New Delhi: Nothing sub-brand CMF has made waves in the budget technology scale since its launch in 2023. CMF has been known to offer a unique mix of style, functionality and affordability with their newest launch of the CMF Buds 2 in April 2025, alongside the Buds 2a, Buds 2 Plus and the CMF Phone 2 Pro. The CMF Buds 2 will be available in India at Rs 2,699 ($60 worldwide) and come with 48 dB hybrid ANC, Dirac Opteo tuning, and 25 hours of battery life. I have been using these earbuds as my daily driver over weeks, trying them in music, calls, and commuting to find out whether they are as good as the hype.

The CMF Buds 2 are midrange within the new TWS range of CMF products, positioned between the affordable Buds 2a and the high-end Buds 2 Plus. They are in a competitive sub-$80 marketplace, which Anker and JLab brands also access. These earbuds are slim, have excellent app compatibility, and have fantastic battery life, promising high-end features at a low cost.

Design and Comfort

The CMF Buds 2 have a familiar square-shaped charging case with soft corners and are 53.3 x 53.3 x 23 mm and weigh 50.5 grams, including the buds in the case. Matte PC + ABS case is not easy to get fingerprints on, and the new transparent rotating dial will make it look playful to connect a lanyard. The design is simple but fashionable, and it comes in dark grey, light green, and orange. The earbuds weigh 4.5 grams each, are glossy and matte, and are rated IP55 against water and dust – great to run in or during light rain. They are tight, and the bundled silicone tips (three sizes) assure comfort even in extended sessions. The IPX2 splash resistance of the case is low, though, and the glossy buds pick up smudges.

Sound Quality

The CMF Buds 2 come with 11 mm PMI drivers and Dirac Opteo tuning, which makes them sound rather bass-heavy out of the box. Songs such as Blinding Lights by the Weeknd sound good with deep bass, yet vocals and mid-range are not muffled. The Nothing X app will be able to be customised with a three-band EQ, Ultra Bass 2.0 (five levels) and Dirac Opteo presets. It is better to switch to a neutral EQ when it comes to podcasts and acoustic combinations. Spatial Audio is a slight surround effect in movies but not transformative. There is no support of the LDAC codec (supported in Buds 2 Plus), which can be a drawback to audiophiles. In the case of SBC and AAC codecs, the sound is still clear and pleasant to the ear at this price.

Noise Cancellation and Connectivity

The CMF Buds 2 has a hybrid ANC of 48 dB, which effectively blocks low-frequency noises such as traffic or AC hum. It dampens background noise by approximately 75 percent in busy urban settings, with high-frequency sounds such as horns getting through. The 5200 Hz ultra-wide ANC frequency is the upgrade of the original CMF Buds. Transparency mode is also good, and you can hear conversations clearly. The stable connectivity through dual-device, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair pairing is ensured by Bluetooth 5.4. I had no dropouts during the transition between my phone and laptop. Nevertheless, when connecting to the internet at the same time, there is a need to reboot a device to enable the dual connection, which is somewhat frustrating.

Call Quality

The CMF Buds 2 have a decent call performance because they have six HD microphones (three on each bud) and the Clear Voice Technology 3.0. In silent environments, voices are natural and clear. Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 assists outside, but in a noisy area such as a market, some background noise infiltrates in, dampening your voice a little. The Buds Pro 2 features call clarity, but compared to the new model, it is a step down and is satisfactory in short calls or video conferences. The mics also have a low-latency gaming mode (110 ms with Nothing phones), which is synced decently with casual gaming.

Battery Life and Charging

The CMF Buds 2 are a high performer when it comes to battery. When ANC is turned off, the buds can last up to 13.5 hours, and the 460 mAh case will get you 55 hours. ANC activated will give 8.5 hours per bud and 30 hours overall. I also received almost 9 hours of ANC in my tests with mixed use at 60% volume, which is more than a week of commutes. A 10-minute charge using USB-C can give it 7.5 hours of playback, although there is no wireless charging. These earbuds can be used throughout the day because of the fast charging feature as well as the 53 mAh per bud.

CMF Buds Pro 2 Review: Verdict

The CMF Buds 2 represent an excellent option to purchase at Rs 2,699 ($60). They have good ANC, zippy sound, and superior battery life, competing with earbuds that cost twice as much. The Nothing X app brings flexibility, as it allows EQ adjustments and custom touch control. The drawbacks are, however, the absence of LDAC, mediocre sound quality during noisy calls, and low water resistance of cases. The CMF Buds 2 offer great value to budget consumers who want a pair of reliable TWS earbuds to use on a daily basis.