CMF Buds Pro 2 Review: Are They Worth It? | Specs, ANC, Battery

When you spend under $100 on wireless earbuds, you usually have to make trade-offs: decent sound but no ANC, or long battery life with a bulky fit. CMF by Nothing is trying to rewrite that rulebook with the Buds Pro 2, a pair that squeezes in a smart dial, dual drivers, and up to 50 dB of noise cancellation—all while keeping the price tag firmly in budget territory.

Active Noise Cancellation: Up to 50 dB ·
Battery Life (total): 43 hours ·
Drivers: Dual (11mm + 6mm) ·
Smart Dial: Customisable control ·
Spatial Audio: Supported ·
Weight per bud: 4.6g

Seven key specs, one pattern: CMF has prioritised the features that matter most at this price, even if it means cutting corners elsewhere.

Are the CMF Buds Pro 2 good?

Sound quality

• The CMF Buds Pro 2 support the LDAC Bluetooth codec and are Hi-Res certified, meaning they can handle high-resolution audio streams when used with compatible Android devices (LoudnWireless (tech audio review site)). The dual drivers—an 11mm woofer and a 6mm tweeter—aim for clean mids and punchy bass, while Ultra Bass mode adds extra thump. Dirac Opteo sound optimisation and spatial audio further polish the listening experience (LoudnWireless).

On the downside, enabling LDAC can reduce battery life and Bluetooth stability, according to earbud reviewer Scarbir (Scarbir (earbud specialist)). For iPhone users, AAC is the highest codec available—solid but not on par with LDAC.

Battery life

• RTINGS notes that the Nothing Ear (the pricier sibling) have slightly longer battery life than the CMF Buds Pro 2 (RTINGS (headphone review lab)). Scarbir reports a real-world range of roughly 4 to 8 hours per charge depending on volume and ANC usage (Scarbir). The total battery with the charging case is listed at 43 hours, a figure that competes with the Nothing Ear (a) and beats many budget options.

The implication: if you’re a heavy commuter who keeps ANC on, plan for a top-up every 5–6 hours. The fast charging—10 minutes for 4 hours of playback—helps offset that.

ANC performance

• The CMF Buds Pro 2 deliver up to 50 dB of adaptive noise cancellation, which RTINGS says provides more powerful noise isolation overall than the Nothing Ear (RTINGS). The transparency mode lets outside sound in when needed, and six microphones improve call clarity by filtering wind and background chatter.

Why this matters: for less than $100, you’re getting ANC that rivals models costing twice as much. The catch is that the adaptive tuning can sometimes be aggressive during sudden noise changes.

Build and design

• Available in red, black, white, and blue (Scarbir), the Buds Pro 2 carry Nothing’s signature transparent aesthetic. The case features a rotating Smart Dial that controls volume, track skipping, and playback with clicky feedback (Scarbir). The buds are IP55 rated, meaning they resist sweat and light rain—fine for workouts but not for swimming.

What is the difference between CMF Buds 2 and 2 Pro?

Three key areas separate the two models: controls, driver hardware, and ANC. The table below highlights the big differences.

The trade-off: for an extra $25, the Pro 2 adds ANC, a second driver, wireless charging, and the unique Smart Dial. If you’re strictly budget-conscious and don’t need noise cancellation, the regular Buds 2 will save you money. But the Pro 2 clearly offers the better value proposition for anyone who values sound quality and isolation.

Is Buds Air 7 better than CMF Buds Pro 2?

Sound quality

• Xiaomi’s Buds Air 7 are another budget contender, but the CMF Buds Pro 2’s dual driver setup and LDAC support give it an edge in clarity and detail (LoudnWireless). The Buds Air 7 use a single dynamic driver and lack Hi-Res certification.

ANC

• Both offer ANC, but RTINGS tests show the CMF Buds Pro 2 provide stronger overall noise isolation (RTINGS). Xiaomi’s model does not match the 50 dB peak.

Battery

• The Buds Air 7 claim up to 38 hours total, slightly less than the CMF’s 43 hours (YouTube comparison). Both support fast charging, but the CMF adds wireless charging.

Price

• Generally, the Buds Air 7 are priced similarly or slightly lower, but you lose the Smart Dial and spatial audio features.

The pattern: the CMF Buds Pro 2 win on audio fidelity and feature depth. The Buds Air 7 might appeal to Xiaomi ecosystem users, but for most buyers, the CMF is the better all-rounder at the same price point.

Are the CMF Buds 2A good?

Features compared to Pro 2

• The CMF Buds 2A are an even cheaper variant, typically missing ANC, wireless charging, and the dual driver setup (Scarbir). They use a single driver and have a plastic case without the rotating dial.

Value for money

• At roughly $30–35, the Buds 2A are a decent buy for basic listening, but they lack the features that make the Pro 2 stand out. User reviews on Reddit suggest the 2A are good for calls and light use, but not for noise‑sensitive environments (Reddit r/NOTHING community).

User feedback

• Reddit users generally recommend spending the extra $35 for the Pro 2 unless your sole priority is the lowest possible price. The 2A’s battery life is also lower—about 30 hours total.

The catch: the 2A is a serviceable backup pair, but the Pro 2 offers so much more for the money that it’s hard to recommend the cheaper model unless every dollar counts.

What does CMF stand for?

Origin of the acronym

• CMF stands for Color, Material, Finish (LoudnWireless). It’s a term used in industrial design to describe the visual and tactile choices a product makes.

Nothing’s CMF sub‑brand

• CMF by Nothing was launched in 2023 as an affordable sub‑brand that retains Nothing’s design language while targeting lower price brackets (LoudnWireless). The Buds Pro 2 are among its most ambitious products.

Design philosophy

• The philosophy is “premium design on a budget.” The transparent case, the mechanical dial, and the choice of vibrant colors all reflect the CMF ethos—making good design accessible.

Why this matters: understanding the CMF name helps explain why the Buds Pro 2 feel more premium than their price suggests. Nothing is deliberately applying high‑end design thinking to the mass market.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

What people are saying

The CMF Buds Pro 2 are positioned as budget true wireless earbuds with a distinctive case-mounted control dial that can adjust volume and playback.

LoudnWireless (tech audio review site)

The CMF Buds Pro 2 are good for traveling and commuting.

RTINGS (headphone review lab)

The bottom line for UK buyers

For £60–70, the CMF Buds Pro 2 deliver a feature set that challenges earbuds costing twice as much. The ANC is powerful, the sound is detailed thanks to dual drivers, and the Smart Dial is a genuinely useful innovation. The biggest unknowns are long‑term reliability and software support, but for a first‑generation budget product, that’s a risk many early adopters are willing to take. For the price‑conscious UK shopper who wants ANC, good battery life, and a touch of design flair, the choice is clear: buy the CMF Buds Pro 2, or spend significantly more on the Nothing Ear for a slightly more refined experience.

Frequently asked questions