Latest news with #Buds2a
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
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Nothing partners with KEF to boost audio performance of upcoming lineup
British consumer technology brand Nothing has announced a partnership with British audio specialist KEF. According to the company, this collaboration aims to explore new frontiers in sound innovation and deliver refined audio experiences to a broader audience. The partnership suggests that Nothing may expand its audio portfolio to include new products, such as speakers, and could potentially introduce KEF-tuned sound in its upcoming generation of earbuds. 'By combining KEF's decades of expertise with our design-led approach to technology, we're laying the groundwork for a new standard in everyday listening. Our products launching later this year mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter of our collaboration and the future of Nothing Audio,' said Andrew Freshwater, Head of Smart Products Marketing at Nothing. While the details have not been confirmed, Nothing's 2025 Ear and Ear(a) earbuds series may feature KEF-tuned audio. Currently, Nothing uses Dirac Opteo tuning in its CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2a, a feature that the company claims improves vocal clarity and enhances instrument separation. In related developments, Nothing has confirmed it will launch its next-generation flagship smartphone, the Phone (3), later this summer. The announcement was made via a video posted on Android's official YouTube channel, featuring a 'Device Showcase' segment in which Nothing CEO Carl Pei appeared with a blurred-out device in hand, teasing the upcoming release.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
CMF by Nothing launches Phone 2 Pro in India, price starts from ₹17,999
NEW DELHI: CMF, the sub-brand of Nothing , has launched its new smartphone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro in India, with prices starting from ₹17,999. The smartphone can be purchased in two variants – 8GB RAM+128GB memory at ₹17,999, and 8GB RAM+256GB memory at ₹19,999. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is available in three colors: White, Black, Orange, and Light Green. The latest CMF smartphone comes with a large 6.77-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED display, with a claimed peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The CMF Phone 2 Pro features a triple-lens set-up, comprising a 50MP main camera with AI, a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultra-wide angle camera. The front gets a 16MP unit. The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G chipset, and a 5000mAh battery. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is IP54 rated for water resistance, compared to CMF Phone 1's IP52 rating. The CMF Phone 2 Pro retains modular build with three new accessories, including Universal Cover, Interchangeable Lenses (Fisheye and Macro), and Wallet/Stand. Alongside, CMF also launched the CMF Buds 2, Buds 2 Plus, and Buds 2a priced at ₹2,699, ₹3,299, and ₹2,199, respectively. The Buds 2 balance sound, comfort and smart features. Complete with Dirac Opteo tuning, 48dB hybrid ANC and Spatial Audio Effect, it enhances the listening experience with clearer and more dynamic sound. The Buds 2 Plus offer Hi-Res LDAC, hearing compensation and full EQ customisation for a rich, balanced sound tailored to the user's unique hearing profile. The Buds 2a, meanwhile, provides essential, high-quality audio with 42dB active noise cancellation (ANC), a 12.4 mm bio-fibre driver and deep bass for all-day listening.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
CMF Buds 2, Buds 2 Plus, and Buds 2a TWS earbuds launched starting at ₹2,199- Details
CMF by Nothing hosted a launch event in Delhi on April 28, revealing its new generation products, the Phone 2a Pro, Buds 2, Buds 2 Plus, and Buds 2a. While the affordable smartphone is gaining much popularity, the latest TWS has also been revamped to provide an upgraded experience to audiophiles. From enhancing personalisation to providing high-quality sound, each model has something new to offer at different price points. Therefore, if you are looking for a TWS upgrade, then know what the new CMF Buds 2 series has to offer at an affordable price. Also read: Flipkart Big Savings Days Sale 2025: Save big on POCO X7 series, M7 series and more The CMF Buds 2 features an 11 mm PMI driver with Dirac Opteo, and the Buds 2 Plus features a 12 mm LCP driver with Hi-Res LDAC. Both models offer advanced Active Noise Cancellation with 48 dB Hybrid ANC and 50 dB Hybrid ANC with Smart Adaptive Mode. Both models offer Noise Reduction 3.0, Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, 6 HD mics with Clear Voice Technology 3.0, and Wind Noise Reduction 3.0. Also read: Nothing Phone 3 tipped to launch on July 25: Here's what to expect from the upcoming device For an uninterrupted audio experience, the CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus are backed by a 53mAh battery on the earbud and a 460mAh battery on the case. However, both offer different battery lives. The Buds 2 offers 13.5 hours of playtime with buds when ANC is off and up to 55 hours with the case. On the other hand, the Buds 2 Plus offers up to 14 hours with ANC off and up to 61.5 hours with the case. Both models come with IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. The CMF Buds 2a features a 2.4 mm Bio-fibre driver with Dirac Tuning and offers 42 dB ANC with Transparency Mode. It also offers Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, 4 HD mics with Clear Voice Technology, and a low latency mode of 110ms. The Buds 2a offers up to 8 hours of playtime with ANC off and up to up to 35.5 hours with the case. Also read: Oppo F29 Pro 5G vs Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Which latest mid-ranger is worth the hype? All three TWS will be available to purchase on Flipkart.
