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India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus both offer great value, but which one is right for you?
When Nothing launched its new CMF audio line-up recently, it tried to tick all the boxes – affordability, clean design, and good features. There are three earphones on the platter. These are the Buds 2a, Buds 2, and Buds 2 Plus. We've tested the mid-tier Buds 2 and the top-end Buds 2 Plus, and both promise impressive value for their price. The CMF Buds 2 earphones are priced at Rs 2,699, and the Buds 2 Plus at Rs 3,299. If you're wondering which one is right for you, here's a detailed comparison based on design, sound, noise cancellation, battery life, and overall and comfortThe CMF Buds 2 come in a familiar square case with a playful twist – a transparent rotating element for attaching a lanyard. It has a PC + ABS (a thermoplastic blend) matte finish that doesn't pick up fingerprints and is compact enough to slide into your pocket. The earbuds themselves are light (4.5g), have a secure fit, and are IP55-rated, so they can survive sweaty workouts and a bit of Buds 2 Plus, on the other hand, look a little more premium. The case feels smoother, with a soft-touch finish and tight panel seams, which is a rare treat at this price point. There's a similar decorative aluminium dial on the case, which sadly serves no real function but looks cool. The earbuds feel just as light, though the silicone ear tips could be better – they don't seal as well as they should, which affects both comfort and ANC performance. It's a small but noticeable design Between the two, the Buds 2 win on comfort, while Buds 2 Plus edge ahead on aesthetics and quality. Setup and controlsBoth earbuds pair easily with devices via Bluetooth 5.4 and work well with the Nothing X app, available on Android and iOS. The app offers easy control over ANC, gestures, EQ presets, and firmware set up the Buds 2 with the CMF Phone 2, Infinix GT 30 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro and pairing was near instant. Buds 2 Plus offer a similarly smooth setup, and both earbuds support dual connection to two devices at touch gestures on both are fully customisable – you can adjust volume, switch ANC modes, or skip tracks with a tap. You can also disable wear detection and use 'Find My Earbud' to locate a missing bud via a loud it comes to set up and control, it is a tie between the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus. Both offer slick pairing and user-friendly control options. Sound qualityThis is where the two earbuds begin to differ more CMF Buds 2 feature custom 11mm drivers with a tuning that leans towards clarity and balance. They also include Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, Dirac Opteo correction, and a Spatial Audio Effect. This is technical jargon, but here is what it means in the real-world: bass is definitely present on the Buds 2 but it doesn't overwhelm. The mids and highs come through cleanly, offering a pleasing, accessible sound across genres. For many, this will be more than Buds 2 Plus, however, crank things up a notch with larger 12mm LCP drivers and support for LDAC Hi-Res Audio. The difference is noticeable – there is more depth, better instrument separation, and a bit more body in the low end. But the bass can get heavy-handed, especially on the default Pop preset, which ends up muddying the clarity. If you prefer a more natural sound, the Classical EQ preset works said, there's also a Personal Sound Profile feature on the Buds 2 Plus that tailors the sound to your hearing. It's a great feature in theory, but you need a very quiet environment for it to work well or else ambient noise interferes with the the Buds 2 Plus offer more advanced audio options, but if you're not a fan of overpowering bass, you might actually prefer the simpler, more balanced sound of the Buds and Transparency ModeBoth earbuds support Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode, but the Buds 2 Plus have the upper hand on paper with 50dB ANC with a 5400MHz frequency range, compared to 48dB and 5200Hz on the Buds 2. In practice, the ANC performance on the Buds 2 is excellent for its price. You will feel the difference when using the earbuds in a noisy environment like a market or even a newsroom. It even supports adaptive ANC that adjusts in real Buds 2 Plus, however, do better with low and mid-frequency noise and have more powerful ANC overall. But there's a catch, the weak seal caused by the low-quality ear tips limits its full potential. High-frequency noise tends to slip through more modes on both are good for conversations and comparing the two, we were obviously expecting the Buds 2 Plus to win on ANC performance, and they do as long as you swap the tips. Otherwise, Buds 2 give you a more consistent experience out of the box. Mic quality and call performanceThe CMF Buds 2 come with three mics per earbud and Clear Voice Technology 3.0, which helps reduce wind noise and keeps your voice clear. During calls, background noise was handled reasonably well, and voice pickup was natural and CMF Buds 2 Plus, on the other hand, raise the bar slightly with six microphones and even better voice pickup. The call audio sounded natural, and voices were the two, the Buds 2 Plus take the clear win here, especially for regular callers or remote life and chargingBattery life is another strong suit for both Buds 2 promise up to 13.5 hours on a single charge without ANC, and about 7.5 hours with ANC on. In real-world usage with AAC and ANC toggled occasionally, we got about 8 to 9 hours, which is excellent. The case adds up to 55 hours total without ANC, and a quick 10-minute top-up gives you 4 hours of Buds 2 Plus slightly edge ahead by delivering 14 hours with AAC and about 9 to 10 hours with LDAC. In our testing, the claims held up, with actual numbers even going a bit beyond what was promised. A 10-minute charge delivers about 5 hours of use, which is incredibly it comes to battery and charging, the Buds 2 Plus win, but both models offer top-tier battery life at their which one should you buy?Here's a simple breakdown:Choose the CMF Buds 2 if you want a lightweight, comfortable design with decent ANC, balanced sound, and excellent battery life at a budget-friendly price. These are great for general listeners who want something reliable and easy to use the CMF Buds 2 Plus if you care about high-resolution audio, deeper ANC, and better call quality. Despite the slightly annoying ear tips, the overall experience – especially with LDAC and improved microphones – makes these great for those looking to maximise audio features without spending much more.
Gizmodo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Buds 2 Plus Review: The Only Budget CMF by Nothing Earbuds Worth Buying
There's only a $10 difference between each of CMF by Nothing's Buds 2a, Buds 2, and Buds 2 Plus, but that money makes a huge difference. There are a lot of wireless earbuds in the world today. In fact, at this exact moment, there are no less than (count 'em) three pairs in my coat pocket right now as I type these words. That's a lot of earbuds for one person to have, and that figure only becomes even more ridiculous when you consider all three pairs of said wireless earbuds are from one single company—and they were all released at the same time. That company in question is CMF, which is a sub-brand of the audio-turned-phone company, Nothing. Last month CMF released three different pairs of wireless earbuds—the Buds 2a, the Buds 2, and the Buds 2 Plus. If you're saying to yourself, 'that seems excessive,' then I'm in agreement with you, but hold your judgment until the end because things are about to get even more complicated. See Buds 2a at Amazon See Buds 2 at Amazon See Buds 2 Plus at Amazon All three of those wireless earbuds have different prices; all three of them have different levels of active noise cancellation (ANC); and all three of them have different drivers. That means, as you're about to learn, all three of them deliver a different listening experience, and that means you ought to know what you're getting into before you roll the dice and purchase a pair. But where do you start? Spec sheets are helpful, but they only bring you so far. It's the experience of using them—the real discernible one that decibels on a chart might not portray—that really matters. If only there were someone who spent time trying all three to tell you just which pair you need and which you can potentially forget… CMF by Nothing Buds 2 Plus The CMF Buds 2 Plus may be the most expensive of the pack, but they're still the most bang for the buck. Trust me, you'll hear the difference—I sure did. Pros Robust bass Robust bass Good dynamic range Good dynamic range Affordable Cons No orange color No orange color Similar sound to Buds 2 at times In case you didn't get my not-so-subtle hint, I tried all three of CMF's new pairs of wireless earbuds to bring you the answer to your burning question: which pair of Buds 2 should you get? The answer may not surprise you, but before we get to my experience and comparison, let's start at the beginning. What's going on with these wireless earbuds? First, at the lowest end, there's the Buds 2a, which I got in this appealing orange color that the 2 Plus unfortunately does not come in. Naturally, these wireless earbuds have the lowest level of everything in the spec department, and they also have the lowest price. The Buds 2a have 42 decibels of noise cancellation, a 12.4 mm Bio-fiber driver, and 5 hours of battery life with ANC on and 8 hours with ANC off. They retail at a very reasonable price of $49. Then, there's the middle child: the Buds 2, which, if you've been following along, have slightly elevated specs and a slightly higher price, though there's actually one big caveat on that front that I'll get to in a moment. The Buds 2 have 48 decibels of noise cancellation, 11mm PMI drivers enhanced by Dirac Opteo's tuning, and 7.5 hours of battery life with ANC on and 13.5 hours with ANC off. Here's where things get interesting; they usually retail at a $10 premium compared to the Buds 2a (that's $59), but as of this writing, they're $10 off, which makes them the same price of $49. Finally, there's the Buds 2 Plus, which are the proverbial crème de la crème of CMF by Nothing's most recent lineup (forgetting the Buds 2 Pro that came out last year for a moment) that have—say it with me now—the highest price tag. The Buds 2 Plus have 50 decibels of adaptive noise cancellation (only slightly higher than the Buds 2 but with a 5400Hz frequency range as opposed to the former's 5200Hz range), a 12 mm liquid crystal polymer driver, and 7.5 hours of ANC playback out of the case and 14 hours of non-ANC playback. They, as I alluded to, are the most expensive of the three pairs at $69. Okay, got all that? Stay with me, now! The lineup, with its similar names, looks, and slight variations in features and price, is confusing, and there's no way of getting around that. Don't worry, though, for everyone's sake (myself included), we're going to put all of that aside for a moment and get down to brass tacks: what do these things actually sound like? On that front, I've got good news and bad news. I've been using CMF's budget wireless buds for the past couple of weeks, and I honestly didn't know what to expect. Sometimes you really get what you pay for (see: this scrappy but frankly bad pair of pocket-sized earbuds I reviewed from Jlabs) and sometimes the cheapest option is actually the best (see: Nothing's Ear (a) wireless earbuds). Because of that variability, I came into the trio of CMF wireless buds with an open mind, but ultimately, I was surprised at what I found. As a test, I listened to the same song (My Bloody Valentine's 'Only Shallow') with each pair, back-to-back-to-back, and under the same conditions—a fairly quiet area of the Gizmodo office. Starting first with the highest-end pair, the Buds 2 Plus, I worked my way down until I hit the Buds 2a. So let's start from the top: the CMF Buds 2 Plus sound great. There's dynamic range, and the noise cancellation, though not world-class, is solid enough for your subway commute (an environment that I also tested all three buds in). Frankly, I think they're almost as nice as Nothing's Ear (a), which is probably my favorite pair of Nothing wireless earbuds for the value and design. All in all, I'm a fan of the CMF Buds 2 Plus. I wouldn't choose them as my 'daily driver,' so to speak, just because I love the ceramic driver on Nothing's Ear wireless earbuds more and their transparent design, but if I were forced to use them, I wouldn't be mad about the quality. Next, I tried the CMF Buds 2, the middle child, which, while pleasant, didn't quite sing like the Buds 2 Plus. They do an equally good job of simulating bass, but they definitely are a little muddier compared to their premium-priced counterparts. ANC, as I suspected, based on the level of noise cancellation stated in CMF's spec sheets, was about the same as the 2 Plus, which is nice, but if you're looking for the highest fidelity, the 2 Plus wins this round. Then there's the baby—the CMF Buds 2a. This is where I noticed the biggest dropoff. While the price is very approachable, these buds sound by far the tinniest out of the lineup and bring the lowest level of noise cancellation. It was harder to notice when I was testing the wireless buds anecdotally and randomly on my morning commute, but I'm not a big fan of the dynamic range or the noise cancellation on the Buds 2a. I'd say you get what you pay for, but these buds now cost the same as the Buds 2, and the midrange pair are leaps and bounds better. So, those are unscientific conclusions. In this case, the Buds 2 Plus justify the premium price, and while the Buds 2 are serviceable, they definitely don't deliver the same quality. You can forget all about the Buds 2a because they don't deliver anywhere near the sound quality of the Buds 2, which are now the same damn price. But just to be sure I wasn't letting the knowledge of price affect my judgment, I did a blind test to see if I could really hear the difference, and mostly my impressions remained the same. In a blindfolded listening test, I was able to identify the three different wireless buds correctly six times in a row on two different styles of songs (rock and hip-hop), though there are some frequencies where the difference is harder to notice, like more 'cinematic' music with fewer frequencies to keep track of. The Buds 2a are a dead giveaway with their tinny, almost hollow sound, and the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus are definitely harder to differentiate but still have enough tells in most genres—the Buds 2 Plus typically have better bass and a fuller sound profile. While I don't love to be upsold on anything, sometimes in this world, you get what you pay for, and the CMF wireless earbuds are no different. My advice is, if you can afford the $20 premium over the Buds 2 and Buds 2a, then you should pay it—get the Buds 2 Plus. There's not much difference from an ANC perspective, but from sheer sound quality, the Buds 2 Plus earn their premium-sounding name, and they're still (if we're in the spirit of comparing) $50 cheaper than the Nothing Ear and $10 cheaper than the Ear (a). See Buds 2a at Amazon See Buds 2 at Amazon See Buds 2 Plus at Amazon
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
CMF Buds 2 Plus Review: Budget ANC buds that punch above their weight
If you're on the hunt for a pair of true wireless earbuds that won't drain your wallet but still offer solid performance, the CMF Buds 2 Plus might just be what you're looking for. Positioned as an affordable upgrade over the original Buds 2, these earbuds come from CMF by Nothing, a sub-brand known for delivering high-quality design and features at a fraction of flagship prices. But do they live up to the hype? After spending almost a month testing the Buds 2 Plus across daily commutes, gym sessions, and long calls, here's our in-depth review of what works, what doesn't, and whether these buds deserve a spot in your pocket. Right out of the box, the CMF Buds 2 Plus carry that minimalistic, slightly industrial design language we've come to associate with Nothing. The case is compact and lightweight, with a smooth matte finish that resists fingerprints well. It's available in multiple colours, light grey and blue, offering a bit of personality without going over the top. The buds themselves are stem-style, reminiscent of the Apple AirPods, but with a squared-off design that feels more modern. They sit snugly in the ear and are surprisingly comfortable even over longer periods. The IP54 rating adds peace of mind, making them a reliable companion during workouts or a rainy commute. Here's where things get interesting. For their modest price, the CMF Buds 2 Plus pack in a compelling list of features: -Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) up to 45dB -Bluetooth 5.3 with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair -Customisable touch controls via the Nothing X app -Dual-device pairing -13.4mm dynamic drivers These aren't just nice-to-haves, they're features we usually associate with earbuds twice the price. Pairing is effortless thanks to Fast Pair support, and once connected, the Buds 2 Plus maintain a strong, stable connection. Multipoint connectivity also worked seamlessly in our tests, allowing us to switch from a laptop to phone without any fuss. Let's talk about audio. The 13.4mm drivers deliver a pleasingly full-bodied sound with an emphasis on bass. If you're a fan of thumping low-end, ideal for gym playlists or EDM, you'll be pleased. That said, the mids and highs hold their own, producing a fairly balanced output with crisp vocals and clear instrumentation. The Nothing X app allows for EQ adjustments and even offers a hearing test to personalise your audio profile. It's a nice touch that makes a genuine difference if you're picky about your sound signature. One small caveat: at higher volumes, the audio can get a bit sharp. While not a deal-breaker, it's something to keep in mind if you prefer cranking your music all the way up. Active Noise Cancellation on the Buds 2 Plus is better than expected for the price point. While it doesn't reach the effectiveness of premium ANC earbuds like Sony's WF-1000XM5 or the AirPods Pro, it certainly cuts down on ambient noise, especially low-end hums like engine rumbles or air conditioning. Transparency mode is decent too. It's not the most natural sounding, but it does the job when you need to stay aware of your surroundings. There's also adaptive ANC which adjusts noise cancellation based on your environment. It's subtle, but works well enough to justify its inclusion. The CMF Buds 2 Plus feature AI noise reduction during calls, and in practice, they're among the best in this price range. Voices come through clearly on both ends, and background noise is significantly suppressed, even in busy settings. For regular voice or video calls, these won't let you down. Battery life is one of the CMF Buds 2 Plus's strongest suits. You get around 8 hours of playback on a single charge, and the case offers up to 43 hours in total. With ANC on, expect about 6 hours per charge, which is still respectable. Charging is via USB-C (no wireless charging, understandably at this price), and a quick 10-minute top-up gives you a couple of hours of playtime, perfect for when you're in a rush. The Nothing X app, available on both Android and iOS, is cleanly designed and easy to navigate. From here, you can customise touch gestures, adjust the EQ, toggle ANC modes, and even perform a fit test to ensure the buds are sealed correctly in your ears. It's refreshing to see such thoughtful software support in budget earbuds. For a pair of earbuds that cost under ₹3300, the CMF Buds 2 Plus are an outstanding deal. They bring together quality sound, decent ANC, reliable connectivity, and long battery life, all wrapped in a stylish design with the backing of a reputable brand. Are they perfect? No. Audiophiles may crave more nuance in the mids and treble, and wireless charging is missing. But for the vast majority of users, these are incredibly easy to recommend. If you're after budget wireless earbuds with premium features, the CMF Buds 2 Plus are likely the best bang-for-your-buck option right now.
GSM Arena
26-05-2025
- GSM Arena
Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus review
The CMF Buds 2 Plus are the premium model among the trio of new earbuds from Nothing. Part of the entry-level CMF range, these are all meant to be relatively affordable, with the most expensive Buds 2 Plus coming in at $69. And if that's not low enough, they cost just $39 (INR 3,299) in India. Compared to the Buds 2 and the Buds 2a, the Buds 2 Plus try to provide an elevated experience with improvements to the audio and ANC side of things. There is a 12mm LCP driver along with LDAC Hi-Res Audio and a claimed 50dB noise cancellation. The rest of the specifications are mostly similar but there also isn't a vast price difference between the models. We will be taking a look at the cheapest Buds 2 model in a separate review but for now, let's get on with the Buds 2 Plus. Design and comfort The Buds 2 Plus design is nearly identical to that of the Buds 2 from last year. The only differences we noticed were a slightly smaller case and a new logo on the exterior, with the company seemingly doing away with the circular logos in favor of the CMF wordmark. Starting with the case, the fit and finish of the exterior are immaculate for such an inexpensive product. There is a lovely soft-touch texture to the shell and the panel gaps are impressively tight. The lid also opens and closes with a satisfying tension and clack. The company clearly takes its name seriously as the CMF (color, material, and finish) is done very well here. In the top left corner of the case is an aluminum rotating dial. Much like the one on the Buds 2, the rotation of the dial is purely ornamental and at best can be used as a fidget spinner. You can attach a lanyard to it but there isn't one provided in the box. It would have been nice if the dial had a function, like the one on the Buds Pro 2 but perhaps Nothing is saving it for a Buds 2 Pro model in the future. Getting to the buds on the inside, they once again have the same design as the CMF Buds from last year but without the circular logos. The back of the stalk is capacitive and supports tap-based gestures. The overall design of the earbuds is comfortable but I wasn't impressed with the material used for the ear tips. They use tackier, plasticky-feeling silicone that you find on very inexpensive earbuds. Not only does it not feel great in your ears but the material also doesn't conform to the shape of your inner ear as well as more premium and softer material. This leaves some gaps that let noise in unless you fastidiously adjust them every few minutes or if you move your head or jaw, even if you pick the correct size for your ears. The similarly priced OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro use the much nicer tips that feel and function a lot better and it would have been nice to see Nothing use those on the Plus model, at least. Software and features The Buds 2 Plus interface with the Nothing X app on your Android or iOS device. From here, you can adjust things like the ANC, audio parameters, touch gestures, and update firmware. Like much of Nothing's software, the Nothing X app is clean and a breeze to operate, something other audio manufacturers could learn from. The app offers a choice of ANC on, off, and a transparency mode. The ANC on mode has three manually controllable levels and an adaptive mode that automatically adjusts the levels based on ambient noise. The app has a bunch of audio options for the Buds 2 Plus. Most prominent is the Spatial audio feature, which I found the least impressive as it was a generic surround sound feature that lacks the nuance of professionally mastered spatial audio you get from Dolby Atmos tracks. There's also no head-tracking support on this model. Nothing X app Nothing is also all-in on the Ultra Bass mode on these CMF buds and it comes enabled by default set to the lowest value of 1. You can turn it up to 5 if you hate good sound (and your ears) but I did all of the testing with the feature fully disabled as there's plenty of bass without it. Next is the Personal sound feature, which we have seen on other models before. It plays a series of tones and you can pick whether you hear it or not and at the end it generates a custom audio profile for each individual ear. Audio settings For this feature to work reliably, you have to be in a dead silent environment, which is not always easy to come by. Otherwise, you will simply not hear the test tones over ambient noise even if your ears are capable of hearing them otherwise, which greatly affects the usefulness of the test. Also, these tests put far too much trust in the quality of the drivers and audio processing to ensure you hear the correct test tone, and I can't say I have that much faith in a pair of budget earbuds. This means I'm never quite sure if I'm not hearing a tone because my ears aren't good enough or because the drivers aren't good enough to produce it properly. As such, I don't put a lot of stock in these tests, but you can give them a shot if the end result is to your liking. Finally, there's the equalizer. You have a few options here with Pop being the default tuning for the earbuds (it's also what you hear if you set the custom preset to 0 values). The presets show little visualizations to show you the general type of tuning you can expect but they don't always make sense; the Electronic preset shows having more bass than Pop even though Pop has audibly more bass. Equalizer Speaking of the custom EQ, we once again have Nothing's incredibly basic and high-key terrible 3-band EQ that is arranged in an odd circular pattern. It's damn near impossible to get any value out of this because of the broad sweeping changes it makes with no fine control or nuance. It also drastically drops the volume of the sound when you adjust anything. It's high time Nothing drops this garbage that is no doubt chosen purely for its aesthetic appeal in favor of a functional EQ with at least 5 bands. Better yet, it can make the 8-band parametric EQ available on the more expensive Nothing Buds available to all models since it is just a software feature already present in the Nothing X app but hidden away from the cheaper models. Performance Audio quality The Buds 2 Plus have 12mm single dynamic drivers with an LCP (liquid crystal polymer) and polyurethane diaphragm. You get your standard SBC and AAC codecs along with LDAC with a maximum bitrate of 990kbps. There is, however, no LC3 support. The audio tuning, done in-house by Nothing, is pretty much what we have come to expect these days from consumer audio products. There is a strong emphasis on bass, even with the Ultra Bass feature disabled, along with mellow mids and highs. Starting with the low end, I found the bass on the Buds 2 Plus to be overbearing at times. This was especially true for the kind of music the Pop preset was designed for, which I'm assessing here since it's the default. In other genres, the bass paints a layer of mush over the rest of the sound, which reduces the overall clarity and makes it a bit murky. The mid-range has a good presence in the mix and is not buried all the way in the back as with a typical v-shaped tuning. However, the vocals sound slightly congested and compressed with an ever-so-slight honkiness to them. However, this is quite subtle and not readily noticeable. The high-end is unremarkable. The default tuning has enough treble for it to not be dark but it doesn't stand out in its presence or detail retrieval. When seen from the lens of a first-time buyer who is most likely the target audience of the Buds 2 Plus, the audio tuning is fine. A buyer in this segment is likely to be inexperienced and undemanding and should find the audio enjoyable. While using the earbuds while just walking around or working without paying attention to the sound, I found the sound reasonably pleasing with only a few tracks being distracting due to the overwhelming bass presence. Unfortunately, the EQ is useless for getting anything close to reference audio and your best bet is to use the Classical preset, which while not perfect is fairly close. I found the combination of the Classical preset and level 2 on Ultra Bass more balanced than the default Pop preset. In comparison, the Nord Buds 3 Pro have a similarly bassy sound but the mids have better timbre and the overall tonality is a bit more pleasing. The CMF Buds 2 Plus also don't get any points for having LDAC as you don't hear the added resolution in the sound. Microphone The Buds 2 Plus have good microphone performance. Voices sounded natural without too much garbling. The level of your voice would go up and down a bit as if you were moving further away from the mic, even though the mic is on your ear. That aside, the overall microphone quality is pretty good for voice calls. The microphone performance is also better compared to the Nord Buds 3 Pro, which continue to have a garbled noise to them months after launch. Noise cancellation The Buds 2 Plus have active noise cancellation using the six onboard microphones. Nothing claims up to 50dB of cancellation in a 5400MHz frequency range. The noise cancellation performance is good for the price. You get satisfactory attenuation in the low-frequency ranges and decent in the mid-ranges. The high frequencies aren't as well tuned out, and part of that is due to the cheap ear tips which don't always create a perfect seal. At times some high-frequency sounds also come in more prominently, which can be distracting. However, for the most part, the ANC performance is decent. Similarly, the transparency performance was also found to be adequate, with a reasonably natural rendition of the ambient sounds. There is some difference in the sound between the ANC on and off modes. I found the ANC off sound to be a bit less bass-heavy. That, along with the combination of the ambient sound makes the earbuds sound less congested and more balanced. When at home, I would prefer to turn the ANC off instead of keeping it on all the time. Latency The Buds 2 Plus have decent latency performance. When tested with a Nothing Phone (2), some titles had good latency performance while others didn't. The Low lag mode in the Nothing X app didn't seem to do much, as apps that worked well had low latency even with the option disabled and those that had poor latency saw no improvement with the option enabled. Connection The Buds 2 Plus had reliable connectivity performance. I only noticed some warbling when using 990kbps on non-Nothing phones but on the Nothing Phone (2) even that mode was rock solid. Battery life The Buds 2 Plus have a claimed battery life of 14 hours with ANC disabled and using AAC. With LDAC, that number drops down to 8 hours. In my testing, I got 14 hours and 23 minutes when using AAC and 8 hours and 34 minutes when using LDAC, so the company's figures are accurate. Nothing also claims 4.5 hours of continuous playback with AAC after a 10-minute charge. I got 4 hours 35 minutes, which was once again within spitting distance of the claimed figure. And while Nothing does not mention the LDAC figure, I got 2 hours and 51 minutes, which is respectable. Conclusion The CMF Buds 2 Plus offer good overall performance for the price. The design and build quality are good, the earbuds are comfortable, the battery life is excellent, the microphone performance is commendable, and the Nothing X app is clean and easy to use. Downsides include unremarkable audio quality coupled with a limited and clumsy custom equalizer as well as cheap-feeling and underperforming ear tips. For the price, these are easy to look past, especially since the target customer is unlikely to know any better. Still, it would have been nice if the Plus model didn't have these shortcomings to justify its higher price over its siblings. The Buds 2 Plus can't quite stand out from the crowd with similarly priced options, such as the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro, which perform more or less the same. They are, however, a competent all-rounder and if you like the design of the hardware and software over the competition then that would be a good enough reason to pick them over the rest.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CMF Buds 2 & Buds 2 Plus Review: Budget options that look cool and sound great
Recently we saw that Nothing extended its CMF family with the launch of the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Alongside the phone, the company also introduced two new audio products — CMF Buds 2 and CMF Buds 2 Plus — clearly aiming to shake up the budget TWS space with solid features and a distinctive CMF touch. The CMF Buds 2 are priced at ₹2,699 while the Buds 2 Plus retail at ₹3,299, making them two of the most competitive wireless earbuds in their segment right now. These earbuds are cut from the same design cloth but tuned to appeal to slightly different use cases— the Buds 2 being more straightforward and the Buds 2 Plus offering more polish and power. Let's break down how they perform in the real-world and where they hit—or miss—their marks. Design Both CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus carry the signature CMF design DNA — minimalist, modern, and thoughtfully crafted. The charging cases are compact yet stylish, featuring a mix of matte finishes and transparent dial wraps that give them a distinct, almost industrial flair. The Buds 2 Plus get extra polish with a soft-touch coating and sandblasted metal accents, while the Buds 2 lean more towards a clean, matte aesthetic with subtle metallic touches. In the hand, both cases feel premium — solid enough to toss into a bag or pocket without worry. The earbuds themselves are lightweight, ergonomically shaped, and fit securely without causing fatigue. Even during long listening sessions or calls, the buds sit comfortably in-ear, which is ideal for workouts or commutes. Whether you're on a run or in a meeting, the fit remains snug without that typical in-ear pressure. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) Control-wise, both models come with responsive touch panels. A double tap skips tracks or answers calls, a triple tap takes you back, and a tap & hold toggles between ANC and Transparency Mode. The gestures work well, and for those who like customisation, the Nothing X app offers options to remap them to your liking. In terms of durability, Nothing has done a commendable job. The earbuds are IP55-rated, making them resistant to sweat, dust, and the occasional splash — perfect for gym use or unpredictable weather. The charging cases have an IPX2 rating, which isn't waterproof but will survive minor drizzles or moisture exposure. Overall, both earbuds are built to handle daily wear and tear with confidence. Connectivity Both Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus come with Bluetooth 5.4 and support Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, ensuring a fast and frictionless connection experience. Pairing is as simple as opening the case near your phone — modern and intuitive, just as it should be in 2025. With dual-device pairing, you can seamlessly switch between your phone and laptop, which is a huge convenience for multitaskers. We had no connection drops in our usage, and the 10-meter range held strong even through a couple of walls indoors. Gamers will appreciate the Low Lag Mode, especially when used with a Nothing Phone, where latency drops to under 105 ms (Buds 2 Plus) and 110 ms (Buds 2). Smart Features With the Nothing X app, available on both Android and iOS, users get access to a host of useful features. You can customise EQ settings, remap touch controls, switch ANC modes, locate your earbuds, and apply software updates. Both earbuds also come with in-ear detection, so playback auto-pauses when you remove them, and resumes when you put them back in. Also notable are the 'Find My Earbuds' feature — handy for the forgetful crowd — and LED status indicators on the case for quick battery checks. Sound Quality Sound quality is where these earbuds impress, especially for their price point. The CMF Buds 2 feature an 11mm PMI driver tuned with Dirac Opteo, delivering clean mids, deep bass, and well-separated highs. Music feels open, and vocals come through crisp, with Ultra Bass Technology 2.0 adding low-end punch without muddying the mix. Step up to the Buds 2 Plus, and you get a slightly wider and more detailed soundstage. The 12mm LCP driver combined with LDAC support and Nothing's custom tuning brings Hi-Res Audio into the mix. If you're someone who streams lossless or high-bitrate audio, the Plus variant definitely shines brighter with more dynamic range and clarity. Both models support Spatial Audio Effect, using HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) to simulate immersive 3D audio. While not as refined as what you might find on premium flagship earbuds, it adds depth when watching content or gaming. ANC On the ANC front, both buds pack in solid noise-cancelling chops. Buds 2 Plus offer up to 50dB hybrid ANC with Smart Adaptive Mode, while Buds 2 come close with 48dB hybrid ANC and Environmental Adaptive ANC. Both also support Transparency Mode for ambient listening when you need to stay aware. In practice, I will say that in its range, the ANC on both earbuds is quite good. However, there is a small but consistent issue across both models: when ANC is turned on but no audio is playing, you can hear a faint 'air' or static sound in the background. It's not disruptive during playback but noticeable in silent moments. Battery Both models come with a good battery life. The CMF Buds 2 offer 13.5 hours of playback on a single charge, going up to 55 hours with the case (ANC off). A 10-minute top-up yields 7.5 hours of playback, which is impressive. The Buds 2 Plus stretches even further, with up to 15.5 hours standalone playback and a whopping 61.5 hours with the case (AAC, ANC off). Even with ANC on, they manage a respectable 7.5 hours, and fast charging nets 8.5 hours with a quick 10-minute juice-up. Both use USB-C and take under 95 minutes to fully charge — consistent and dependable. Verdict In a market full of me-too budget earbuds, Nothing's CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus manage to stand out, not just for their design, but for everything they offer at this price. Both models are easy to recommend, especially if you're on a budget and want something that looks cool, sounds great, and doesn't compromise on modern features. That one issue — the static hiss with ANC on, does take away from the experience slightly, but not enough to be a dealbreaker.
