CMF BY NOTHING Buds CMF Buds 2a

The CMF Buds 2a deliver shockingly good sound and ANC for the price, with a fun, bass-heavy signature and clear calls. The build is cheap and the app is basic, but the core performance is a standout. At the lower end of their wild $25-$533 price range, they're an absolute steal. If you want maximum audio bang for your buck, these are a top pick.

Let's talk about that 12.4mm driver, because it's the star of the show. Our sound score puts these in the 84th percentile, which means they're one of the better-sounding options on the market, not just at this price. The tuning, done with help from DIRAC, pushes a warm, bass-heavy soundstage. It's not a neutral, analytical sound. It's designed to be fun. The bass is deep and thumping, which makes them a blast for hip-hop, EDM, and action movies. The mids are rich enough to keep vocals from getting lost, though detail-oriented listeners might find the high-end a bit rolled off compared to more balanced competitors.

The ANC performance is a real standout, landing in the 94th percentile. That 42dB of hybrid noise cancellation does serious work on low, droning sounds like airplane engines and bus rumble. It's not quite best-in-class, but it's close. The transparency mode, however, is a weak spot. It's functional but sounds a bit processed, which is a common gripe among owners. Call quality is another high point, with the 4-mic setup and noise reduction scoring in the 92nd percentile. In our testing, voices come through clearly even with some wind or background chatter, making these a reliable pick for taking calls on the go.

The most direct competitor is probably the Sony WF-C700N. Sony's earbuds offer a more refined app experience, a slightly more balanced sound out of the box, and a more premium-feeling build. But they typically cost significantly more. The CMF Buds 2a counter with a more exciting, bass-heavy sound and ANC that's just as good, if not slightly better at canceling low-end noise. It's a choice between Sony's polish and CMF's raw value and fun factor.

Then there's the Soundcore P31i and the JBL Tune Buds 2. The Soundcore offers a famously customizable EQ through its excellent app, which directly addresses the CMF's biggest software weakness. If you love tweaking your sound, the Soundcore is the better pick. The JBL Tune Buds 2 are a solid all-rounder with a more durable, sporty design. But neither can quite match the sheer bass impact and ANC performance of the CMF Buds 2a at this price. The CMF's main trade-off is clear: you get top-tier sound and silence for your dollar, but you have to live with a cheap-feeling case and a frustratingly basic app.

This is where the CMF Buds 2a go from a good recommendation to a great one. We're seeing prices for these fluctuate wildly across vendors, from as low as $25 to a baffling $533. Obviously, don't pay $533. At the lower end of that spectrum, the value proposition is almost unbeatable. You're getting ANC that rivals earbuds costing $100 or more, a fun and energetic sound signature, and a feature set that includes multipoint and a very capable microphone array.

When you stack the price-to-performance ratio against competitors like the Sony WF-C700N or the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, the CMF Buds 2a make a very strong case for themselves. You're sacrificing some build quality and app polish, but you're keeping the core experience that matters most: great sound and effective noise cancellation. For a budget-conscious buyer, this is one of the easiest recommendations we can make, as long as you find them at a sane price.

The CMF Buds 2a are Nothing's budget-minded answer to a question a lot of people are asking: how little can I spend and still get genuinely good earbuds? These aren't trying to be the absolute best at everything. They're laser-focused on delivering a fun, bass-forward sound, solid noise cancellation, and a design that stands out, all while keeping the price shockingly low. If you've been eyeing Nothing's more expensive earbuds but couldn't justify the cost, this is your entry point.

Who are these for? Someone who wants their music to have energy and thump, needs ANC for their commute or a noisy office, and doesn't want to stress about losing a $200+ gadget. The spec sheet is surprisingly stacked for the price. You're getting a large 12.4mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, and a claimed 42dB of hybrid ANC. That's the kind of stuff we'd normally see on earbuds costing twice as much, and it immediately makes the Buds 2a interesting.

But there's a story in the data that goes beyond the spec sheet. While the sound and ANC scores land in the 84th and 94th percentiles respectively, the build quality sits at a mediocre 35th percentile. That tells us Nothing spent the budget where it counts, on the drivers and the tech inside, and saved on the plastic shell. It's a classic trade-off, and for the right person, it's absolutely the right call.

You should skip the CMF Buds 2a if a premium feel and a polished software experience are high on your priority list. The build quality is undeniably cheap, sitting in the 35th percentile, and the app feels like an afterthought with its limited EQ. If you're the type who loves to meticulously craft your sound profile, the 3-band EQ will leave you frustrated. You'd be much happier with the Soundcore P31i, which offers a far superior app with a customizable EQ.

Also, if you're an athlete or someone who is really hard on their gear, the plasticky build and mediocre fitness score of 41.9 should give you pause. These aren't rugged earbuds. For a more durable, sport-focused alternative with a similar feature set, the JBL Tune Buds 2 are a safer bet. And if you simply can't stand a bass-forward sound and crave a more neutral, analytical profile, look to the Sony WF-C700N for a more balanced out-of-the-box experience.

If you're after the absolute best sound quality and noise cancellation you can get for under $50, stop looking. The CMF Buds 2a are it. They're perfect for bass lovers, commuters who need to block out the world, and anyone who takes a lot of calls in noisy environments. The microphone performance is a genuine surprise, and the battery life means you won't be hunting for a charger every other day. Just make sure you're getting them at a price that makes sense, somewhere in that $25-$50 sweet spot.

But these aren't for everyone. If you're an audiophile who wants a neutral, reference sound, the bass-heavy tuning might feel overwhelming. If you love tweaking every little detail of your EQ, the limited app will drive you nuts. And if you're rough on your gear, the plasticky build quality might not survive a life of hard knocks. For those users, spending a bit more on something like the Sony WF-C700N or the Soundcore P31i will be a better long-term investment. For everyone else, the CMF Buds 2a are a stone-cold bargain.