Between the Ear (3) and WF-1000XM5, the Ear (3) comes out ahead in battery — with case and driver size, while the WF-1000XM5 wins on spatial audio. Overall, the Ear (3) scores 70.8 and the WF-1000XM5 scores 60.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Ear (3) is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.3 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Ear (3) if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. The biggest gaps in its favor are battery — with case, driver size, battery — buds, among others.
Pick the WF-1000XM5 if audio quality and feature breadth (ANC, codecs, multipoint) are the lead criteria for your purchase. Its strongest claims are spatial audio.
Both ship with comparable active noise cancellation, multipoint, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Ear (3) is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Nothing - Ear (3) wins
- ▲Battery — with case — 66.67% more. 40 h vs 24 h.
- ▲Driver size — 30.95% more. 11 mm vs 8.4 mm.
- ▲Battery — buds — 6.25% more. 8.5 h vs 8 h.
- ▲Weight per bud — 1.30 g less. 4.6 vs 5.9.
- ▲Water resistance: IP54 (vs IPX4).
Why Sony - WF-1000XM5 wins
- ▲Has Spatial audio.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Nothing - Ear (3) | Sony - WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Weight per bud | 4.6 glead | 5.9 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP54lead | IPX4 |
Audio
| Spec | Nothing - Ear (3) | Sony - WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 11 mmlead | 8.4 mm |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | false | truelead |
Battery
| Spec | Nothing - Ear (3) | Sony - WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 8.5 hlead | 8 h |
| Battery — with case | 40 hlead | 24 h |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Nothing - Ear (3) | Sony - WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | LDAC,LHDC 5.0,AAC,SBC | LDAC,LC3,AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | true | true |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, Ear (3) or WF-1000XM5?+
Ear (3) lasts 8.5h per charge vs 8h.
Do Ear (3) or WF-1000XM5 support multipoint?+
Both support multipoint pairing.
Which has ANC, Ear (3) or WF-1000XM5?+
Both have active noise cancellation.
Spec-level deep dives
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