls on one device and listens to media on another, that combination is more useful than a small difference in driver size.
The Ear (3a) lists up to 45 dB of active noise cancellation, three ANC strength modes, and Transparency Mode. That gives listeners more explicit control over isolation and awareness. Its 12 mm driver, Hi-Res Audio, and eight-band EQ in the Nothing X app add room to adjust the sound. It also offers static spatial audio, low-latency mode, and call-recording and audio-snapshot functions. Recording availability can depend on local rules, so those tools should not be treated as universal.
Battery is the main compromise beside the Buds 2. Nothing lists up to 42 hours with the case, with up to 10 hours per earbud when ANC is off and six hours when it is on. A five-minute charge is said to provide up to an hour of playback. The supplied details do not list an IP water- or dust-resistance rating, so I would not choose it over the Buds 2 specifically for rainy runs or sweaty workouts. Its extra connection and listening controls make more sense for travel, work, and mixed-device use.
• Best fit for jogging in wet or dusty conditions → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. They have a stated IP55 rating; the supplied Ear (3a) details do not provide a comparable rating.
• Best stated total battery life → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. The case-inclusive claim is up to 55 hours, compared with up to 42 hours for Ear (3a).
• Best for swapping between a phone and computer → Nothing Ear (3a). Dual-device connections are explicitly listed.
• Best for choosing how much outside sound gets through → Nothing Ear (3a). It lists three ANC strength modes and Transparency Mode.
• Best quick-charge claim → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. A 10-minute top-up is listed for up to 7.5 hours; Ear (3a) lists up to an hour from five minutes.
• Best app-based sound adjustment → Nothing Ear (3a). Its app includes an advanced eight-band EQ, while Buds 2 offers EQ and Ultra Bass adjustments.
• Best stated ANC figure → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. Its listed figure is up to 48 dB versus up to 45 dB for Ear (3a); that number alone does not prove a better listening experience.
• Best for calls and saved audio tools → Nothing Ear (3a). It includes call recording and audio snapshots, subject to regional recording rules; Buds 2 highlights six microphones and wind-noise reduction instead.
If you are searching for the best noise cancelling headphones for jogging, these are both earbuds rather than over-ear headphones, so the decision is less about that category label and more about fit for your routine. The Buds 2 have the clearer workout specification. For someone who needs a multipoint bluetooth headset for jogging, though, the Ear (3a) is the one with dual-device connections explicitly listed—while the Buds 2 have the more workout-specific water and dust protection.
My Verdict
I’d choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2 for a jogging-focused routine. The IP55 rating and longer stated battery life make them the more straightforward match for workouts and longer days between charges.
That is my pick if I want one pair for runs and regular listening. If I were switching between a phone and computer every day, I’d choose the Ear (3a) instead.
The Buds 2 are the more clearly specified workout choice because they have an IP55 water and dust resistance rating. The supplied Ear (3a) details do not list a comparable resistance rating.
They are listed with dual-device connections, allowing connection to two devices. That is the more suitable option here for switching between a phone and computer; dual-device connectivity is not listed for the Buds 2.
The Buds 2 list up to 48 dB hybrid ANC, while the Ear (3a) lists up to 45 dB. Those figures are not a complete measure of performance, but the Ear (3a) adds three ANC strength modes and Transparency Mode.
Value depends on the current price and which features you will use, so check the current price on Amazon before deciding. On specifications alone, the Buds 2 offer longer stated battery life and IP55 resistance, while the Ear (3a) offers dual-device connections and more noise-control modes.
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