If you want a jogging-focused pair with a stated IP54 rating and up to 8 hours of earbud playback, choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a; if you need stronger stated noise cancellation and a longer total listening time, choose Nothing Ear. For running outdoors, I’d give CMF the edge for its dust-and-splash protection; for a commute that continues after your jog, Nothing Ear has the longer quoted case-supported playback.
CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a vs Nothing Ear at a Glance
• Nothing Ear strength: 45 dB hybrid ANC and over 42.5 hours of total playback with ANC off. Trade-off: its product details don’t state an IP rating.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a is for: joggers who want stated dust-and-splash protection, a longer individual earbud session and adjustable ANC.
• Nothing Ear is for: listeners who prioritize stronger stated ANC, adaptive noise control and longer total playback with the case.
• The headline difference in cmf by nothing vs nothing earbuds is not simply which one has the larger specification. It’s what you want your earbuds to do around movement. The CMF Buds 2a comes with a clear activity-friendly detail: IP54 protection. Nothing Ear counters with a higher ANC figure and more stated listening time when you include its case.
• There’s also a naming wrinkle worth noting. The Nothing product’s supplied details identify it as Nothing Ear (a), while the comparison commonly gets searched as “Nothing Ear.” I’ll call it Nothing Ear below for readability; the product facts discussed here are for the Ear (a).
The CMF Buds 2a makes a straightforward case for jogging: it is rated IP54, has an in-ear bud design and offers up to 8 hours of playback from the earbuds, with up to 35.5 hours when the case is included. That combination suits someone who wants a pair for a run, then for calls or music later in the day. Its case-supported total is shorter than Nothing Ear’s stated 42.5 hours, but the CMF’s individual earbud figure is the more useful one to notice if you’d rather not plan a workout around a charging case.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-17 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
For listening, CMF lists 42 dB smart active noise cancellation, adjustable levels and a transparency mode through the Nothing X app. The app also supports custom EQ, dual-device connectivity, a low-lag gaming mode and a feature to find the earbuds. Its 12.4 mm dynamic drivers are described as tuned for rich mids and prominent bass. Four microphones, clear-voice processing and wind-noise reduction are listed for calls.
I’d choose the CMF if jogging is a main use and you want a stated protection rating along with flexible app controls. I’d look elsewhere if the higher ANC figure or the longest listed total battery time matters more to you. The available details don’t specify an earbud fit test or a jogging-specific stability feature, so IP54 should not be mistaken for a guarantee that the buds will stay secure during every run.
Nothing Ear’s clearest advantages are its stated 45 dB hybrid ANC and longer total playback: over 42.5 hours with the case when ANC is off. The earbuds themselves are listed for up to 10 hours of playback with ANC off, and the feature details say a 10-minute charge can provide up to 10 hours under that same ANC-off condition. Those are useful figures for someone who wants a pair that can cover more than a single outing before needing a full recharge.
Its 11 mm dynamic driver is described as designed for deeper bass and clearer sound, while adaptive ANC can adjust to surroundings or be set manually through three cancellation levels in the Nothing X app. The buds also include dual-device connectivity for switching between a phone and laptop, low-latency mode, and six microphones for calls.
I’d lean toward Nothing Ear if your listening day includes a jog but also stretches across commuting, work and calls, and if stronger stated noise cancellation is high on your list. It can also fit someone who regularly moves between a laptop and phone. For a buyer focused specifically on outdoor running, the missing IP-rating information is a meaningful gap—not proof that the earbuds are unsuitable, but a reason to favor the CMF’s clearer protection specification.
• Best for a stated dust-and-splash rating while jogging → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. It lists IP54; Nothing Ear’s supplied details do not list an IP rating.
• Best for higher stated ANC → Nothing Ear. It lists 45 dB hybrid ANC, compared with 42 dB smart ANC for the CMF.
• Best for longer listed earbud playback with ANC off → Nothing Ear. Its stated figure is up to 10 hours, versus up to 8 hours for CMF.
• Best for the longer total playback figure with the case → Nothing Ear. It lists over 42.5 hours with ANC off; CMF lists up to 35.5 hours.
• Best for an explicitly described jogging-friendly use case → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. IP54 makes its stated protection easier to assess for runs than Nothing Ear’s unspecified rating.
• Best for app-based listening adjustments → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Its details include custom EQ profiles, ANC adjustments and transparency mode in Nothing X.
• Best for moving between a phone and laptop → Either. Both list dual-device connectivity, so this feature alone doesn’t separate them.
• Best for someone comparing the best noise cancelling headphones for jogging → Nothing Ear for the higher ANC figure, CMF for the stated IP54 rating. Neither spec settles fit or outdoor awareness; those are separate concerns.
A useful way to make the decision is to split “jogging” into two scenarios. If you’re running outdoors and want documented protection against dust and splashes, CMF gives you a more directly relevant spec. If you mostly run indoors or want noise control for the rest of your day, Nothing Ear’s higher ANC figure and longer quoted total playback may matter more.
The phrase multipoint Bluetooth headset for jogging often signals a desire to stay connected to two devices. Both models list dual-device connectivity, so that need doesn’t point decisively to one. CMF specifies Bluetooth 5.4, while Nothing Ear lists Bluetooth 5.3, but the supplied details don’t establish how that version difference would affect a particular phone or running route.
If you’re searching for the best Bluetooth earbuds for jogging, these two make different spec-based arguments. CMF is more explicit about protection; Nothing Ear puts more emphasis on ANC and longer total playback. For calls, both describe voice-focused microphone features, but CMF lists four mics and Nothing Ear lists six. Microphone count alone doesn’t prove which will sound better in your particular environment.
My Verdict
I’d choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a for jogging because IP54 is a concrete protection detail that Nothing Ear’s supplied specifications don’t provide. Its up-to-8-hour earbud playback also covers a long run without relying on the case. Nothing Ear is the stronger pick for higher stated ANC and longer total listening time, but for my jogging-first choice, I’d rather have the clearer activity-related specification.
CMF Buds 2a lists IP54 protection and up to 8 hours of earbud playback. Nothing Ear lists higher ANC and longer total playback with its case, but its supplied details do not specify an IP rating.
Which has stronger noise cancellation?
Nothing Ear lists 45 dB hybrid ANC, compared with 42 dB smart ANC for CMF Buds 2a. That is the higher stated figure, though it does not by itself tell you how well either pair will suit your fit or surroundings.
Nothing Ear lists over 42.5 hours total with the case when ANC is off, while CMF Buds 2a lists up to 35.5 hours with the case. For individual earbud playback, the listed figures are up to 10 hours for Nothing Ear with ANC off and up to 8 hours for CMF.
Both offer dual-device connectivity and app-based controls, while their standout differences are protection, ANC and battery figures. Check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button, then decide whether CMF’s IP54 rating or Nothing Ear’s higher ANC and longer total playback matters more to you.
• Medocis Sleep Earbuds vs Boytond AI Language Translator
• Audiovance Vibes 202MC vs FiveBox Earbuds: Ergonomic Earbuds
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.