CMF Buds Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds with Smart Dial, 50dB Hybrid Noise Cancelling Earbuds Wireless Bluetooth 5.3, 11mm Bass with LDAC, 6 Hi-Res Audio Mics, 43H Playtime, Fast Charging Case, Blue

I cannot believe the sound quality to price ratio you get with these. My Bose QuietComforts, though better at ANC, are a close match in regards to sound quality. I also have the Nothing Buds (a), and they do not match the sound quality that these particular CMFs provide. These CMFs have dual drivers, while many others utilize single drivers. I find this dual driver design superior for louder listening, especially for high frequencies or spatial effects as those beloved deep bass notes don't drown out the highs as they are emitted from a dedicated driver. Build quality, being honest, is a B-, while the Nothing Buds get an A- from me. They're all plastic at the end of the day, I just feel the CMFs could of used a bit higher quality material, yet it does keep the bud weight down, so maybe it wasn't by accident. Battery life is not an issue and a full charge of the case will easily carry you through the day. With ANC off, it will last you several days of moderate to heavy use. Noise canceling is pretty good, but I'm comparing that to a much more expensive set designed specifically for ANC, so they do the job well. So for the price, build, sound and features, you sincerely can't go wrong with a set of these. I'm big into music, and especially the quality side of things as true high fidelity music hits different. With LDAC support on these with a new enough device, you can aquire some high quality music on your phone using applications such as Tidal or QoBoz. If you really want to enjoy the full sound quality, start there. As a bonus, the case and its ability to deactivate its control features by a double press is a huge plus if you're worried about mistakenly triggering commands. The Nothing Brand is not playing around as they have a plethora of devices out, and they are not stopping as far as improvements..Firmware updates which take a few minutes will be needed out of the box, so plan on that on your first use. 5☆

CMF Buds Pro 2 by Nothing, and I am genuinely impressed. The sound quality is outstanding, with deep, punchy bass, clear vocals, and crisp highs that make every song sound incredible. Whether I’m listening to music, watching videos, or taking phone calls, the audio is consistently rich and detailed. The active noise cancellation works surprisingly well, blocking out background noise and helping me stay focused. Battery life has also been excellent, lasting all day with plenty of charge left. The design is sleek and modern, and the charging case feels premium and compact. Pairing was quick and easy, and the connection has been stable with no dropouts. For the price, these earbuds deliver features and sound quality that compete with much more expensive brands. If you’re looking for excellent audio, strong noise cancellation, and a stylish design, I highly recommend the CMF Buds Pro 2.

I ordered these CMF Buds Pro 2 as well as the original CMF Buds so I could compare them and decide if the moderately higher price of the Buds Pro 2 was worth it. TLDR: The Buds Pro 2 provide a noticeably superior experience and are easily worth the extra money if you have a discerning ear. I am an audiophile who worked in the home theater industry for several years, including installing and calibrating home audio systems for authentic and dynamic music reproduction. I care about accurate sound reproduction and clarity, but I also enjoy dynamic sound that I can feel. I always want to experience the full range of sounds present in a recording. So that's my baseline as I evaluate the ear buds. The original CMF Buds sound good, with punchy bass and no distortion, but it was difficult to get the right balance of mids and highs that provide crystal clear sound without it getting too tinny. In contrast, the Buds Pro 2 provide great bass while also providing clear mids and highs without being harsh or tinny. Bass is good in both products, but again, the Buds Pro 2 come out on top because they can provide bass without getting muddy. The bass is there, but it does not overpower the mids or highs. Spatial Audio on the Buds Pro 2 does a good job of creating a better sound stage. It really does put you in the middle of the music and it enhances the space between the left and right audio tracks. It also enhances the clarity of the audio. Listening to "Take 5" by the Dave Brubeck quartet is a joy on the Buds Pro 2 and hearing the difference with spatial audio on vs off highlights the virtues of Spatial Audio. The original Buds do not support Spatial Audio, so this is a clear advantage of the Buds Pro 2. Noise Cancelling is good on both, with the Buds Pro 2 providing a higher level of noise cancellation. I am not often in noisy environments, so I can't comment on the differences between these two products. The one thing I can comment on is the clarity of the Transparency mode. With the original buds I tried turning on clarity mode while at work and having a conversation with coworkers. My coworkers sounded muffled and my voice sounded to me like I was wearing earplugs. It was not a good experience. However, with the Buds Pro 2 the transparency mode works really well. I can still tell I have my ear buds in, but I can easily hear others and my own voice is only slightly annoying coming through the ear buds. :) Call clarity is good on both. I could hear the other person very well, and they said I sounded good. I don't take many calls with the ear buds, but so far I have not noticed any differences in any aspect of the call quality. The case click-wheel on the Buds Pro 2 is really enjoyable to use. As I wear the ear buds at my desk in my office job, I often use the click-wheel to adjust the volume, play/pause my music, and switch between noise cancelling and transparency mode. Each of these functions work well and the tactile feel of the wheel is really satisfying. Bottom Line The Buds Pro 2 and the original Buds are both good products. If you want a solid pair of earbuds and you are a casual user, the original Buds should work well for you. If you are picky about music quality and want to ensure an audio experience that you really enjoy, the Buds Pro 2 are easily worth the extra money.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The ultimate runner-up—nearly took the top spot! I’ve been searching for the absolute best budget buds, and while the Redmi Buds 6 still holds my #1 spot, the CMF Buds Pro 2 is a incredibly close second. If you want something that feels a bit more "unique" and tech-forward, these might actually be better for you. The "Smart Dial" Game Changer The standout feature here is the customizable Smart Dial on the case. It is so much more intuitive than standard touch controls: Twist for Volume: No more awkward tapping on your ear just to turn a song up. Press for Play/Pause/ANC: You can customize what the button does in the Nothing X app. It’s a physical interaction that feels premium and "high-quality." High-Quality Audio & ANC Like my top pick, these feature a dual-driver system (11mm bass driver + 6mm tweeter) that delivers a massive, energetic soundstage. The Sound: It’s very bass-forward, making it perfect for EDM or hip-hop, though you might want to tweak the EQ if you prefer more vocal clarity. Noise Cancellation: With 50dB Hybrid ANC, it does a fantastic job of silencing engine rumbles and office chatter. Why it's my Runner-Up While these are high-value and packed with features like LDAC support and Dual Connection, they just narrowly miss the #1 spot because the battery life (about 6.5 hours with ANC on) and overall ANC polish aren't quite as seamless as the Redmi. However, if you can find them on sale for under $50, they are a steal.

I’ve been a big supporter of CMF by Nothing for a while now. My first purchase was back in late 2023 when I bought the original CMF Buds. I had just switched from AirPods, and I was honestly blown away by how good they were for the price. They sounded great, were comfortable, and became my daily earbuds for almost two years. Eventually I lost one of them, so I decided it was time for an upgrade and picked up the CMF Buds 2a. Once again, Nothing delivered. The sound quality was excellent, and they held up incredibly well. I even accidentally jumped into a pool with one earbud still in my pocket, and it continued working perfectly afterward. As someone who works in lawn care and landscaping, my earbuds get used hard every day, so durability is important to me. My only real complaints with the 2a were the battery life and the noise cancellation occasionally cutting in and out. This week I upgraded to the CMF Buds Pro 2, and they’ve exceeded my expectations. They updated within minutes of taking them out of the box, they’re extremely comfortable, lightweight, and almost disappear once they’re in my ears. I chose the blue color because it had the fastest shipping, but it’s also a nice change after only owning white and black earbuds. The Nothing X app is excellent, and the Pro 2 have noticeably more features than the previous models. Adaptive noise cancellation has been especially useful while I’m working, and the Bluetooth connection has been very reliable even at longer distances. Over the past few years, CMF by Nothing has consistently impressed me with the value they offer. I’ve had a great experience across multiple generations of their earbuds, and I plan to keep using their products in the future.

Taken with a grain of salt, since I've been using them for a total of 30 minutes. Update - I've now worn them through 2 calls and all was well. No complaints from the other end, and my side was crystal clear. Comfort is good, and my longest session was 3 hours. No ear pain, and they stayed in my ears. Still have not used the case dial function. Oh yeah, after 3 hours of music play I put the buds back in the case and both buds were still at 83% battery. A couple minor weaknesses, but again, I keep in mind that they are sub $60 buds. The noise cancellation is wonky with loud noises (in my case Chainsaw and Circular saw). The pass through audio is not great, but I was able to have conversations with a few people at Lowes. This could be improved, but the price would go up. Music was still great. Original review: First song though them is All Night by Def Leppard from Euphoria. It has a lot of quasi variable sounds, a hint of soft rock rap, rock, acapella vocals, and vocals isolated with nothing but bass, good harmonies, both high and low tones. Normally I drive a new set of buds to max volume, but these approached uncomfortable at 3/4 volume, which is also where the "Ear Damage" warning pops up. I got to *80% volume and backed off (very impressive). They only have 3 tip options, SML, and are factory fitted with M. I switched to the Large and get good isolation. For this sub $60 purchase price I did not expect a hearing test from the app, and one does not exist, but it does have a fit test under the Device Settings. Also under the Device Settings is the Dual Connection option, which by default is set to off. If you switch to dual connection, the buds have to reboot, so don't do this if you're in the middle of listening to a song or on a phone call. Surprisingly, the app and buds have a Find My Earbuds option - unheard of for this price. The buds sound fantastic with Spacial Audio off, but there is a noticable enhancement when you enable Spacial Audio. I like both outputs equally, and thing for those who come from or are in the sound production world, my guess is they will prefer the perception of a pre and post mixed feel. Spacial off tends to be a lot more of a natural recording, and Spacial sounds like a producer got a low impact opportunity to add some effects, but not over powering. Another effect of Spacial is a slight volume boost. I've not yet tried the case dial, and while cool, I don't see a personal application, but still cool as a remote control for your buds, without the need to touch the buds or use the phone app. The case is a little larger than my Soundcore Space A40's, but I like the square shape. I also bought a matching TPU case so I'd not scratch up the case while in my pocket. There are only two things I poke at. There is no USB-C cable included (not a big deal - by now everyone has a dozen or more). The second is a personal preference, and that is earbud charge % display, and that it only shows charge drop in 5% increments, i.e. 100%, 95%, 90% etc. I am not yet able to speak to call quality, but that will happen soon I hope. So far I'm sticking with the Euphoria album, but I can't wait to hear Drive by The Cars, both for vocal and instrumental clarity.

TL;DR - Low cost, high quality, great sound, trick charging case is both a gift and a curse. Background: I usually keep two sets of wireless ear buds on hand all the time: one "good" set which are my daily drivers, and one cheap set for use when I travel (thereby sparing my good set any potential loss-related peril). After four years of faithful service, my cheapies (JLab GO Air Pop; usually $20-$25, but on sale at Walmart a couple times per year for around $10) finally gave up the ghost. It just so happened that it was around the time of the Prime Day sale, and the CMF Buds Pro 2 were going for below $40. Would these end up being the ultimate beater buds, or did I instead overpay for all flash and no substance? Let's find out... The Good: At first glance, one could be forgiven for thinking these were near $100 buds. The charging case is well crafted, with a substantial heft and build quality that belies the product's bargain price tag. The matte, slightly rubberized plastic finish provides a sense of luxury. The lid opens and closes purposefully, without any untoward flimsiness or rattling. The smart dial (as it's called) rotates with a satisfying click, and the same can be said when it is pressed as a button. Inside, the buds themselves continue the upscale appeal brought on by the case. The design is simple, yet elegant, even if not entirely unique. The magnetic attachment points on the "legs" of the buds snap forcefully into place when put into the case, and the hold is tighter than a toddler's grip on a lock of hair. Using the buds is a mostly pleasant experience. The included cushion tips come in the standard small, medium, and large sizes, so the vast majority of people should be able to find a comfortable fit. While I have not used these for working out or running, I can say that they tend to stay in place quite well when moving about, normally. By contrast, I have had other ear buds (wired and wireless) that would fall out if I so much as yawned with them in. Despite the touch controls being on the slender legs of the buds, inputting commands is easy and responsive. Using the smart dial on the case takes some getting used to, but works like a charm once you do. I can't speak to battery life just yet, as I only use them for an hour or less at a time, well below their advertised run time. I also have not tested the Bluetooth range, but I am happy to report that there have been no issues with stuttering or skipping as far as connectivity is concerned. "Yeah, that's great, but what about the sound?" Chill, people, I'm getting there! There is no earthly reason for something this inexpensive to sound this good! Punchy bass, crisp highs, and well-defined mids have these buds punching well above their weight. It is such a pleasure to maintain the same clarity of sound whether the volume is low, medium, or rupture-your-eardrums high. With the Nothing X companion app, the sound profile can be further enhanced with things like spatial audio, a 5-level bass boost ("Ultra bass"), and an equalizer with six presets, as well as a custom mode. Lastly, the active noise canceling (to include transparency/awareness mode), while not world-beating, is far better than I could have hoped for on something below triple digits. I realize I heaped a hearty amount of praise on these for their sound, but please note that this is relative to the price point. Do these truly outperform the best and brightest buds from Apple, Samsung, Sony, or Bose? Nah. But the JLabs, Skullcandys, Ankers, and Baseus' of the world should be deeply concerned. Sounds like the bees' knees, right? What faults could they possibly have? Well, since you asked... The Bad: Remember that super-cool charging case with the smart dial? Yeah, it's not all puppies and sunshine. While I absolutely appreciate that the case (if properly configured in the Nothing X app) gives me a way to change the volume without having to reach for my phone (or remember which action on which bud I have mapped for volume), it can get a little annoying in situations where I'm walking and my hand accidentally brushes the pocket, turning the dial. It's bad enough that the music has gotten louder or quieter unexpectedly, but the stupid thing beeps in your ear as if to confirm that yes, the volume did change. Turn it up three notches? Beep-beep-beep. Every. Single. Time. Not only that, but it also temporarily lowers the volume of the music, similar to when a notification comes in. Just today I was reaching into a kitchen cabinet to put something away, and the counter top pressed the smart dial button causing the music to stop. I have the button function of the smart dial mapped to play/pause, which leads to another gripe: the touch control mapping isn't great for my particular use case. Let me explain: on each ear bud, you have four mappable actions: double tap, triple tap, tap and hold, and double tap and hold. Each of those can be mapped to different things on each bud. However, only the double tap has the option to be mapped to play/pause. Personally, I prefer to have the same controls on both buds because I don't like the idea of having to reach across to the other ear to do something if the hand on the same side is unavailable for whatever reason (or accidently tapping the wrong side in a moment of confusion and getting an unexpected result). That said, my configuration for both buds is: Double tap: skip forward Triple tap: skip backward Tap and hold: ANC/transparency mode Double tap and hold: Left - volume down, Right - volume up Because of that configuration, I had to map play/pause to the button press action on the smart dial. I realize that this is a self-inflicted woe due to my unwillingness to map different functions to different buds, but would it really kill CMF to implement a single tap action and allow that to be mapped to play/pause? Finally, I realize that the smart dial can be locked to prevent accidental activation (like I experienced), but I feel like that kinda hinders the convenience of having such a feature in the first place. When I started writing this review, I intended to rate the product at four stars because of the issues I had with mapping the various actions. But the more I wrote, the more I realized that my "problems" had more to do with my individual preferences and less to do with actual shortcomings in the product. For that reason, there won't be any stars deducted. Conclusion: In a world of barebones budget buds and bank-breaking baller buds, it's comforting to know that, somewhere in the middle, there is an option that deftly marries the amenities of one to the agreeable cost of the other. Feature rich, solid construction, and upmarket look and feel are but a few fitting descriptors for these awesome buds. They may not be exactly perfect for me due to my personal preferences, but they're so much closer than anything at this price point has the right to be. All in all, I have failed in my quest to find a replacement set of "throwaway" buds, because these have earned a spot as the backups to my daily drivers. Now to find another set of actual cheapies...

I have about 50hrs of use at time of review. Pros: The case isn't gimmicky. It's has solid, programmable controls that feel good. It's also magnetic so even when the case is open your earbuds will not just fall out. In fact, you can open the case and try your hardest to shake them out and they'll stay perfectly in place. The earbuds have great battery life. At about 2/3rds volume with ANC on HIGH they use about 10% every hour with the case recharging them about 30% in about 10-15min. The App for the earbuds is actually really nice. It's not invasive (only requiring nearby device location to work) and isn't sluggish to bothersome to use with a fairly solid Equalizer. Easily one of the best earbud apps I've downloaded Sound quality with MUSIC is great and feels immersive especially with the customizable equalizer. Potential Cons: They do fit a bit snug in your ear and the case only came with 2 different size adjustments that didn't work too well for my ears. As a result it took a couple days (12ish hrs of use) for my ears to become comfortable with the additional snugness. BOOKS: if you listen to audio books they can sound a bit hollow. I tried playing around with the equalizer a bit and couldn't quiet get dialed in enough. As a result books sounded like they were being played down a short hallway or like someone was speaking through a toilet paper roll. ANC isn't great but isn't terrible. It's perfectly middle of the road. They claim a "50db Hybrid Noise canceling" but I'd argue heavily that it's much much closer to 25-30 as I have another set of earbuds that claim 42db and are noticeably better at blocking noises out. But you can turn ANC on and go shopping in a busy Walmart midday with nothing playing and the earbuds do act like decent earplugs. However, you try to do anything with any sort of consistent noise slightly above average and the passthrough kicks on and basically makes the ANC useless. It's because of this feature specifically that I do not give the earbuds a 5* review. Overall they're a VERY solid earbud for the average person. They have nice features, solid battery life, and don't cost a ridiculous amount of money. And as long as you're not NEEDING the ANC for your job or hobby these earbuds will probably work great.