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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget, the JBL 510BT headphones are more affordable and offer good soundstage and very good built-in controls, making them suitable for casual music listening. However, comfort and noise isolation are not their strong suits, which might be a concern for longer listening sessions or in noisy environments. On the other hand, the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick provides very good overall sound quality, excels in microphone quality, and supports a low latency mode, which makes them better for calls, meetings, and gaming. They also feature an app with an equalizer and customization, plus they're sweatproof and dustproof, which the JBL lacks, thus suitable for more active use. The "Nothing" Ear Sticks are more expensive but offer more features, such as optimized compatibility for both Android and Apple, wireless charging, and ear detection, which pauses playback when removed from the ear. If these additional features align with your needs, they could justify the higher price. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the JBL 510BT
- Good for air travel
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
5.4
8.1
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
8.6
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
8.4
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
TV and Video
5.5
7.5
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
2.5
The JBL 510BT and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both poor for noise reduction, though the JBL 510BT is somewhat better.
Battery
38.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$99
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL 510BT has a price of $30 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $99.
Build Quality
6.5
9.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has excellent build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
6.2
6.1
The JBL 510BT and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both only fair for music.
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How the JBL 510BT and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL 510BT | "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $99 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2021 | November 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.2/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.8/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 38 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 22 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 5.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 158.7 Grams | 4.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
JBL 510BT
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Sam Smart | September 2023
"The JBL Tune 510BT is affordable and compact, making it a great companion for a commute, so long as you don't need active noise canceling. If you wear glasses or have ear piercings, the on-ear design might not be comfortable, since the ear cups will squish your ears."
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | December 2022
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
Get a great deal on the JBL 510BT or the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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