Nothing Buds 2
JBL Live Beam 3
What Buyers Say
Nothing Buds 2
The CMF Buds 2 are widely praised for delivering excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit at an affordable price. Users highlight the rich bass, clear vocals, and solid ANC performance that rivals more expensive models. While some note the bass can be slightly overpowering and the touch controls have limited customization, the overall value is considered outstanding. The long battery life, USB-C charging, and premium build further cement these as a top budget choice.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality with rich bass
- Effective noise cancellation for the price
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Long battery life with USB-C charging
- Premium build and design
Cons
- Bass can be slightly overpowering
- Limited touch control customization
- Case lacks functional dial
- Case is somewhat bulky
- No Google Fast Pair support
JBL Live Beam 3
The JBL Live Flex 3 earbuds receive mostly positive feedback for their excellent sound quality, comfortable fit, and durable build. Users appreciate the innovative case with its screen and the effective noise cancelling, though some report issues with battery life, pairing, and occasional software bugs. A few reviewers mention the case being large and the price being on the higher side, but overall, the product is seen as a reliable and feature-rich choice.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Comfortable fit
- Durable build
- Innovative case with screen
- Effective noise cancelling
Cons
- Battery life shorter than advertised
- Pairing issues
- Case makes beeping sound
- Loud in-ear knocking noise
- Case is large
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | JBL Live Beam 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | — | XS, S, M, L |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | 0.08 kg |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | 10 mm |
| Drivers | 2★ | 1 |
| Freq Min | — | 20 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz | 40 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | — | 100 dB★ |
| Max SPL | — | 96 dB★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✓★ |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | JBL Live Beam 3 - True Wireless Noise-Cancelling Closed-Stick Earbuds, 48Hrs Total Playback, Wireless Charging, 6 Mics for Perfect Calls, Multi-Point Connection, IP55 Waterproof and dustproof |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | hybrid | adaptive |
| Transparency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | 5.3 |
| Profiles | — | A2DP 1.4, AVRCP, HFP 1.8 |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Range | — | 10.100000381469727 m★ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 13.5 hrs★ | 12 hrs |
| Charge Time | 0.16599999368190765 hrs★ | 2 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 7.5 hours playback | 10min=4hrs |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 55 hrs★ | 48 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Capacity | — | 68 mAh★ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6 | 6 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | ChatGPT | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa |
| Touch Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| App | Nothing X | JBL Headphones |
| Gaming Mode | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | IP55 |
Pros & Cons
Nothing Buds 2
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong connectivity (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong battery (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong anc (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
JBL Live Beam 3
- Strong connectivity (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong battery (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Below average user sentiment (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Nothing Buds 2 offers 7.9x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 1 of 7 usage categories and 8 of 39 specs.
