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CMF Buds 2 Plus vs CMF Buds Pro 2: Better sound or smarter controls?
May 14, 2025
CMF by Nothing has rapidly built a reputation for delivering budget earbuds with premium features, and the CMF Buds Pro 2 and CMF Buds 2 Plus showcase that ambition in full. On paper, both pairs offer strong active noise cancelation (ANC), access to the robust Nothing X app, and high-end audio features like LDAC. But in my testing, each caters to a slightly different listener — and yes, one of them drops the beloved Smart Dial. Find out how these sub-$100 earbuds stack up in this CMF Buds 2 Plus vs CMF Buds Pro 2 head-to-head.
This article was originally published on May 14, 2025, and this is the first version.
What’s it like to use the CMF Buds 2 Plus compared to the CMF Buds Pro 2?
Using the CMF Buds Pro 2 is a delight, largely thanks to the Smart Dial on the charging case. I loved controlling playback, volume, and ANC without ever touching the earbuds or reaching for my phone. The dial feels tactile and satisfying, almost like a fidget toy with purpose. The earbuds themselves are lightweight, stay in place during light activity, and come in eye-catching colors like Radioactive Orange. They’re great for long listening sessions, and features like in-ear detection and strong magnets in the case add polish to the experience.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus, on the other hand, feel more mature — and more boring. They maintain the same comfortable, lightweight fit, but Nothing replaced the functional Smart Dial with a non-functional rotating lanyard loop. It’s a real loss in everyday usability. Touch controls on the earbuds are responsive and customizable via the app, but I constantly missed the dial’s convenience. The case and buds feel premium with sandblasted metal accents, yet I couldn’t shake the sense that Nothing removed something special.
| Input | Function |
|---|---|
Double tap | Skip forward Answer calls |
Triple tap | Skip back Hang up calls |
Tap & hold | Noise control |
Double tap & hold | Volume up/down |
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Input Double Tap | Left earbud Next song | Right earbud Next song |
| Input Triple Tap | Left earbud Previous song | Right earbud Previous song |
| Input Tap & Hold for 1 second | Left earbud Switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode | Right earbud Switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode |
Do the CMF Buds 2 Plus or Buds Pro 2 have more features?
Feature-wise, the Buds 2 Plus technically take the lead. They introduce Personal Sound, powered by Audiodo, which tailors audio to your hearing profile through a built-in test. I found this made subtle but welcome improvements to midrange clarity, especially around the 3-5kHz range. They also offer Smart Adaptive ANC, improved fast charging, and all the usual goodies from the Nothing X ap,p like EQ presets, Spatial Audio, Ultra Bass modes, and ChatGPT integration.
The Buds Pro 2 aren’t slouches either. You still get the tri-band EQ, Ultra Bass, in-ear detection, and ChatGPT control. They do lack the Personal Sound profile and Smart Adaptive ANC modes of the 2 Plus, but for many, the core features will be more than enough for most people.
How do the CMF Buds 2 Plus and Buds Pro 2 connect?
Both earbuds deliver a strong, stable Bluetooth connection with Dual Device support, though they lack full Multipoint functionality. The Buds Pro 2 use Bluetooth 5.3, while the Buds 2 Plus step up to Bluetooth 5.4, which provides slightly quicker pairing and more robust performance during my testing. Both support SBC, AAC, and LDAC, though you’ll need to enable LDAC via the app.
Pairing both sets is simple. Open the case, press and hold the button until the LED flashes, and connect via Bluetooth settings. Google Fast Pair support on Android devices makes the process even easier.
Is battery life better on the CMF Buds 2 Plus or CMF Buds Pro 2?
Battery life is a clear win for the CMF Buds 2 Plus. In testing, they lasted 10 hours and 22 minutes with ANC off — nearly four hours longer than the Buds Pro 2, which hit about 6 hours and 15 minutes with ANC on. The case of the 2 Plus extends total listening time to around 60 hours, compared to 39 hours with the Pro 2.
Fast charging also favors the Buds 2 Plus. Just 10 minutes yields over 8 hours of playback with ANC off. In contrast, the Buds Pro 2 offer only 3 hours (ANC off) or under 2 hours (ANC on) for the same charge time. If battery longevity is high on your priority list, the Buds 2 Plus offer more endurance.
Do the CMF Buds 2 Plus or CMF Buds Pro 2 block noise better?
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Both earbuds provide impressive ANC for their price, but the differences are nuanced. The Buds Pro 2 excel in the low-frequency range, reducing sounds like traffic or engine rumble by around 81%. During my commute, they dulled the roar of buses surprisingly well, though high-pitched noises like horns still crept through.
The Buds 2 Plus improve in higher frequencies, effectively suppressing sharp sounds and offering slightly stronger overall noise reduction at 83%. That said, they underperform the Buds Pro 2 in the 50-100Hz range, where that deep engine noise lives. Smart Adaptive ANC also helps the 2 Plus adjust on the fly, but I often kept it set to High for best results. The transparency mode performs similarly across both models — it is passable but not mind-blowing.
Do the CMF Buds 2 Plus sound better than the CMF Buds Pro 2?
The CMF Buds Pro 2 offer an energetic, bass-forward sound that works well for EDM and hip-hop but can muddy vocals and mids. The Nothing X app EQ helped tame some of that boom, but the tuning still leans fun over fidelity. If you like your low-end thick, you’ll enjoy the Pro 2 — but they’re not what I’d call balanced.
The Buds 2 Plus, by contrast, sound significantly more refined out of the box. The bass is tighter, the treble is controlled, and the overall presentation is cleaner. You can still bump up the Ultra Bass if that’s your jam, but the default tuning works better across genres. I particularly appreciated the separation and natural width when listening to jazz and acoustic tracks.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
The Buds 2 Plus scored 4.8 overall, compared to 4.5 for the Buds Pro 2. Timbre is stronger at 4.9 vs 4.4, suggesting better tonal accuracy. The Buds Pro 2 did edge out in Immersiveness with a 4.8 (vs 3.8), likely due to their more exaggerated soundstage, but their Distortion score was slightly better at 4.3 compared to 3.7 on the 2 Plus.
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
Objective Measurements
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Looking at the graphs, the Buds Pro 2 show an aggressive bass boost peaking around 50Hz, with up to 15dB elevation. Treble shows multiple peaks and dips, which explains the occasional harshness I experienced with cymbals and guitar solos. The Buds 2 Plus follow the SoundGuys house curve more closely, with just a modest 5-7dB bass bump and a smoother mid-to-high-end response. Even with EQ tweaks, the Buds 2 Plus deliver a more natural, less fatiguing experience.
Do the CMF Buds 2 Plus or CMF Buds Pro 2 have a better microphone?
Call quality is decent on both, but the Buds 2 Plus pull slightly ahead. Both feature six-mic arrays with AI noise suppression, and both handle wind and street noise well. That said, I found that the Buds 2 Plus preserved my voice clarity more effectively, especially in reverberant or busy environments.
The Buds Pro 2 microphones work well enough, and callers could understand me even in noisy areas. But my voice sounded a bit more muffled compared to the Buds 2 Plus. Wind performance is impressive across the board, but for the clearest calls, especially in varied environments, the newer model wins out.
CMF Buds 2 Plus microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
CMF Buds Pro 2 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
CMF Buds 2 Plus microphone demo (Street conditions):
CMF Buds Pro 2 microphone demo (Street conditions):
CMF Buds 2 Plus vs CMF Buds Pro 2: Price and availability
The CMF Buds Pro 2 retail for $59, while the Buds 2 Plus come in at $69 — just a $10 difference. Both are available through major retailers and offer standout value at their price points. However, the Buds Pro 2 have gone on sale, occasionally dipping below $50, which makes them especially compelling.
At just under $70, the Buds 2 Plus still undercut many competitors offering LDAC, ANC, and personalized audio. Whether that extra $10 is worth it comes down to how much you value the added battery life and sound precision versus the unique utility of the Smart Dial.
Should you get the CMF Buds 2 Plus or CMF Buds Pro 2?
If you’re after better overall sound quality, longer battery life, and smart audio customization, the CMF Buds 2 Plus are the smarter buy. They cater to listeners who prefer balance over bass and who want features like personalized hearing profiles and Adaptive ANC.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus sound better and last longer, but the CMF Buds Pro 2 are simply more fun to use.
But if convenience, tactile controls, and bass-driven fun define your audio needs, the CMF Buds Pro 2 still shine. That Smart Dial isn’t just a gimmick — it reshapes how you use your earbuds day to day. Ultimately, both pairs deliver excellent value, but your choice comes down to sound preferences and how much you’ll miss the dial once it’s gone.