Nothing Headphone (a) vs JBL Live 680NC

The JBL Live 680NC and the Nothing Headphone (a) are both mid-range headphones, but with different designs. The JBL are on-ear headphones that are smaller and fold into a more compact shape. They also have stronger overall noise isolation than the Nothing, making them a better fit for throwing in your commute bag. The Nothing are over-ears, and while their ear cups are still somewhat small and shallow, they don't press directly on your ears like the JBL. They also have a longer battery life, an IP52 rating, and better microphone performance, and they support USB-C audio with microphone use, while the JBL's wired connection is audio-only. For most people, the choice will come down to fit preference: the age-old on-ears vs over-ears debate lives to fight another day.