
Nothing CMF Headphone Pro vs Philips Fidelio L3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nothing CMF Headphone Pro comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | Nothing CMF Headphone Pro | Philips Fidelio L3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $140 | $121 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 68 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2025 | 2020 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 40mm custom nickel-plated dynamic drivers | dynamic |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 7 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 103 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Latency | 120 ms | - |
| Wireless range | 10 m | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 100 h | 38 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 50 h | 32 h |
| Full charge time | 120 min | 120 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 8 h | 10 min = 2 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | both | both |
| Voice assistant | - | voice assistant support |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 283 g | 360 g |
| Water resistance | IPX2 | none |
| Foldable | No | Yes |
| Detachable cable | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 5 | 2 |
| Call noise reduction | 3-mic ENC architecture | digital echo & noise reduction |
What reviewers said
Nothing CMF Headphone Pro
The CMF Headphone Pro from Nothing is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that punches well above its price point, offering a robust feature set including hybrid ANC, LDAC support, multipoint Bluetooth, and an impressive 100-hour battery life with ANC off. Its sound is lively and well-tuned for the price, while the build and controls feel solid for the cost, though some compromises exist in water resistance and EQ customization. Overall, it's a standout value pick for anyone seeking long battery life and capable noise cancellation without spending a fortune.
- Pro:Exceptional battery life of up to 100 hours
- Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
- Pro:Supports high-quality LDAC codec
- Con:Basic IPX2 water resistance only
- Con:EQ customization is limited
- Con:Not foldable for easy portability
Philips Fidelio L3
The Philips Fidelio L3 are premium over-ear wireless headphones with hybrid active noise cancellation, offering a long 38-hour battery life (32 hours with ANC on) and support for high-quality LDAC and AAC codecs. They feature a comfortable, foldable design, multipoint Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and a companion app with a custom EQ, making them a versatile choice for both travel and daily use at a budget-friendly price.
- Pro:Excellent battery life, even with ANC enabled
- Pro:Supports LDAC for high-resolution audio streaming
- Pro:Comfortable and foldable design for portability
- Con:No water resistance rating, so not ideal for workouts
- Con:Heavier than some rivals at 360 grams
- Con:Only two microphones for calls, which may be average for voice quality
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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