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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
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These Nothing CMF Earbuds Are Back Down to Near-Record Low of $27
There are many good-quality earbuds on the market right now, making it hard to pick what's right for you. A big deciding factor is the price. The high-end options, like AirPods, deliver exceptional sound and features, but at a cost more than what most people who aren't committed audiophiles might prefer to spend. And the low-cost alternatives are sometimes lacking on quality and performance. This is where the wireless Bluetooth noise-canceling earbuds from CMF, a Nothing brand, shine. And right now we've just spotted them back at an all-time low price. Amazon is offering the CMF Buds in dark gray for only $27, a 31% discount. Nothing is known for its creative designs, and the CMF earbuds don't disappoint. The case has a small wheel that you can use to pause audio, adjust volume and skip tracks. If you don't like accessing your phone every time you have to change the song or tweak the volume, this feature can come in handy. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. In terms of sound quality, these earbuds come with powerful bass, with five adjustable levels accessible through the Nothing X app. There's also a noise-cancellation feature that can be great for situations where you don't want to be disturbed by outside noise. The battery can last up to 8 hours on a single charge, which can be extended to 35.5 hours with a fully charged case. You'll also have a speed charge option, which can get you 6.5 hours of playtime in just 10 minutes. Some other additional features worth mentioning are the low-latency mode, game mode, wind-noise reduction, "find my earbuds" and an IP54 rating (which means these earbuds are protected from solids and liquids, so you don't have to manually clean them). The last time we saw these exact earbuds go on sale all of the colors were discounted. Right now, just the dark gray color option is down to $27. But they're back to it's all-time low, which saves you $12. If this is all you are looking for in budget-friendly earbuds, you may want to act quickly, as the deal won't last forever. And if you're interested in other options, try browsing our complete roundup of headphone deals.
