The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize having a premium listening experience during exercise with features like sweatproof and dustproof certifications, the JBL Live Flex 3 earbuds with their very good sound quality may be worth the higher price. However, if gaming and watching TV are more important to you, the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) earbuds offer very good performance for these activities and come at a lower price. The JBL has impressive noise isolation and a smart charging case with touch display, which could enhance convenience, whereas "Nothing" provides a balance of good features for various activities, including calls and meetings, at a more affordable cost. Remember, the JBL will not perform well for gaming or TV due to latency issues, so if these activities are a priority, "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) might be a better fit. 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 Live Flex 3
Very good for music
Very good for exercise
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
Good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Very good for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0/10
7.0/10
The JBL Live Flex 3 is very good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good.
Gaming
5.5/10
8.5/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2/10
7.9/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9/10
9.1/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.7/10
8.0/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Flex 3 is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.7 Hours
The JBL Live Flex 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$216
$149
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Flex 3 has a price of $216 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) costs $149.
Build Quality
8.5/10
9.0/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Flex 3 has very good build quality.
"For the price the Nothing Ear (2) is pretty good. It fits well, and the IP54 rating (and IP55 with case) is durable enough for daily life. Most of its unique features are found in the Nothing X app, such as personalized frequency responses, and personalized, adjustable ANC."
Get a great deal on the JBL Live Flex 3 or the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
123,800
Recommendations made
18,570
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
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.