You needn’t spend over $200 to get good sound high quality — simply have a look at the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3). These earbuds price $179 every, and through gross sales occasions, like Black Friday, you will get them for even cheaper. Each are glorious at delivering nuanced vocals and highly effective bass, and each are good at blocking out exterior sounds with stable ANC.
I reviewed the QuietComfort again in 2025, and now in 2026, I’ve ending reviewing the Ear (3). I awarded each pairs 4-star rankings of their respective opinions. This bought me considering, “Is one higher than the opposite?” Chances are high, you are in all probability going to go for the QuietComfort as a result of Bose is a family title. However I do not suppose you need to write Nothing off so shortly.
Chances are you’ll like
The 2024 iteration of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds seems unbelievable and is extraordinarily comfy. The earbuds supply best-in-class energetic noise cancellation and unbelievable sound high quality, plus lengthy battery life too. Nonetheless, they’re a bit of delicate to voice instructions, the case is plasticky, and there’s no help for superior codecs.
The Nothing Ear (3) are a triumph, and because the British large’s flagships, they impress on many fronts. The sci-fi design is a deal with for the eyes, and the earbuds are extraordinarily comfy for all-day put on. Highly effective bass and nuanced vocals serve up a sonic deal with, whereas the revolutionary ‘Tremendous Mic’ case gives very good vocal readability.
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Specs in contrast
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Specs
Bose QuietComfort
Nothing Ear (3)
Value
$179 / £179
$179 / £179
Colours
Black, Chilled Lilac, White Smoke
Black, White
Frequency response
20Hz-20,000Hz
20Hz-40,000Hz
Battery life (ANC on)
8.5 hours, 31.5 hours (charging case)
5.5 hours, 22 hours (charging case)
Battery life (ANC off)
Not specified
10 hours, 38 hours (charging case)
Multipoint connectivity
Sure
Sure
Paired gadgets max
2
2
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC, SBC and Bluetooth LE
Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC, AAC and LDAC
Weight
0.29oz (every bud)
0.18oz (every bud)
Sturdiness
IPX4
IP54
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Value
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Each the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) price the identical within the U.S. and within the U.Ok. You possibly can seize the QuietComfort for $179 at Amazon U.S. / £179 at Argos U.Ok., and the Ear (3) for $179 / £179 at Amazon. For the reason that QuietComfort have been out for longer, you may typically discover them for $129 / £129 throughout gross sales occasions. The Ear (3) are but to obtain a considerable value drop.
The QuietComfort and the Ear (3) do greater than sufficient to justify their particular person value tags, as you will quickly see all through this comparability, so we’ll name this spherical a tie.
Winner: Tie
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Design
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Essentially the most noticeable distinction between the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) is the design, as they appear vastly completely different from each other. The QuietComfort have a rounded design with rubber ‘stability bands’ that support the earbuds’ safe match. Every bud weighs 0.29oz. An essential factor to notice is that the QuietComforts’ look pretty cumbersome, although they are not that heavy. They protrude out of your ears, and whereas there is not something flawed with that, it may not be everybody’s cup of tea.
The Ear (3), alternatively, sport your traditional drop-stem design — , the one you discover on the likes of the Apple AirPods Professional 3. They give the impression of being futuristic, holding in keeping with the British model’s sci-fi design philosophy, and have see-through plastic. They give the impression of being very cool, and so they’re comfy too, with every bud weighing simply 0.18oz. Versus the QuietComfort, they appear extra inconspicuous as they do not bulge out.
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Each pairs of earbuds are mighty comfy, and I have not skilled any discomfort carrying both of them. I requested my companion, who makes use of the QuietComforts as her day by day drivers, to attempt the Ear (3) and he or she mentioned she nearly most popular them over Bose’s providing.
Contact controls on each the QuietComfort and the Ear (3) are pretty easy but it surely’s price noting that whereas you need to use voice instructions on the previous, they are a bit too delicate to those, and can typically set off on their very own. The Ear (3) do not endure from this drawback, successful them the crown on this spherical.
What to learn subsequent
Winner: Nothing Ear (3)
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Options & connectivity
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Each the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) are chock-full of options. They each characteristic multipoint connectivity so you may join them to 2 gadgets concurrently. Every pair makes use of Bluetooth 5.4 for seamless wi-fi connectivity, however here is the kicker. The QuietComforts help AAC and SBC codecs however there isn’t any aptX or lossless help. The Ear (3), alternatively, characteristic LDAC, if that is one thing that issues deeply to you.
Different similarities between the 2 embody efficient put on detection, Google Quick Pair, Discover My options, and very detailed and user-friendly companion apps. By way of waterproofing and dirt safety, the Ear (3) are higher as a result of they’re IP54-rated versus the QuietComforts being solely IPX4 rated, so the latter aren’t protected towards mud. By a slender margin, the Ear (3) win this spherical as soon as once more.
Winner: Nothing Ear (3)
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Sound high quality
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I will be trustworthy with you: I’ll by no means suggest you spending any sum of money on a pair of earbuds that does not make music sound like angels are singing. Fortunately, each the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) warrant suggestions right here as they’re each excellent. The QuietComforts have a frequency response vary of 20Hz-20KHz whereas the Ear (3) have a variety of 20Hz-40KHz — so each cowl all the spectrum of human listening to.
By way of vocals and the higher ranges, each the QuietComforts and the Ear (3) are glorious, delivering nuanced sound filled with loads of element. As an illustration, on the QuietComforts, Mika’s excessive notes in ‘Grace Kelly’ sound nice, controller and by no means so shrill that they pierce by way of the remainder of the monitor. On the Ear (3), Emily Armstrong’s breathy vocals and screams in ‘IGYEIH’ by Linkin Park sound layered and vast, with nice instrumental and vocal separation.
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Listening to ‘No Possibilities’ by Twenty One Pilots first on the QuietComforts after which on the Ear (3) revealed virtually no variations. The mid- and sub-bass was textured and I may really feel a gradual, vibrating stress in my ear canal by way of each earbuds. It additionally felt like I used to be engulfed by the driving bassline, which made for a totally immersive listening expertise.
Whereas the Ear (3) and the QuietComforts are totally on equal footing in the case of sound high quality, the Ear (3) tend to make the treble sound a tad harsh at occasions. It is not shocking because the Ear (3) make the most of a ‘V’ equalizer curve so the treble can sound overzealous when this occurs. In 070 Shake’s ‘Pores and skin and Bones,’ the “chkkk” sound of the hi-hats and cymbals pierced by way of the monitor. Although not disagreeable, it wasn’t notably pleasant.
That is by no means the case on the QuietComforts. The QuietComforts’ sound profile is well-balanced and refined all through the frequency vary. The winner is, due to this fact, clear. Sorry, Nothing.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): ANC
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With regards to energetic noise cancellation (ANC), there is a clear winner, and I do not suppose you want me to spell it out, however I will do it anyway. The Bose QuietComfort win, simply. Look, Bose is the king of ANC and it is one thing we have all identified for some time now. Whether or not I am indoors or on a busy road outdoor, the QuietComforts block out 90% of sounds, so I can go about my day in peace.
This is not to say the Nothing Ear (3)’s ANC is unhealthy. It is excellent, truly. Indoors, at the least. With the Ear (3) in my ears, I am unable to hear the sound of my very loud mechanical keyboard, the kettle boiling or the doorbell ringing. That is additionally the case with the QuietComforts. Each pairs of earbuds create glorious seals to make sure no noise makes it by way of.
However the motive the QuietComforts win is as a result of the Ear (3) aren’t as efficient outdoor. After I put on them outdoors, I can nonetheless hear vehicles whizzing previous me, and the sound of the bus rattling. With the QuietComforts? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. The ANC is so good on the QuietComforts that it makes you’re feeling lonely.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Name high quality
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With regards to name high quality, each the Bose QuietComfort and the Nothing Ear (3) are glorious, as each be sure that your voice is heard loudly and clearly on the opposite finish. Having examined each back-to-back on a name with my companion, she mentioned that she may hear me correctly by way of each.
However the Ear (3) have an ace up their sleeve. Their charging case incorporates a ‘Tremendous Mic’ dual-microphone system which you need to use by holding the ‘Discuss’ button on the case (when the earbuds are in your ears). You possibly can then maintain up the case to your mouth and converse into it, and the ‘Tremendous Mic’ will cancel out 95dB of noise in order that solely you could be heard. In my testing, this labored exceptionally nicely, as my companion mentioned she could not hear the general public’s chatter or the vehicles going previous me.
Nonetheless, is it truly a bonus? As a result of the QuietComfort, with out their very own ‘Tremendous Mic’ characteristic, successfully cancel out ambient noise in order that solely you could be heard. The mic on the QuietComforts’ is simply pretty much as good if not higher than the ‘Tremendous Mic’ on the Ear (3), so we’ll name this spherical a draw.
Winner: Tie
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Battery life
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I am not exaggerating after I say the Nothing Ear (3)’s battery life is disappointing as a result of that is precisely what it’s: subpar and underwhelming. And the Bose QuietComforts have them simply beat. With ANC enabled in my testing, the Ear (3) died after 5 hours, and so they’re formally rated for five.5 with an extra 16.5 hours from the charging case.
The QuietComforts, alternatively, comfortably lasted me practically 9 hours, and so they’re formally rated for 8.5 with an extra two and a half costs from the case. The QuietComforts are much more dependable, and although Bose would not specify how lengthy they will final with ANC off, we will safely assume it is a very long time — the Ear (3) can final 10 hours with an extra 28 hours from the case when ANC is disabled.
Winner: Bose QuietComfort
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Verdict
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There is not any denying that the Nothing Ear (3) are extraordinarily competent earbuds. I’ve completely cherished testing them and I have been utilizing them ever since I reviewed them. However are they higher than the Bose QuietComfort, the undisputed kings of mid-range ANC? By a decent margin, sure.
The QuietComforts win within the sound high quality, ANC and battery life departments, whereas they’re tied with the Ear (3) within the value and name high quality rounds. Whereas the Ear (3) win within the design, options and connectivity departments, when it comes all the way down to it, the QuietComforts merely supply extra bang to your buck.
Most individuals care probably the most about sound high quality and ANC, and in case you’re a kind of people, then the QuietComforts are simply the best way to go. Nonetheless not satisfied? Take a look at my full Bose QuietComfort assessment and Nothing Ear (3) assessment for the element breakdown.
Bose QuietComfort vs Nothing Ear (3): Scores scorecard
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Bose QuietComfort
Nothing Ear (3)
Value and worth (5)
5
5
Design (15)
12
14
Controls (10)
7
10
Sound high quality (25)
25
22
Energetic noise cancelation (20)
20
15
Name high quality (10)
9
9
Connectivity (5)
4
5
Battery life (10)
8
5
Whole Rating (100)
90
85
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