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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for more affordable earbuds with good microphone quality and suitability for calls and meetings, the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is a smart choice; they also excel in sound quality for music and are equipped with a low latency mode which is useful for gaming. However, if noise isolation is highly important to you, particularly for air travel, and you're willing to spend more, then the Sony WF1000XM5 with active noise cancelling would be the better choice. The Sony pair also has longer battery life and supports wireless charging, further enhancing their convenience on the go. Keep in mind, though, the Sony set is heavier, which may impact comfort over long periods. 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 "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for music
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.1
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
8.1
5.1
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.6
5.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
4.9
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
7.5
5.4
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$108
$298
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has a price of $108 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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How the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$108 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | "Nothing" Brand | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2022 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.2/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.2/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.4 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
"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."
Sony WF1000XM5
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Sound Guys
Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."
Get a great deal on the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick or the Sony WF1000XM5
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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Why trust us
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
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Earbuds and headphones evaluated
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Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
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Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
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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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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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