CMF Buds 2 Plus review: Better sound, but more boring

There aren’t many players in the sub-$100 wireless earbud arena, but CMF by Nothing is quickly filling that space with four different earbuds on offer, each $10 apart, in their refreshed 2025 lineup. The CMF Buds 2 Plus are positioned at the top of the lineup, promising premium studio-quality sound, personalized hearing profiles, and enhanced noise cancelation. But for $10 more than the CMF Buds Pro 2, these earbuds curiously abandon the innovative Smart Dial that made their predecessors such a standout. Is there enough here to justify leading the pack and paying almost 15% more, or does the “Plus” in CMF Buds 2 Plus actually add up to a minus?

What’s it like to use the CMF Buds 2 Plus?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus maintain the same compact, lightweight design as their predecessors, fitting comfortably in my ears with multi-hour listening sessions. The buds come with the familiar trio of silicone ear tip sizes (S/M/L) to ensure a proper seal for most ear shapes. Physically, they’re nearly indistinguishable from the Buds 2 Pro—until you look at the charging case, where the most significant design change becomes immediately apparent.

The absence of the Smart Dial on the case is a genuine disappointment, as it was my favorite feature of the CMF Buds Pro 2. What was once a uniquely satisfying tactile control system—allowing volume adjustment, track skipping, and playback control—has been replaced by a non-functional decorative dial on the front corner that merely serves as a lanyard attachment point. This “dial” does rotate, but it doesn’t click or provide any of the satisfying ratcheting tactile feedback that made the Buds 2 Pro case such an addictive fidget toy. Instead, it’s reminiscent of the basic lanyard attachment found on the standard CMF Buds, making the Plus feel less premium despite its position at the top of the lineup.

Touch controls on the earbuds themselves remain responsive and customizable through the Nothing X app. The earbuds retain their IP55 rating for dust and splash resistance, making them suitable for workouts and light rain exposure. The buds snap into place inside the case via sturdy magnets, and the whole package features a refined finish paired with sandblasted metal accents, giving them a smooth, soft feel that is surprisingly scratch-resistant.

What are the best features of the CMF Buds 2 Plus?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus has a ton of features to use via the Nothing X app. I think the best addition is the new Personal Sound feature powered by Audiodo. This feature guides you through a hearing test to create a customized audio profile tailored to your unique hearing characteristics. However, it does come with the tradeoff of losing my preferred Dirac Opteo EQ found in the CMF Buds 2, for example.

The app retains its intuitive circular tri-band equalizer for sound customization, five Ultra Bass modes, and the option to enable Spatial Audio Effects. I found my music sounded better without spatial audio, and anything more than level 3 of Ultra Bass was too much. The app also adds an additional ANC control with the new Smart Adaptive Mode to adjust to your environment. Smart integration features include ChatGPT access directly through your earbuds, Low Lag Mode for gaming (delivering under 105ms latency with Nothing Phones), Find My Earbuds functionality, and the option to enable in-ear detection.

How does the CMF Buds 2 Plus connect?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus uses the latest Bluetooth 5.4, offering an improved wireless connection with the same 10-meter range. Pairing remains straightforward with Google Fast Pair support for Android devices. The Dual Connection feature allows you to pair with up to two devices and quickly switch between them, which is useful when working on, say, both a phone and a laptop.

By default, the earbuds support SBC and AAC codecs. However, LDAC is available through the Nothing X app for compatible devices, enabling higher-quality wireless audio that approaches but doesn’t fully match Hi-Res standards.

How long do the CMF Buds 2 Plus’ battery last?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus lasted 10 hours and 42 minutes with ANC off in our testing. While that’s more than the 6 hours offered by the CMF Buds Pro 2, it does come up short of the company’s advertised 14 hours of playback. With the charging case, total listening time extends to around 60 hours. Fast charging capabilities have also improved, with a quick 10-minute charge providing over 8 hours of playback time, compared to just 3 hours of the Buds Pro 2.

How well do the CMF Buds 2 Plus cancel noise?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus delivers similar noise cancelation performance to its predecessor. While they advertised 50dB Hybrid ANC, our measurements reveal it reaches only just past 40dB in select frequency ranges. The Buds 2 Plus actually performs slightly worse than the Buds Pro 2 in the critical 50-100 Hz range, where airplane and bus engine rumble dominate. But they perform much better at canceling out high-pitched noises. Overall, they reduce the perceived loudness of outside noise by 83%.

The Smart Adaptive Mode automatically adjusts between the three intensity levels based on your environment, and it worked well enough during my usage. Still, I would tend to set ANC to High and forget it. The passive isolation remains virtually identical to the Buds Pro 2, providing good attenuation, and the transparency mode passes sound through at a near-identical level to not wearing the earbuds at all.

How do the CMF Buds 2 Plus sound?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus delivers a clean and detailed sound profile with restrained but present bass.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics assesses the sound of the CMF Buds 2 Plus. The sound quality is rated on a scale from 1.0 (very bad) to 5.0 (very good).

The CMF Buds 2 Plus hits an impressive 4.8 overall in our MDAQS testing, with timbre being the star performer at a near-perfect 4.9. The earbuds score decent but not outstanding marks for distortion (3.7) and immersiveness (3.8), which explains the occasional harshness at higher volumes and adequate soundstage presentation. These are excellent scores for budget earbuds, suggesting that most listeners will enjoy the default sound quality across various music genres.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

The Pop EQ preset, which is the default sound signature of the CMF Buds 2 Plus, demonstrates a balanced frequency response. Looking at the graph, the blue line (Buds 2 Plus) follows our house curve very closely. There is some bass elevation of approximately 5-7dB above the target curve, which isn’t overpowering but can be reduced using the custom EQ.

There is a small peak in the midrange at 350 Hz, right where the upper bass transitions into the lower midrange, about 2 dB more than our house curve looks for, that give vocals a touch more presence and warmth. The upper midrange and treble regions (2000-10000 Hz) align well with the target, with just a few minor peaks and dips that add some character without harshness.

The resonance peak around 8000 Hz and subsequent dip at 9000 Hz are typical of in-ear monitors and don’t detract significantly from the overall sound signature. Overall, these earbuds deliver a more refined, balanced sound profile that should appeal to a broader range of listeners.

Can you use the CMF Buds 2 Plus for phone calls?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus houses a six-microphone array, paired with the same AI noise reduction algorithm as the flagship Nothing Ear. Voice capture is clear and well-balanced in quiet environments. You’ll have no problem taking phone calls.

CMF Buds 2 Plus microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Should you buy the CMF Buds 2 Plus?

The CMF Buds 2 Plus delivers genuine improvements over the Buds Pro 2, such as more personalization, better sound quality, microphone quality, longer battery life, and adaptive ANC. These are meaningful upgrades that enhance the listening experience. When you compare these earbuds to other budget contenders like the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5, which cost nearly twice as much, they completely blow them out of the water.

Still, I can’t help feeling disappointed by the removal of the Smart Dial—the most unique and satisfying feature of the Buds 2 Pro. What made the Smart Dial special wasn’t just its tactile clickiness, but how it functioned as a pocket-sized remote control. It lets you adjust volume, skip tracks, and control playback without needing to pull out your phone or tap the earbuds (which often compromises the fit and seal). The replacement lanyard attachment is not something I’ll use and feels like a cheap downgrade.

For anyone shopping in this price range, the CMF Buds 2 Plus should be at the top of your consideration list. The combination of excellent sound quality, extensive feature set, and solid ANC performance creates a package that’s simply unmatched by competitors. While existing Buds 2 Pro owners don’t have to upgrade unless they value the improved sound signature, new buyers will get extraordinary value that punches well above its modest price tag.

What should you get instead of the CMF Buds 2 Plus?

I still think the CMF Buds Pro 2 remains the better value buy at on the product's website. While its default sound signature is bass-heavy, many listeners might actually prefer this tuning, and those who don’t can easily adjust it using the Nothing X app’s custom EQ. Most importantly, you get the superior Smart Dial on the case, which provides an intuitive and satisfying way to control your music without touching your phone or compromising your earbuds’ seal.

If you don’t have a device to utilize LDAC or care for personalized sound profiles, the cheaper CMF Buds 2 are an amazing value at $59 at Amazon. They deliver great sound quality with Dirac Opteo and excellent ANC performance.

For those prioritizing ultra-portability and an even lower price point, the  JLab JBuds Mini are worth considering. At just $39.99 at Amazon, these tiny earbuds can be attached to your keychain, making them incredibly convenient for on-the-go use. While they lack ANC, they offer surprisingly good sound isolation and an IP55 rating, making them suitable for workouts.

If you’re drawn to unique design, the  Nothing Ear (a) is a good alternative at a slightly higher price point of $95 at Amazon. It features a distinctive transparent aesthetic and provides comparable performance to the CMF Buds 2 Plus in terms of sound quality and ANC, with the added benefit of Nothing’s recognizable design language that stands out from the crowd.

CMF Buds 2 Plus review: FAQs