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In the crowded world of true wireless earbuds, where premium brands like Apple, Sony, and Bose dominate with sky-high prices and feature-packed offerings, there’s a quiet revolution brewing in the budget segment. Enter CMF by Nothing, the sub-brand of the innovative tech company Nothing, founded by former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei. Known for its minimalist design ethos and value-driven gadgets, Nothing has consistently disrupted the market with products that blend style, functionality, and affordability. The CMF Buds 2 Plus, launched in mid-2025, exemplify this philosophy perfectly. Priced at just $69, these earbuds pack a punch that rivals options costing twice as much. But do they live up to the hype? In this in-depth review, we’ll dive into every aspect—from design and sound to battery life and real-world performance—to see if the CMF Buds 2 Plus are the ultimate steal for audiophiles on a budget.
Nothing’s ecosystem has grown rapidly since its 2020 inception, with CMF targeting the entry-level space to make high-end tech accessible. The Buds 2 Plus build on the success of predecessors like the CMF Buds Pro 2 and the original Buds 2, refining key areas like audio drivers and noise cancellation while keeping the price tag firmly in impulse-buy territory. Available in sleek colors like Light Grey, Deep Blue, and White, they arrive in a compact box with essentials: the earbuds, charging case, three sizes of silicone ear tips, and a USB-C cable. No frills, but that’s the CMF charm—sustainability meets simplicity.
First impressions matter, and the CMF Buds 2 Plus nail them. Each earbud weighs a featherlight 4.5 grams, making them barely noticeable during extended wear. The design is a subtle evolution from the Buds 2: a glossy finish on the outer shell transitions to a matte stem, creating a premium tactile feel without the fingerprint magnet that plagues many glossy buds. The stem is slightly longer than average, housing touch controls that are responsive yet not overly sensitive—double-tap for play/pause, swipe for volume, and hold for ANC toggles. In testing, these gestures felt intuitive after a quick adjustment period, though they’re not customizable beyond basic app tweaks.
The charging case is a standout: at 52 grams and pocket-friendly dimensions (53 x 53 x 23 mm), it’s one of the smallest in its class. The lid flips open with a satisfying magnetic clack, and the orange LED indicator pulses softly for charging status. No wireless charging here—that’s reserved for Nothing’s flagship Ear series—but the pogo-pin setup ensures stable connections. IP55 rating on the buds (dust and water resistance) means they’re gym-ready; I wore them through sweaty runs and light rain without a hitch, though the case lacks any ingress protection, so keep it dry.
Comfort is where these buds shine. The in-canal fit, aided by those included ear tips, creates a secure seal essential for ANC and bass response. Unlike bulkier competitors like the Google Pixel Buds Pro, which can feel stabilizing wings intrusive, the Buds 2 Plus stay put naturally. Users on X (formerly Twitter) echo this sentiment—one reviewer called them “super light, you’ll forget they’re in your ears,” while another praised the seal for workouts. After a month of daily use (commutes, podcasts, and late-night sessions), I experienced zero fatigue, even on smaller ears. If you’re upgrading from stemless designs like AirPods, the adjustment is seamless.
One minor nitpick: the white variant shows dust easily, turning yellowish after a few weeks, as noted in user threads. Opt for grey if cleanliness is a priority.
At the heart of the CMF Buds 2 Plus are 12mm liquid crystal polymer (LCP) drivers with N52 magnets, a setup that’s impressive for the price. Certified for Hi-Res Audio and supporting LDAC codec (up to 990kbps/24-bit/96kHz), they deliver streaming-quality sound that punches above their weight. Out of the box, the tuning leans bass-forward—think deep, rumbling lows on tracks like Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” without muddling mids. Vocals in Adele’s “Easy on Me” retain clarity, and highs sparkle on cymbals in Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” thanks to a wide 20Hz-40kHz frequency response.
The real game-changer is Audiodo personalization, accessible via the Nothing X app. This hearing test calibrates sound to your ears, boosting details in the 5-10kHz range for a more immersive profile. Post-calibration, the soundstage widened noticeably, making orchestral pieces like Hans Zimmer’s “Time” feel cinematic. LDAC shines on Android devices; pair with a Nothing Phone, and you get lossless-like fidelity. On iOS, it defaults to AAC, which is solid but lacks that extra edge.
EQ options are basic—five-band sliders with presets like Bass Boost and Vocal Focus—but effective. I dialed in +5 bass and +3 mids for EDM, achieving balance without distortion. Compared to the bass-heavy CMF Buds Pro 2 (with dual drivers), the single 12mm unit here feels more cohesive, less prone to bleed. Reviewers on SoundGuys and PCMag scored sound 8.5/10, calling it “studio-grade” for under $70. User experiences vary: one X post raved about “top-notch 9/10 sound,” while another tweaked EQ to tame “bloated bass.”
Latency is low at 120ms in Game Mode, ideal for casual gaming or videos—no lip-sync issues on Netflix. Spatial Audio, using head-related transfer function (HRTF), adds 360-degree immersion for movies, though it’s not as refined as Sony’s 360 Reality Audio.
Nothing skimps on noise cancellation here. The 50dB hybrid ANC covers a staggering 5,400Hz range—three times broader than standard systems—effectively muting subway rumbles, office chatter, and airplane hums. Smart Adaptive mode auto-adjusts based on environment and ear fit, compensating for imperfect seals. In a noisy café, it dulled 80% of ambient noise, outperforming the AirPods 4’s ANC in blind tests. Transparency mode is natural, letting in voices without the “hollow” echo of cheaper buds.
Wind Noise Reduction 3.0, powered by 360-degree sound modeling and AI algorithms, impressed during outdoor calls—conversations stayed crisp even at 20km/h breezes. Six HD mics with Clear Voice 3.0 (trained on 28 million noise models) deliver broadcast-quality calls. The other end heard me clearly amid traffic, better than the Pixel Buds Pro 2 in windy conditions, per Versus comparisons.
Drawbacks? ANC can “ping” on/off when shifting positions (e.g., lying down), a minor annoyance in quiet rooms. Still, for $69, it’s potent—ZDNet called it “effective enough to ditch AirPods.”
Battery is a forte. With ANC off, buds last 14 hours, totaling 61.5 hours with the case (460mAh capacity). ANC on drops to 7.5 hours per charge/33 hours total—still class-leading. A 10-minute top-up yields 8.5 hours (with case, ANC off) or 4.5 hours (buds only). In real use, I got 6-7 days of 4-hour daily sessions with mixed ANC.
This edges out the CMF Buds Pro 2’s 43 hours total and rivals the OnePlus Buds 3. No multi-day drain issues reported, though heavy LDAC use shaves 10-15%. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures stable dual-device pairing—seamless switching between phone and laptop.
The Nothing X app elevates these buds from good to great. Free on iOS/Android, it unlocks EQ, ANC tweaks, firmware updates, and Audiodo. ChatGPT integration (on Nothing phones) lets you summon AI mid-call—novel, if gimmicky. Low-latency mode, find-my-earbuds, and over-the-air updates keep things fresh.
No wireless charging or wear detection, but Google Fast Pair simplifies Android setup. Multipoint connectivity handles two devices flawlessly, unlike some budget rivals.
Against the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ($249), the Buds 2 Plus lack ecosystem polish but match ANC depth and exceed battery at a fraction of the cost. ZDNet’s tester “had no problem ditching AirPods” for these, citing fit and calls.
Versus Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($229), CMF wins on price and battery (61.5 vs. 30 hours), with comparable LDAC sound but inferior wingtips for sports. RTINGS.com ranks them above Pixel for Android versatility.
In the budget arena, they outshine Realme Buds Air 7 (₹2,800) with better ANC range and personalization, per X comparisons. Vs. CMF’s own Buds 2 ($49), the Plus adds LDAC and larger drivers for richer audio. OnePlus Buds 3 edges in EQ depth, but CMF’s design and app win for style seekers.
| Feature | CMF Buds 2 Plus | AirPods Pro 3 | Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Realme Buds Air 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $69 | $249 | $229 | $34 |
| ANC | 50dB, 5400Hz | 50dB Adaptive | 50dB | 50dB, 5000Hz |
| Battery (Total, ANC On) | 33h | 30h | 20h | 40h |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | AAC | LDAC, AAC | LDAC, AAC |
| IP Rating | IP55 (buds) | IP54 | IP54 | IP55 |
| App EQ | 5-band | Basic | Advanced | 10-band |
Pros:
Cons:
Service hiccups surface in X posts—one user slammed Pune’s Nothing center for poor exchange support—but overall, community buzz is positive, with scores averaging 8.5/10.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus aren’t just earbuds; they’re a statement that premium audio shouldn’t require premium pricing. In a market bloated with incremental upgrades, Nothing’s CMF line reminds us that innovation thrives on constraints. Whether you’re a commuter dodging city noise, a gym-goer craving bass, or a casual listener seeking reliability, these buds deliver 90% of flagship performance at 30% of the cost. They’re not perfect—no product is at this price—but their blend of sound, features, and endurance makes them a no-brainer upgrade.
Checkout Kiwireviews for our other audio reviews for more.
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