Latest news with #CMFBuds2Plus
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- 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.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus: This is what value for money sounds like
Over the past couple of years, Nothing has carved out a niche for itself in the tech space, emerging as a good value-for-money brand on the cutting edge of design that appeals to a younger user. Its CMF sub-brand pushes the envelope even more when it comes to pricing and design, especially with its accessories. The new CMF Buds range is no exception. The CMF Buds 2 Plus has a unique design with a square charging case that has a circle at one corner that rotates. The circle serves no particular purpose other than housing the holes for the lanyard but does give the unit a distinct identity. The case also has a rubbery matte finish which makes it feel both durable and premium. The buds have a traditional design and are easy to wear for long hours. At the top of the stem, you can tap to control the earbuds. The CMF Buds 2 Plus come with adaptive active noise cancellation that is top of the line, sucking away the hum of my ceiling fan. However, every time you put it on, the ANC takes a few seconds to come into action. Using the Nothing X app, I could switch the ANC on and off on even the iPhone. There is also a transparency mode that works well but appears louder than the actual ambient sound. The app also gives you the most elaborate personal sound profiling I have seen. The process takes about three minutes and tries to figure out exactly how your ear is perceiving sound. There is also a full equaliser with customisation and presets. Also, an Ultra Bass calibration gives you a level of control unseen in budget earbuds. The app also lets you find the buds or change gesture controls. Usure unna thaane from Madras Matinee felt immersive with its soulful mix of strings and percussions. The bass, even at lower levels, felt like it could touch a chord along with Vijay Yesudas's baritone which has started to sound even more like his dad now. As I was trying out the gestures, the playlist shifted to Lagoon Chill from Kumbalangi Nights. I was mesmerised for a few seconds by the depth of the bass this small earbud was able to create, almost like a heart that was beating in my ears. The CMF Buds 2 Plus manages both the highs and lows well thanks to the 12mm drivers. And when it is just vocals like Billy Withers' version of Ain't No Sunshine, the earbuds do a good job too. My only point would be that there seems to be a lack of space and roominess at times and that despite these earbuds doing a good job of spatial audio. With high-end earphones, you get a sense of each channel having a space of itself, layered in the soundscape. That is sort of missing here. But then that would be expecting too much from what are essentially budget earbuds. The best thing about the CMF Buds 2 Plus is that it costs just Rs 3,299 with its super ANC, a full app with equalisers, and a good audio profile with extra bass for those who prefer that. This is what value for money sounds like. The CMF Buds 2 has a similar design as its more premium sibling, though it also seems to appeal to an even younger audience. The review unit had a light green colour which made it look trendy, at the same time making me feel a bit too old to be carrying it around. The Nothing X app works here too, though there are fewer features here as expected in comparison to the CMF Buds 2 Plus. There is noise canceling you can select the intensity or the adaptive setting, like in the other earphones. The ANC is good, though it left a bit of drone from the fan compared to the vacuum of the Buds 2 Plus. There is no personalised sound profiling here. Everything else pretty much stays the same, which is good as you are getting an equaliser with the Dirac Opteo pre-tuning. So when you hear Here Comes the Sun, the Beatles are all around you with the guitar starting on the left ear and Ringo Starr's drums getting a space on the right. The overall sound profile is balanced, though it does feel a bit cramped in comparison to the Buds 2 Plus. But then you are paying much less for this one and they have 11mm drivers. Listening to a Lossless version of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, I was convinced that most listeners would not feel a beat missing with these earbuds. They do bass well again and that too without me amping up the same on the app. The Buds 2 manage vocals superbly, balancing it out with the BGM despite the constraints, giving a very balanced listening experience. The Buds 2 are also great for watching a movie on the phone or for gaming, especially when you are in the low lag mode. At Rs 2,699, the CMF Buds 2 are good for those who want to save a bit and not spend as much as on the CMF Buds 2 Plus. Both are good value-for-money options, though I would recommend you push your budget a bit and get the superior CMF Buds 2 Plus. It is worth the extra bucks. Nandagopal Rajan writes on technology, gadgets and everything related. He has worked with the India Today Group and Hindustan Times. He is an alumnus of Calicut University and Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. ... Read More
Deccan Herald
5 days ago
- Deccan Herald
CMF Buds 2 Plus review: Good budget TWS earphones with cool design
CMF Buds 2 Plus. CMF Buds 2 Plus with charging case. Credit: DH Photo/KVN Rohit CMF Buds 2 Plus. Credit: DH Photo/KVN Rohit CMF Buds 2 Plus. Nothing X app can help user customise tap gestures on CMF Buds 2 Plus. Credit: DH Photo/KVN Rohit
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First Post
01-05-2025
- First Post
Nothing launches CMF Phone 2 Pro and three TWS earbuds in India: Specifications, Price and more
Everything you need to know about the CMF Phone 2 Pro, CMF Buds 2, CMF Buds 2 Plus and CMF Buds 2a read more Nothing's sub-brand CMF has launched four new products in India this week which include the anticipated CMF Phone 2 Pro and three TWS earbuds - Buds 2, Buds 2 Plus and Buds 2a. All products are competitively priced and hold the potential to shake up the respective segments with their impressive feature lists. Let's get to know them a little better. CMF Phone 2 Pro: What's new, pricing, availability The CMF Phone 2 Pro is the slimmest and lightest smartphone from Nothing to date. At 7.8 mm in thickness, it is indeed quite slim and has a good hand feel courtesy of its moderate 185 grams weight. The ingress protection has seen an improvement from IP52 on the CMF Phone 1 to IP54 here. It continues with the unique design language of its predecessor and improves it further with aluminium highlights around the cameras and stainless steel screws. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD CMF Phone 2 Pro bears the unique design language of its predecessor Speaking of cameras, the company brings major enhancements in this department. Not only does the 50MP main camera get a larger sensor (supposedly the largest sensor in this segment) but the phone also gets a second 50MP telephoto camera that offers 2X optical zoom; something quite rare in the sub-20K segment. An 8MP ultra-wide camera completes the trifecta at the back. However, none of the cameras have optical image stabilisation (OIS), which a handful of phones in this segment offer these days. Phone specs The CMF Phone 2 Pro gets a larger and brighter 6.77-inch 10-bit Full HD+ flexible AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3000 nits, 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and 1000 Hz touch sampling rate. The phone is fitted with a 5000 mAh battery that supports 33W fast wired charging. And wait for it… the company will be bundling a charger along in India! The phone retains modularity with three new accessories including universal cover, interchangeable lenses (Fisheye and Macro) and wallet/stand. The CMF Phone 2 Pro gets a larger and brighter 6.77-inch 10-bit Full HD+ flexible AMOLED display At the core of the Phone 2 Pro is a competent Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro chip and 8 GB RAM. You get a choice of either 128 GB or 256 GB internal storage and a MicroSD card slot to expand it further. The phone will debut with Nothing OS 3.2 based on Android 15 and the company has promised three major Android updates and a staggering six years of security updates for this device, keeping the phone relevant and secure for a long time. The phone is fitted with a 5000 mAh battery that supports 33W fast wired charging The CMF Phone 2 Pro comes in four colour options - White, Black, Orange and Light Green. As for the pricing, the 128 GB storage variant of the CMF Phone 2 Pro can be purchased for Rs 18,999, while its 256 GB version can be yours for Rs 20,999. You can save 1000 Rupees with bank or exchange offers, and another thousand if you choose to buy it on the launch day - 5th May 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD CMF Buds 2 series unveiled: Key features, pricing, availability Along with the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the company unveiled not one or two but three true wireless earphones - CMF Buds 2a, CMF Buds 2 and CMF Buds 2 Plus. Let's take a quick look at what they bring to the table, how much they would set you back by and when you can get your hands on them. Buds design CMF Buds 2a Buds 2a is the entry-level option, but by no means scant on features. It offers a lightweight design, promises high-quality audio with its 12.4 mm bio-fibre drivers tuned by Dirac, in addition to 42 dB active noise cancellation (ANC). You get 8 hours of playtime on a full charge for the buds, and up to 35.5 hours with the charging case. It is priced at Rs 2,199. CMF Buds 2 The Buds 2 is their mid variant with a more refined sound courtesy of 11 mm custom PMI drivers and Dirac Opteo tuning. You also get Spatial Audio and 48 dB hybrid ANC to more effectively isolate yourself from the ambient noise. The buds claim to offer a whopping 13.5 hours of playtime on a full charge and 55 hours with the charging case. You get six mics (two more than Buds 2a) for calling and ANC. The CMF Buds 2 is priced at Rs 2,699. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Buds 2 is their mid variant with a more refined sound courtesy of 11 mm custom PMI drivers and Dirac Opteo tuning CMF Buds 2 Plus As you may have guessed, the Buds 2 Plus is the more premium of the three, offering superior audio experience thanks to the 12 mm LCP drivers and support for Hi-Res LDAC codec. The hybrid ANC figure goes up to 50 db here and the claimed battery life is even more impressive. The buds can go on for 15.5 hours, with the case taking the overall battery backup past an incredible 61 hours. The CMF Buds 2 Plus too has six mics for calling and ANC, and flaunts a price tag of Rs 3,299. The buds can go on for 15.5 hours, with the case taking the overall battery backup past an incredible 61 hours What comes after Buds 2 Plus, you ask? Well, it's the CMF Buds 2 Pro that the company launched last year. It offers an excellent mix of performance and value. You may read its review here. Coming back to the new launches, all three TWS earbuds are Bluetooth 5.4 compliant and support dual pairing. While these new CMF earbuds seem impressive for their asking price, there's one catch! They are expected to go on sale only towards the end of June 2025 in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
30-04-2025
- Business
- News18
CMF Buds 2 Series Launched In India: Price And Features
Last Updated: CMF Buds 2 series has launched along with the Phone 2 Pro model in the Indian market this week. Here are all the details. Nothing has introduced the CMF Phone 2 Pro along with a slew of new budget TWS earbuds in the market this week. The company is offering three distinct models to cater to different budgets and needs. The newly introduced range includes the CMF Buds 2, Buds 2 Plus, and Buds 2a — each positioned at a separate price point with unique specifications. CMF Buds 2 Series Price In India CMF Buds 2 series prices in India are: CMF Buds 2a – Rs 2,199 CMF Buds 2 – Rs 2,699 CMF Buds 2 Plus – Rs 3,299 CMF Buds 2 Pro TWS earbuds will be available from next month, while the other two models will go on sale at a later date in the country. CMF Buds 2 The Buds 2 come equipped with 11mm audio drivers and offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) of up to 48dB. The brand says the earbuds can provide up to 13.5 hours of playback without ANC on a single charge. CMF Buds 2 Plus Next up is the Buds 2 Plus which sits above the standard Buds 2 with notable upgrades in ANC performance and support for Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation, a feature absent on the base Buds 2. The Buds 2 Plus packs larger 12mm drivers, get LDAC codec support, and Hi-Res Audio certification for high-fidelity sound. You can get up to 14 hours of playback on a single charge (with ANC turned off), and a total of 61.5 hours with the case. The CMF Buds 2a offer a more affordable entry point, though with a few compromises. It features 12.4mm drivers and Dirac tuning, but the ANC performance is reduced to 42dB. The earbuds provide up to 8 hours of usage (ANC off) and a maximum of 35.5 hours, when used with the charging case. Even the IP rating is slightly lower at IP54, compared to IP55 on the other two models. All three of the CMF Buds 2 series model are compatible with the Nothing X app, where you can tweak the EQ, adjust bass levels, toggle ANC settings, activate low-latency mode, connect to multiple devices simultaneously, and even summon ChatGPT for assistance. First Published:
