CMF by Nothing Buds 2 Plus
LDAC Hi‑Res sound, long battery, strong ANC and clear mics — great value with fit/ANC caveats.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus are the upbeat, feature-packed earbuds that aim to give budget-minded Android listeners a near-flagship experience, pairing LDAC Hi‑Res audio and a 12 mm dynamic driver for punchy, tweakable sound with an app-based hearing test. They target commuters, gym-goers and casual gamers who want long runtime and clearer calls, delivering 61.5 hours total battery and six HD microphones with wind reduction for outdoor use. Brand claims of up to 50 dB ANC are tempered by expert and user testing that finds effective cancellation closer to real-world levels and occasional hiss depending on seal, so expect trade-offs in fit and connectivity. For the price you get exceptional value if you prioritize sound customization and endurance, with reliability and ANC consistency shaping the final recommendation.
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Benefits
61.5-hour runtime with case keeps you going for days without frequent charging.
LDAC and 12mm drivers deliver rich bass and clearer detail on Android.
Six HD mics and AI wind reduction keep voices clear in noisy outdoors.
Audiodo hearing test plus app EQ tailors music to your ears quickly.
Water and dust resistance lets you use them worry-free during workouts and rain.
Trade-Offs
When ANC is active and idle, faint hiss/white noise makes silence feel thin.
During jogging or quick head turns, buds can loosen and fall out unexpectedly.
Slow or unresponsive taps interrupt skipping or volume changes during busy moments.
On iPhones (AAC), music sounds flatter and less dynamic than on LDAC Android.
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Publications
9 LEADING PUBLICATION REVIEWS
Adam Birney at SoundGuys comes away positive but a bit disappointed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus for markedly improved, balanced sound, solid ANC, LDAC support, long battery life and useful personalization via a hearing-profile feature—calling them exceptional value under $100—yet he’s let down by the removal of the tactile Smart Dial and the lack of wireless charging, which make the “Plus” feel like an incomplete upgrade for existing users; testing over five days (firmware 1.0.1.36) included objective MDAQS metrics and battery and ANC measurements that back his claims, showing strong timbre and real-world ANC trade-offs, so his tone is favorable and measured: excited about the audio and features for new buyers, but restrained by clear ergonomic regressions that keep this from feeling unreservedly great.
PCMag’s Christian de Looper is clearly impressed. He praises the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus as an exceptional value—stylish, comfortable, and surprisingly feature-rich for $69—with strong sound, LDAC support, and class-leading noise cancellation for the price. He applauds battery life, useful app features, and a playful, distinctive design, while calling out minor annoyances like a basic EQ, no USB-C cable included, imperfect transparency mode, and ANC that, though excellent for the money, falls short of Nothing’s pricier models. Real-world listening tests across genres and spatial-audio experiments back up his positive take: these aren’t the single best at any one thing, but their balanced performance and low cost make them an easy Editors’ Choice recommendation.
Adam Birney at SoundGuys comes away positive but a bit disappointed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus for markedly improved, balanced sound, solid ANC, LDAC support, long battery life and useful personalization via a hearing-profile feature—calling them exceptional value under $100—yet he’s let down by the removal of the tactile Smart Dial and the lack of wireless charging, which make the “Plus” feel like an incomplete upgrade for existing users; testing over five days (firmware 1.0.1.36) included objective MDAQS metrics and battery and ANC measurements that back his claims, showing strong timbre and real-world ANC trade-offs, so his tone is favorable and measured: excited about the audio and features for new buyers, but restrained by clear ergonomic regressions that keep this from feeling unreservedly great.
PCMag’s Christian de Looper is clearly impressed. He praises the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus as an exceptional value—stylish, comfortable, and surprisingly feature-rich for $69—with strong sound, LDAC support, and class-leading noise cancellation for the price. He applauds battery life, useful app features, and a playful, distinctive design, while calling out minor annoyances like a basic EQ, no USB-C cable included, imperfect transparency mode, and ANC that, though excellent for the money, falls short of Nothing’s pricier models. Real-world listening tests across genres and spatial-audio experiments back up his positive take: these aren’t the single best at any one thing, but their balanced performance and low cost make them an easy Editors’ Choice recommendation.
Adam Birney at SoundGuys comes away positive but a bit disappointed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus for markedly improved, balanced sound, solid ANC, LDAC support, long battery life and useful personalization via a hearing-profile feature—calling them exceptional value under $100—yet he’s let down by the removal of the tactile Smart Dial and the lack of wireless charging, which make the “Plus” feel like an incomplete upgrade for existing users; testing over five days (firmware 1.0.1.36) included objective MDAQS metrics and battery and ANC measurements that back his claims, showing strong timbre and real-world ANC trade-offs, so his tone is favorable and measured: excited about the audio and features for new buyers, but restrained by clear ergonomic regressions that keep this from feeling unreservedly great.
PCMag’s Christian de Looper is clearly impressed. He praises the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus as an exceptional value—stylish, comfortable, and surprisingly feature-rich for $69—with strong sound, LDAC support, and class-leading noise cancellation for the price. He applauds battery life, useful app features, and a playful, distinctive design, while calling out minor annoyances like a basic EQ, no USB-C cable included, imperfect transparency mode, and ANC that, though excellent for the money, falls short of Nothing’s pricier models. Real-world listening tests across genres and spatial-audio experiments back up his positive take: these aren’t the single best at any one thing, but their balanced performance and low cost make them an easy Editors’ Choice recommendation.
Adam Birney at SoundGuys comes away positive but a bit disappointed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus for markedly improved, balanced sound, solid ANC, LDAC support, long battery life and useful personalization via a hearing-profile feature—calling them exceptional value under $100—yet he’s let down by the removal of the tactile Smart Dial and the lack of wireless charging, which make the “Plus” feel like an incomplete upgrade for existing users; testing over five days (firmware 1.0.1.36) included objective MDAQS metrics and battery and ANC measurements that back his claims, showing strong timbre and real-world ANC trade-offs, so his tone is favorable and measured: excited about the audio and features for new buyers, but restrained by clear ergonomic regressions that keep this from feeling unreservedly great.
PCMag’s Christian de Looper is clearly impressed. He praises the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus as an exceptional value—stylish, comfortable, and surprisingly feature-rich for $69—with strong sound, LDAC support, and class-leading noise cancellation for the price. He applauds battery life, useful app features, and a playful, distinctive design, while calling out minor annoyances like a basic EQ, no USB-C cable included, imperfect transparency mode, and ANC that, though excellent for the money, falls short of Nothing’s pricier models. Real-world listening tests across genres and spatial-audio experiments back up his positive take: these aren’t the single best at any one thing, but their balanced performance and low cost make them an easy Editors’ Choice recommendation.
Adam Birney at SoundGuys comes away positive but a bit disappointed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus for markedly improved, balanced sound, solid ANC, LDAC support, long battery life and useful personalization via a hearing-profile feature—calling them exceptional value under $100—yet he’s let down by the removal of the tactile Smart Dial and the lack of wireless charging, which make the “Plus” feel like an incomplete upgrade for existing users; testing over five days (firmware 1.0.1.36) included objective MDAQS metrics and battery and ANC measurements that back his claims, showing strong timbre and real-world ANC trade-offs, so his tone is favorable and measured: excited about the audio and features for new buyers, but restrained by clear ergonomic regressions that keep this from feeling unreservedly great.
PCMag’s Christian de Looper is clearly impressed. He praises the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus as an exceptional value—stylish, comfortable, and surprisingly feature-rich for $69—with strong sound, LDAC support, and class-leading noise cancellation for the price. He applauds battery life, useful app features, and a playful, distinctive design, while calling out minor annoyances like a basic EQ, no USB-C cable included, imperfect transparency mode, and ANC that, though excellent for the money, falls short of Nothing’s pricier models. Real-world listening tests across genres and spatial-audio experiments back up his positive take: these aren’t the single best at any one thing, but their balanced performance and low cost make them an easy Editors’ Choice recommendation.
YouTube
14 LEADING EXPERT & INFLUENCER REVIEWS
Picky AudioPicky Audio is clearly impressed and mostly enthusiastic about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He praises comfort, strong connectivity, long battery life, app customization (hearing test, EQ, Ultra Bass), loud volume and very good ANC and call performance, calling them a top pick under $100; his main gripe is an automatic wind‑reduction behavior that forces transparency/ANC off during runs and windy conditions and can’t be disabled. Overall his tone is positive and measured—excited enough to name them his current number one for the price, but careful to flag that the wind feature and personal fit preferences could matter to some buyers.
Tech SpurtTech Spurt is clearly impressed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus as an extraordinary budget find—great battery life, strong ANC, LDAC/LDAC high‑res support, solid call mics, and the standout Audiodo “personal sound” hearing profile—while calling out cheap-feeling plastics and fiddly touch controls. He compares Plus favorably to the regular Buds 2, says the app and features punch above the price, and recommends paying the small premium for the Plus. Overall enthusiastic and warm, his tone is positive with measured caveats about design and controls.
Picky AudioPicky Audio is clearly impressed and mostly enthusiastic about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He praises comfort, strong connectivity, long battery life, app customization (hearing test, EQ, Ultra Bass), loud volume and very good ANC and call performance, calling them a top pick under $100; his main gripe is an automatic wind‑reduction behavior that forces transparency/ANC off during runs and windy conditions and can’t be disabled. Overall his tone is positive and measured—excited enough to name them his current number one for the price, but careful to flag that the wind feature and personal fit preferences could matter to some buyers.
Tech SpurtTech Spurt is clearly impressed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus as an extraordinary budget find—great battery life, strong ANC, LDAC/LDAC high‑res support, solid call mics, and the standout Audiodo “personal sound” hearing profile—while calling out cheap-feeling plastics and fiddly touch controls. He compares Plus favorably to the regular Buds 2, says the app and features punch above the price, and recommends paying the small premium for the Plus. Overall enthusiastic and warm, his tone is positive with measured caveats about design and controls.
Picky AudioPicky Audio is clearly impressed and mostly enthusiastic about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He praises comfort, strong connectivity, long battery life, app customization (hearing test, EQ, Ultra Bass), loud volume and very good ANC and call performance, calling them a top pick under $100; his main gripe is an automatic wind‑reduction behavior that forces transparency/ANC off during runs and windy conditions and can’t be disabled. Overall his tone is positive and measured—excited enough to name them his current number one for the price, but careful to flag that the wind feature and personal fit preferences could matter to some buyers.
Tech SpurtTech Spurt is clearly impressed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus as an extraordinary budget find—great battery life, strong ANC, LDAC/LDAC high‑res support, solid call mics, and the standout Audiodo “personal sound” hearing profile—while calling out cheap-feeling plastics and fiddly touch controls. He compares Plus favorably to the regular Buds 2, says the app and features punch above the price, and recommends paying the small premium for the Plus. Overall enthusiastic and warm, his tone is positive with measured caveats about design and controls.
Picky AudioPicky Audio is clearly impressed and mostly enthusiastic about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He praises comfort, strong connectivity, long battery life, app customization (hearing test, EQ, Ultra Bass), loud volume and very good ANC and call performance, calling them a top pick under $100; his main gripe is an automatic wind‑reduction behavior that forces transparency/ANC off during runs and windy conditions and can’t be disabled. Overall his tone is positive and measured—excited enough to name them his current number one for the price, but careful to flag that the wind feature and personal fit preferences could matter to some buyers.
Tech SpurtTech Spurt is clearly impressed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus as an extraordinary budget find—great battery life, strong ANC, LDAC/LDAC high‑res support, solid call mics, and the standout Audiodo “personal sound” hearing profile—while calling out cheap-feeling plastics and fiddly touch controls. He compares Plus favorably to the regular Buds 2, says the app and features punch above the price, and recommends paying the small premium for the Plus. Overall enthusiastic and warm, his tone is positive with measured caveats about design and controls.
Picky AudioPicky Audio is clearly impressed and mostly enthusiastic about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He praises comfort, strong connectivity, long battery life, app customization (hearing test, EQ, Ultra Bass), loud volume and very good ANC and call performance, calling them a top pick under $100; his main gripe is an automatic wind‑reduction behavior that forces transparency/ANC off during runs and windy conditions and can’t be disabled. Overall his tone is positive and measured—excited enough to name them his current number one for the price, but careful to flag that the wind feature and personal fit preferences could matter to some buyers.
Tech SpurtTech Spurt is clearly impressed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus as an extraordinary budget find—great battery life, strong ANC, LDAC/LDAC high‑res support, solid call mics, and the standout Audiodo “personal sound” hearing profile—while calling out cheap-feeling plastics and fiddly touch controls. He compares Plus favorably to the regular Buds 2, says the app and features punch above the price, and recommends paying the small premium for the Plus. Overall enthusiastic and warm, his tone is positive with measured caveats about design and controls.
Picky AudioPicky Audio is clearly impressed and mostly enthusiastic about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He praises comfort, strong connectivity, long battery life, app customization (hearing test, EQ, Ultra Bass), loud volume and very good ANC and call performance, calling them a top pick under $100; his main gripe is an automatic wind‑reduction behavior that forces transparency/ANC off during runs and windy conditions and can’t be disabled. Overall his tone is positive and measured—excited enough to name them his current number one for the price, but careful to flag that the wind feature and personal fit preferences could matter to some buyers.
Tech SpurtTech Spurt is clearly impressed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus as an extraordinary budget find—great battery life, strong ANC, LDAC/LDAC high‑res support, solid call mics, and the standout Audiodo “personal sound” hearing profile—while calling out cheap-feeling plastics and fiddly touch controls. He compares Plus favorably to the regular Buds 2, says the app and features punch above the price, and recommends paying the small premium for the Plus. Overall enthusiastic and warm, his tone is positive with measured caveats about design and controls.
Picky AudioPicky Audio is clearly impressed and mostly enthusiastic about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He praises comfort, strong connectivity, long battery life, app customization (hearing test, EQ, Ultra Bass), loud volume and very good ANC and call performance, calling them a top pick under $100; his main gripe is an automatic wind‑reduction behavior that forces transparency/ANC off during runs and windy conditions and can’t be disabled. Overall his tone is positive and measured—excited enough to name them his current number one for the price, but careful to flag that the wind feature and personal fit preferences could matter to some buyers.
Tech SpurtTech Spurt is clearly impressed. He praises the CMF Buds 2 Plus as an extraordinary budget find—great battery life, strong ANC, LDAC/LDAC high‑res support, solid call mics, and the standout Audiodo “personal sound” hearing profile—while calling out cheap-feeling plastics and fiddly touch controls. He compares Plus favorably to the regular Buds 2, says the app and features punch above the price, and recommends paying the small premium for the Plus. Overall enthusiastic and warm, his tone is positive with measured caveats about design and controls.
Social
1 INFLUENCER REVIEW
Akash PalAkash Pal sounds upbeat about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. He says the Plus is worth the ~₹500 extra for noticeably better sound—12mm LCP drivers and LDAC—stronger ANC (about 50dB vs 48dB), and roughly two more hours of battery (16h vs 14h), while design differences are minor. He still calls the regular Buds 2 a solid value if you don’t want to spend more, but recommends the Plus if you can stretch the budget and want richer audio and improved noise cancellation. Links and buying prompts are given at the end.
Forum Reviews
CUSTOMER REVIEWS FROM 1 FORUM
Redditors are mostly positive but cautious about the CMF Buds 2 Plus. Many praise the sound (strong bass that cleans up with EQ), excellent battery life, LDAC support and surprisingly capable ANC for the price, and users like the Nothing X app features. Common complaints focus on fit/comfort, inconsistent in‑ear detection, occasional crackling or one‑side issues, and higher defect/repair reports—some people experienced mic or battery failures after months. For bargain seekers it’s often recommended; upgrade‑minded users weigh the tradeoffs (battery/ANC vs. build reliability and single‑driver tuning) before committing.
Many comments
In-Depth Review
Highlights
- •Sound qualityLDAC and 12mm drivers; punchy bass
- •Marketed ANC claimMarketed as up to 50 dB
- •Exceptional battery life61.5 hours total; fast 10‑minute charge
- •Clear call micsSix HD mics; strong wind handling
Considerations
- •ANC hiss and variabilityHissing and inconsistent cancellation reported
- •Fit and sealLoose fit for some users
- •Long-term reliabilityIsolated early failures and defects
- •Bluetooth reconnection issuesIntermittent pairing and reconnection glitches
Out of Nothing’s recent lineup, the Buds 2 Plus aim to punch above their price with an audiophile-leaning feature set and practical everyday polish. Backed by a brand known for design-forward, app-driven audio, these earbuds target commuters, gym-goers, gamers and Android listeners who want LDAC hi‑res playback, 12 mm LCP drivers and an aggressively tuned bass response that’s still tweakable via the Nothing X app. They pair that sonic focus with adaptive hybrid ANC and wind‑reduction tech for clearer calls, a standout 61.5‑hour total battery with rapid 10‑minute top‑ups, and modern conveniences like Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint and a 40 ms low‑latency mode on supported phones—features that nudge them ahead of the regular Buds 2 and close the gap on pricier rivals. Below you’ll find concise, practical looks at how sound, noise cancellation, endurance, fit, mics and connectivity perform in real use—so you can decide which trade-offs matter for your routine.
Fit and comfort
Fit is mixed: the AirPods‑like stem and supplied S/M/L ear tips produce comfortable wear for many, but some users report buds loosening during runs and inconsistent in‑ear detection that impacts ANC and auto-pause. Reviewers suggest experimenting with tip sizes or third‑party stabilizers to improve the seal, because the earbuds’ ANC and bass are noticeably dependent on a good fit.
Battery and charging
Battery life is a standout, offering a quoted 61.5 hours total with the case and about 15.5 hours per earbud on a single charge (ANC off), plus a useful 10‑minute fast charge → 8.5 hours claim that reduces downtime for commuters. Multiple reviewers confirm long endurance and quick top-ups, though advertised figures are contingent on ANC and volume settings, so expect shorter runtimes with heavy ANC or high-volume listening.
Sound quality
These earbuds deliver a punchy, bass-forward presentation that works particularly well on Android devices with LDAC high‑res support, driven by the 12 mm LCP dynamic driver, but the tuning can mask mids and fine classical detail at high volumes. Experts measured clearer timbre versus the non‑Plus model and reviewers note the Audiodo personalized hearing calibration and app EQ meaningfully improve perceived balance, though iPhone users on AAC often report flatter, less dynamic playback.
Active Noise Cancellation
ANC is impressive for the price, using a hybrid approach branded as Smart Adaptive ANC with claims up to 50 dB, yet real-world measurements and tests land closer to about 40 dB effective reduction and users report occasional ANC hiss or white noise when idle. The system’s performance depends heavily on seal and app tuning, reviewers praise wind‑handling via Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 for calls but caution that cancellation consistency varies by environment and ear fit.
Connectivity and latency
Bluetooth 5.4 brings modern pairing features like Fast Pair/Swift Pair and dual‑device multipoint, and the Nothing X app enables a 40 ms low‑latency mode with compatible phones for gaming and video. Users praise quick setup and LDAC throughput on Android, but some report reconnection glitches and higher latency on non‑Nothing phones, so your experience will vary by device and firmware state.
Call performance
Call clarity is a genuine strength thanks to the six HD microphones and Clear Voice 3.0 AI processing, which reviewers often found effective even in windy outdoor situations, improving conversational intelligibility. That said, there are isolated reports of mic failures and intermittent one‑sided issues on forums, so while call quality is generally strong, long‑term reliability appears less certain for a subset of users.
Conclusion
Here's the final take: after digging through tests and user chatter, the Buds 2 Plus land as a well‑priced, feature‑heavy pick that’s best for Android listeners who prioritize immersive, tweakable audio and long unplugged use. Strengths include LDAC hi‑res support and a 12 mm driver that drives a fun, bass‑forward sound which responds well to the app’s Audiodo personalization, plus adaptive ANC that performs impressively for the price despite occasional hiss depending on seal. The endurance and convenience side is clear: 61.5‑hour total battery and rapid flash charging keep you going, while six HD mics and wind‑reduction make calls reliably clear though forum posts temper confidence about long‑term reliability. Bluetooth 5.4 and a low‑latency mode work best with compatible phones, so if you value customizable sound, strong battery life, and solid call performance over flawless ANC, perfect fit, or universal latency behavior, these are a smart value pick that justifies a confident recommendation.
Feature Scores
This reflects reviews and ratings from established critics, journalists, and users who have evaluated the item. Their opinions provide a comprehensive assessment.
Performance
Sound Quality
4/5
Battery Life
5/5
Wireless Connectivity Reliability
4/5
Noise Cancellation Effectiveness
4/5
Microphone Call Quality
4/5
Durability and Build Quality
4/5
Latency for Gaming and Video
4/5
Value
Price-to-Quality Ratio
5/5
Warranty and Support
4/5
Features per Price
5/5
Design
Fit and Comfort
4/5
Aesthetic Appeal
4/5
Portability and Case Design
4/5
Controls and Usability
4/5
Health
Eartip Materials and Hygiene
3/5
Hearing Exposure Controls
4/5
Allergen and Toxicity Risk
3/5
Safety
Water and Sweat Resistance
4/5
Battery Safety and Thermal Management
4/5
Regulatory Compliance
4/5
Sustainability
Recyclability of Components
3/5
Repairability and Battery Replaceability
2/5
Sustainable Packaging
3/5
Responsible Material Sourcing
3/5
Experience Style
Ease of Setup and Pairing
4/5
Customization and App Features
5/5
Ecosystem and Codec Integration
4/5
Specifications
This section outlines the product's key facts, covering essential features, details, dimensions, materials, and any unique characteristics that define its functionality and usability.
Performance
Value
Design
Safety
Sustainability
Experience Style
Frequently Asked Questions
10 Questions
Find Yours
What will be your primary use for these earbuds?
Answer to find your best matches.
