CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active vs Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling at a Glance
• CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active: Over-ear design, adaptive ANC rated up to 40 dB, and up to 50 hours of playback with ANC on. The trade-off: it’s a larger headset than in-ear earbuds.
• Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling: Compact in-ear fit, ANC rated up to 45 dB, and a charging case that supports up to 42 hours of listening. The trade-off: battery life per bud is shorter with ANC on.
• Choose CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active if you want over-ear comfort, long listening sessions, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 3.5 mm jack.
• Choose Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling if you want in-ear earbuds, Bluetooth 6.0, dual-device connections, and controls for ANC and transparency.
• These products serve different routines. One is an over-ear headset built around extended listening; the other is a pocketable pair of earbuds with features for calls, commuting, and switching between devices. For jogging, fit preference matters as much as the headline noise-cancellation figures: neither product’s supplied specifications establish a dedicated secure-fit or sweat-resistance rating.
CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active is for someone who prefers headphones that cover the ears and wants a long stretch of listening without reaching for a charger. It offers up to 50 hours of wireless playback with ANC on, according to the product details. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers support LDAC and Hi-Res audio, and the Nothing X app provides custom EQ, a personal sound profile, and spatial audio options.
The ANC is adaptive and rated up to 40 dB. When you need to hear more of your surroundings, you can switch to Transparency Mode. Bluetooth 5.4 supports wireless listening, and a 3.5 mm jack gives you a wired option. That combination suits desk work, travel, and long sessions where you want flexibility beyond Bluetooth alone.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
For jogging, the practical question is whether an over-ear headset suits your movement and comfort preference. The memory foam earpads and cap-friendly headband are intended to support longer wear, but the available details don’t specify water resistance or a running-specific fit. I’d skip this model if you want earbuds that fit in a pocket or prefer an in-ear design.
Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling is the more compact choice. These in-ear earbuds have a 12 mm driver, silicone ear tips in four sizes, and ANC rated up to 45 dB. You can adjust bass, treble, and vocals, or use the eight-band EQ in the Nothing X app. A Transparency Mode lets outside sound through when you want to stay more aware of your surroundings.
Battery life is split between the earbuds and their charging case. Each bud is listed for up to six hours with ANC on, or up to 10 hours with ANC off; total listening with the case is listed at up to 42 hours. That makes the case central to the battery story. The earbuds also support Bluetooth 6.0 and dual-device connections, useful if you move between a phone and computer.
For jogging, the in-ear shape may appeal if you’d rather not wear a headset over your ears. The supplied information doesn’t state a water-resistance rating or confirm how securely the buds stay in place during a run, so I wouldn’t assume they’re made specifically for exercise. They also lack a headphone jack. Choose them for portability, adjustable noise control, calls, and device switching—not if you specifically need a wired connection or the longer ANC-on battery figure listed for CMF.
• Best for long ANC-on listening → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. Its listed playback time is up to 50 hours with ANC on; the Nothing earbuds list up to six hours per bud in that mode.
• Best for a compact in-ear fit → Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling. The silicone tips come in four sizes, including XS, while CMF is an over-ear headset.
• Best for a wired listening option → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. It includes a 3.5 mm jack; the Nothing earbuds have no headphone jack.
• Best for switching between two devices → Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling. Dual-device connections are listed for both iOS and Android compatibility.
• Best for stronger stated ANC → Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling. Its ANC is rated up to 45 dB, compared with up to 40 dB for CMF. Those figures alone don’t establish which will feel quieter in every setting.
• Best for quick charging during a short break → Either, with different claims. CMF lists five minutes for four hours of listening; Nothing lists five minutes for up to one hour.
• Best fit for someone comparing the best noise cancelling headphones for jogging → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active if you prefer over-ear headphones. If an in-ear shape is your priority, Nothing is the more compact option. Neither product’s supplied details confirm a sport-specific fit or water resistance.
• Best potential match for the best bluetooth earbuds for jogging → Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling, if you want earbuds rather than a headset. Its four tip sizes offer a way to tailor the fit, but the specs don’t verify stability during exercise.
A few other differences may tip the decision. CMF describes memory foam earpads and a headband designed to work with a cap. Nothing instead offers silicone tips, pinch controls, and a charging case with LEDs for status information. Neither design is automatically right for every run: some people prefer the coverage of over-ear headphones, while others prioritize a small in-ear form.
For people looking for a multipoint bluetooth headset for jogging, the Nothing model has the clearer documented case: its dual-device connection supports switching between a phone and another compatible device. CMF has broad Bluetooth and wired compatibility, but the supplied details don’t specify multipoint connections. That distinction matters if device switching is a regular part of your routine.
Sound customization is a strength of both, though the controls differ. CMF includes a bass-and-treble slider, custom EQ, and spatial audio features. Nothing offers bass, treble, and vocal adjustments plus an eight-band EQ and static spatial audio. If you like shaping your sound, neither is a bare-bones option; the right one depends more on whether you want an over-ear headset or earbuds.
Calls and recording make the Nothing earbuds more feature-specific. Their Clear Voice Technology is intended to improve call clarity, and the product details describe Audio Snapshot and call recording, with recording subject to local rules in supported regions. These capabilities may be useful for meetings or quick recordings, but they don’t change the basic trade-off: CMF offers the larger headset and longer listed ANC-on playback, while Nothing gives you the more compact earbud format.
My Verdict
I’d choose CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active for jogging if I wanted an over-ear fit, ANC-on battery life listed up to 50 hours, and the option to connect by cable. That’s my overall pick for someone who values extended listening more than pocketability. If I wanted compact earbuds, dual-device connections, and ANC rated up to 45 dB, I’d choose Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling instead. For either one, I’d make the fit and awareness trade-offs part of the decision before taking it outdoors.
FAQ
Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling is rated for up to 45 dB of ANC, compared with up to 40 dB for CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. These stated figures don’t guarantee the same perceived result for every listener or environment.
CMF lists up to 50 hours of wireless playback with ANC on. Nothing lists up to six hours for each earbud with ANC on, with up to 42 hours of total listening using the charging case.
Nothing Ear Noise Cancelling lists dual-device connections compatible with iOS and Android. CMF supports Bluetooth and wired listening, but the supplied information doesn’t specify multipoint or dual-device connections.
• Yworlln NE76 vs MINISO MS217
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.