CMF Ear (3) B173 vs JBL LIVE BUDS 3
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At a glance
Key specifications and important differences. Full details follow below.
| Feature |  CMF Ear (3) B173 |  JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | KSh 21,500.00 | KSh 19,000.00 |
| Drivers | 12mm dynamic driver | mm dynamic driver |
| Connection | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Up to 45dB ANC | True Adaptive Noise Canceling |
| Battery Life | Up to 5.5 hours with ANC; up to 38 hours total with charging case (ANC off) | Up to 40 hours; up to 8 hours with ANC on; up to 10 hours with ANC off |
| Water & Dust Resistance | IP54 earbuds | IP55, Water resistant |
| Weight | — | 9.2g per earpiece |
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Full specifications
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General
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | — | JBL |
| Model | Ear (3) (B173) | LIVE BUDS 3 |
| Announced | 2025 | 2024 |
| Type | True Wireless In-Ear Earbuds | True Wireless In-Ear Earbuds |
| Color | White, Black | Silver, Blue, Purple, Black |
Design
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | — | 9.2g per earpiece |
Battery & Charging
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 5.5 hours with ANC; up to 38 hours total with charging case (ANC off) | Up to 40 hours; up to 8 hours with ANC on; up to 10 hours with ANC off |
| Charging Port | USB-C (case) | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | Yes (case) | Yes |
| Charging Time | — | 2 hours from empty |
| Fast Charging | — | Yes — 4 hours runtime from speed charge |
Connectivity
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| App Support | Nothing X | JBL Headphones app |
| Multipoint Connection | — | Yes |
| Connector | — | N/A — wireless audio connection |
| Cable Length | — | N/A — no audio cable |
Features
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Special Features | Super Mic in charging case; Hi-Res Wireless Audio | True Wireless |
| Voice Assistant | — | Yes |
Audio
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 12mm dynamic driver | mm dynamic driver |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Up to 45dB ANC | True Adaptive Noise Canceling |
| Microphones | Breakthrough Super Mic technology | 6 microphones |
| Audio Features | 24-bit Hi-Res Audio with LDAC | JBL Pure Bass Sound, JBL Signature Sound, Voice Aware |
| Frequency Response | — | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Impedance | — | 16Ω |
| Transparency / Ambient Mode | — | Ambient Aware, TalkThru |
| Spatial Audio | — | Spatial Sound |
Charging Case
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case Type | Charging case | Charging case |
| Case Battery Life | Included in the total battery-life figures above | Up to 30 hours total playback contribution |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Features | Protective charging case | Smart case |
| Case Wireless Charging | — | Yes |
| Case Weight | — | 73g |
Design & Controls
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Touch controls for playback, calls and listening modes | Touch controls for playback, calls and listening modes |
| Water & Dust Resistance | IP54 earbuds | IP55, Water resistant |
| Ear Tips / Ear Cushions | — | Ear tips included |
What's in the Box
| Specification | CMF Ear (3) B173 | JBL LIVE BUDS 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones / Earbuds | Ear (3) (B173) earbuds | JBL Live Buds 3 earbuds |
| Charging Case | Charging case | Charging case |
| Charging Cable | USB-C charging cable | Type-C USB charging cable |
| Audio Cable | N/A - true wireless design | N/A — not included |
| Ear Tips / Accessories | Ear tips/accessories supplied for the product design | 4 sizes of ear tips |
| Documentation | Quick start and safety documentation | Warranty / Warning (W / !); product QSG/ Safety Sheet (S / i) |