Nothing Ear (a) vs Poly Voyager Free 60+ Comparison

Nothing Ear (a)

Each bud carries three microphones, and Nothing's Clear Voice processing is trained to separate speech from background noise such as traffic and chatter. Voice quality is clear indoors and acceptable outside. Wind can still cause some interference, which is common at this price. For laptop calls, the buds act as standard Bluetooth headsets.

Poly Voyager Free 60+

Each bud has three microphones that steer toward your mouth, with WindSmart processing for outdoor calls. Poly also lets you set sidetone to low, medium or high, so you can hear your own voice naturally. Walking along a busy road, I would expect the voice to stay clear with traffic reduced, and WindSmart helps with gusts.

Nothing Ear (a)

Nothing rates the ANC at up to 45 dB, with adaptive and transparency modes. Smart ANC adjusts strength to your environment. Cancellation is excellent for the price, quieting trains and office hum effectively. It cannot match flagships with voices, but it beats most budget rivals. A good tip seal improves results noticeably, and the app's ear tip fit test helps you choose the right size.

Poly Voyager Free 60+

Hybrid adaptive ANC uses inner and outer microphones and adjusts for how well the buds fit. A transparency mode lets surrounding sound through when you need it. On a plane or bus the cancellation is respectable for business buds, cutting steady engine noise well. It is weaker against voices and sudden sounds, where Apple and Bose are ahead.

Nothing Ear (a)

Nothing quotes up to 9.5 hours per charge and 42.5 hours with the case with ANC off, or 5.5 and 24.5 hours with ANC on. With ANC on, a full workday needs a recharge in the case. Without ANC, battery life is excellent. The case charges over USB-C, and there is no wireless charging.

Poly Voyager Free 60+

Poly lists up to 5.5 hours of talk time per charge, or 16.5 hours with the case. With ANC on, music runs up to 8 hours, or 24 hours in total. A 15-minute charge gives about 1 hour 12 minutes of talk time, and standby lasts up to 30 days including the case.

Nothing Ear (a)

Each bud weighs 4.8 g, and they are rated IP54 for dust and splashes. The stem design is light and secure. Most people find them comfortable for long sessions. The transparent stems look distinctive and fit easily in most ears. The case weighs 39.6 g and is wide, which makes it less pocketable than some rivals.

Poly Voyager Free 60+

Each bud weighs 5.8 g and measures about 16 x 26 x 38 mm, with a short stem. Poly includes S, M and L ear tips and a pressure-relief design. The shape takes some experimenting before it sits securely, and smaller ears may feel the stem touching. Once settled they are fine for a long afternoon of calls, though not as invisible as stem-free designs.

Nothing Ear (a)

Bluetooth 5.3 supports multipoint, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. The Nothing X app works on Android and iOS. Multipoint keeps the buds connected to a phone and laptop, which suits hybrid workers. On Nothing phones, ChatGPT voice integration is available. The app handles EQ, gesture mapping, ANC modes and firmware, with a low-lag mode for games and video.

Poly Voyager Free 60+

The buds use Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint to two devices and remember up to eight. The BT700 adapter extends range to about 30 m and supports Microsoft Swift Pair on Windows. The touchscreen case shows battery, mute state and volume, and lets you switch between the two active devices. Plug the included cable into a seatback socket, and the case streams that audio to the buds at up to about 3 m.

Nothing Ear (a)

Each bud uses an 11 mm dynamic driver with a PMI and TPU diaphragm. Codecs include SBC, AAC and LDAC for higher-resolution streaming on compatible Android phones. The sound is balanced with lively bass and clear vocals. LDAC adds a touch more detail, while the Nothing X app's EQ lets you adjust tuning for podcasts or music.

Poly Voyager Free 60+

Each bud has a 10 mm speaker, larger than most business earbuds use. Poly applies a dynamic EQ that switches between wideband voice, up to 7 kHz on PC calls, and a full 20 Hz to 20 kHz media mode. In media mode they have more bass punch than the Jabra Evolve2 Buds, and music sounds fuller.