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CMF Buds 2 review: Budget buds that crush the competition
13 hours ago
CMF Buds 2
The CMF Buds 2 arrive as the middle child in Nothing’s refreshed audio lineup. They promise double the battery life, enhanced noise cancelation, and spatial audio over the first CMF Buds, all without breaking the bank. Has CMF cracked the code for affordable audio excellence, or are these just another pair of budget buds in a flashy package? Let’s take a listen.
The CMF Buds 2 are for people who want premium features without the premium price tag. They’re ideal for commuters who need effective noise cancelation, music lovers who appreciate spatial audio effects, and anyone who needs a longer battery life.
This article was published on May 10, 2025, and this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What’s it like to use the CMF Buds 2?
The CMF Buds 2 maintain the squared-off minimalist design that made the originals recognizable, adding a few refinements. The earbuds feature a sandblasted matte finish that feels smoother, complemented by durable metal accents and a now transparent corner dial that remains purely decorative with two holes for a lanyard to pass through. They also have more color options than the original model, including Dark Grey, Light Green, and Orange.
Comfort remains a strong point, with the earbuds sitting securely without causing fatigue during extended wear. They actually fit so lightweight and snug that I sometimes forgot I was wearing them. The touch controls are located on the stems, which can push the ear tips further into your ears or compromise the fit when activated—a minor quibble that carries over from the first generation. The earbuds gain an IP55 rating for dust and splash resistance, making them suitable for workouts and light rain exposure.
In the box, you’ll find the earbuds, charging case, USB-C charging cable, and additional silicone ear tips in different sizes to ensure a proper seal: nothing extravagant, but everything you need to get started.
Below is a table of the default controls for the CMF Buds 2. All functions can be reassigned within the app. Curiously, there is no single tap function to assign controls, which is usually how the Play/Pause functions are performed on earbuds.
| 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 |
What are the best features of the CMF Buds 2?
The Nothing X app remains the command center for the CMF Buds 2. It offers a three-band custom equalizer with a handful of EQ presets, including one for Dirac Opteo. There’s also a new Ultra Bass mode with five intensity levels.
Practical features that stand out include Low Lag Mode (under 110ms latency with Nothing Phones), seamless dual device connection, reliable in-ear detection, and ChatGPT voice integration. The new “Find my earbuds” function helps locate misplaced buds—a small but welcome addition that utilizes the battery life indicators to blink rapidly.
Touch controls remain customizable, allowing you to independently change double taps, triple taps, and tap-and-hold gestures for both earbuds. However, certain functions, like raising or lowering the volume, are limited to tap-and-hold, which is odd.
How does the CMF Buds 2 connect?
The CMF Buds 2 feature Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, offering stable wireless performance with a standard 10-meter range.
Codec support is limited to AAC and SBC only. For those seeking higher-quality audio codecs like LDAC, you can pay $10 more for the CMF Buds 2 Plus.
The earbuds also support dual device connections, allowing you to stay connected to two devices simultaneously without the hassle of repairing them.
To pair the CMF Buds 2:
- Open the case with the earbuds inside.
- Press and hold the pairing button in the lower right corner of the inside of the case until the LED light on the side of the case begins to flash.
- Select the CMF Buds 2 from the list of available Bluetooth devices on your smartphone.
How long do the CMF Buds 2’s battery last?
In our testing, the CMF Buds 2 delivered roughly 9 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC off. With the case, you can get up to 55 hours, which should be enough for a week without needing to plug them in.
When you need to recharge, the quick charging capability has also improved. A mere 10-minute charge now provides up to 7.5 hours of listening time, compared to the 6.5 hours offered by the original model. As with the original, there’s still no wireless charging support.
How well do the CMF Buds 2 cancel noise?
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The CMF Buds 2 offer impressive noise cancelation performance, though our measurements show they don’t quite reach the full 48dB claimed in marketing. As shown in the attenuation chart above, the active noise cancelation (blue line) peaks at around 35-38dB in certain frequency ranges, which still provides good noise reduction where it matters most.
The ANC is particularly effective in the low frequency range between 50 and 200Hz, where most environmental noise occurs, such as transportation rumble, air conditioning, and engine sounds. Here, the Buds 2 perform notably better than the original CMF Buds. The passive isolation (purple line) complements the ANC well, particularly in higher frequencies above 1000Hz, where physical barriers naturally work better than noise cancelation tech. Overall, they reduce the perceived loudness of outside noise by 82%.
How do the CMF Buds 2 sound?
The CMF Buds 2 deliver a bass-forward but more balanced sound than their predecessors, with impressive spatial audio effects and good timbre. However, they still lack some brilliance in the treble region where vocal and instrumental details live.
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. The sound quality is rated on a scale from 1.0 (very bad) to 5.0 (very good).
The CMF Buds 2 get a respectable overall score of 4.5, meaning most people will like how they sound. With a Timbre score of 4.8, they excel at reproducing the frequency spectrum. The Immersiveness score also reaches 4.8, and is further improved by the new Spatial Audio Effect feature. The Distortion score is notably lower at 3.1, suggesting some non-linearities in sound reproduction, particularly at higher volumes.
- 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.
See here for an explanation of MDAQS, how it works, and how it was developed.
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
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The frequency response for the CMF Buds 2 shows some noticeable bass emphasis, about 5-9dB more low-end than our house curve recommends. Still, this is more restrained than the original CMF Buds’ 15dB of bass emphasis. The treble region is also underemphasized by about 3-4dB between 3- 6 kHz, which can reduce detail and clarity in vocals and acoustic instruments.
Vocals EQ Preset
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I found this to be the best-sounding preset, with excellent balance, reduced bass emphasis, and improved presence in vocal frequencies. It delivers natural timbre and clarity for both music and spoken content.
Pop EQ Preset
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There’s moderate bass strength with adequate presence in the mids, striking a reasonable balance for mainstream music while maintaining homogeneity across frequencies.
Rock EQ Preset
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This one significantly boosts bass depth and strength for a powerful low-end punch that works well with guitar-driven music, though it may sound less detailed with complex arrangements.
Electronic EQ Preset
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Emphasizes both bass depth and high-frequency brilliance while slightly recessing mids, creating an exciting V-shaped sound signature perfect for EDM and dance music.
Classical EQ Preset
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A neutral preset with restrained bass and balanced mids, offering improved detail and spatial depth that showcases the natural timbre of orchestral instruments.
Can you use the CMF Buds 2 for phone calls?
The CMF Buds 2 deliver solid call performance thanks to their six HD microphones (up from four in the original) and improved Clear Voice Technology 3.0. In ideal conditions, callers reported that my voice came through with good clarity and natural tonality.
CMF Buds 2 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
CMF Buds 2 microphone demo (Office conditions):
CMF Buds 2 microphone demo (Street conditions):
CMF Buds 2 microphone demo (Windy conditions):
CMF Buds 2 microphone demo (Reverberant space):
The Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 technology works particularly well, effectively minimizing distortion during outdoor calls. Interestingly, the Environmental Noise Cancellation algorithm performs better in street conditions than in busy office environments, where sounds like ringing phones will still get through. However, your voice remains the primary focus without being overshadowed. While not perfect in extremely noisy situations, the overall experience is an upgrade from the previous generation.
Should you buy the CMF Buds 2?
The CMF Buds 2 represent exceptional value in the increasingly competitive budget earbud market. At $59, they deliver features and performance that would have cost well over $100 just a couple of years ago. The combination of effective hybrid ANC, spatial audio, impressive battery life, and balanced sound tuning puts them ahead of many competitors in the sub-$80 range.
What makes the CMF Buds 2 so compelling is how few compromises they make despite their affordable price point. While brands like JLab, Skullcandy, and Anker offer options in this range, they typically sacrifice either sound quality, ANC performance, or battery life to hit these price points. The CMF Buds 2 delivers solid performance across all these metrics while adding premium touches like spatial audio effects and six-microphone arrays. For budget-conscious consumers who want a taste of higher-end audio features without the premium price tag, these earbuds offer the best overall value in today’s market.
What should you get instead of the CMF Buds 2?
If you’re looking for alternatives to the CMF Buds 2, there are several options worth considering across different price points:
- Step up: The CMF Buds Pro 2 are worth the extra investment (on the product's website) if you are looking for LDAC and value the smart dial functionality, which adds convenient physical controls that make everyday use more intuitive. Also consider the CMF Buds 2 Plus ($69 at Amazon), which, while missing the smart dial, does have better sound quality and ANC performance.
- Step down: Budget shoppers should consider the Moondrop Space Travel at just $24.99 at Amazon, which deliver impressive sound and ANC performance at an ultra-affordable price point, even if they have an odd, exposed charging case.
- For smaller ears: If you have small ears and need something extremely portable, you can’t go wrong with the JLab JBuds Mini ($39.99 at Amazon), which offer a comfortable, secure fit in a tiny package.
CMF Buds 2 review: FAQs
The CMF Buds 2 have an IP55 rating, making them resistant to water jets and dust. While they can handle sweat, rain, and workouts, they aren't fully waterproof and shouldn't be submerged. The charging case has a lower IPX2 rating, offering minimal protection against dripping water.
The CMF Buds 2 are suitable for moderate exercise thanks to their secure fit and IP55 sweat resistance. Their ergonomic design helps them stay in place during most activities, though very intense workouts might require more specialized sports earbuds.
Yes, the CMF Buds 2 work with both iPhone and Android devices.
Yes, each earbud can be used independently in mono mode, and you can assign specific tap controls to each earbud.
No, the CMF Buds 2 only support AAC and SBC codecs. For LDAC support, you would need to upgrade to the CMF Buds Pro 2 or 2 Plus.