CMF Buds 2 Plus review: premium features and sound quality on a budget

The CMF Buds were widely praised by both fans and reviewers for their impressive value. Building on that success, the company has now expanded its audio lineup with the CMF Buds 2 series. Among them is the CMF Buds 2 Plus, the top-tier model in the range, currently retailing in India for Rs 3,299. At this price point, the new CMF Buds iteration offers high-end features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Spatial Sound, dual connectivity, and even a built-in ChatGPT integration. But can these earbuds deliver the same exceptional value as their predecessor? Let’s find out.

Design

Design-wise, Nothing sticks to a familiar look. The CMF Buds 2 Plus, like the previous generation, come in a square case with a distinctive round dial that rotates to reveal a lanyard attachment point. A USB Type-C port is located on the right side, while the “CMF by NOTHING” branding is etched on the front. The case has a smooth matte finish that does a great job of resisting fingerprint smudges. However, the strong hinge makes it tricky to open the case with one hand.

During my review, I also found the case slightly bulky (51.5 grams), though portability wasn’t an issue. For durability, the earbuds have a respectable IP55 rating for protection against dust and splashes. In theory, the earbuds should work fine during sweaty workouts, though I wouldn’t push limits if it’s raining heavily outside.

Unlike the case, the CMF Buds 2 Plus earbuds have a glossy finish, which tends to attract fingerprints, especially since the stems include touch sensors for volume and track control. I didn’t have any issues with the size or shape, as the in-ear design fit snugly in my ears, even during intense movement. The box also includes three additional pairs of silicone tips in different sizes, which is a thoughtful touch. I used the pre-applied tips, and they fit comfortably right out of the box.

As you may have noticed, I used the CMF Buds 2 Plus in the Blue variant, though a Light Grey option is also available. It would have been great if Nothing had considered a solid Black option too, as it would have complemented this design with a more classic, refined look.

Features and app support

Pairing the CMF Buds 2 Plus earbuds is pretty straightforward, and these work with both iPhones and Android smartphones via Bluetooth. You can manage the earbuds with the Nothing X app, which even lets you customise touch controls. Despite the aggressive pricing, these buds manage to offer Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair 2.0 support for seamless connectivity with Android smartphones and Windows PCs. 

Beyond sound quality, one of the standout features of the CMF Buds 2 Plus is the ChatGPT-powered Voice AI, which works similarly to Google’s Gemini Live. It allows for free-flowing conversations with AI, provided your queries are clear and audible. However, this feature only functions when the earbuds are paired with a Nothing or CMF smartphone. Since it’s powered by ChatGPT, a ChatGPT Plus subscription is required to unlock full functionality, including unlimited queries and access to the latest results. As a Nothing-exclusive feature, Voice AI won’t work with other Android phones or iPhones.

In my case, I found the Voice AI powered by ChatGPT a convenient tool for general search queries, but beyond that, its current use cases seem limited. Nothing still deserves credit for expanding this feature across different-priced earbuds.

Another key feature is support for the high-fidelity LDAC codec, which needs to be manually enabled via the Nothing X app. Additional features include a fit test, Find My Earbuds and Low-Lag mode. I noticed a slight reduction in latency when using Low-lag mode during an intense Call of Duty: Mobile session. While the improvement isn’t dramatic, the feature works as intended.

Sound quality, ANC and Spatial audio

The CMF Buds 2 Plus comes with 12mm LPC drivers. When listening to Bohemian Rhapsody, I was able to easily separate instruments, bass and vocals. But they have slightly high mids, which sometimes makes you feel the sound is not well balanced. For extra bass, you get Ultra Bass up to Level 5, which enhances the bass according to your liking. Personal sound is also a good feature that can enhance your listening experience. You also have the option to adjust the sound with the equaliser presets and custom settings in the Nothing X app. The earbuds support SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs.

The ANC works as expected. When no music is playing, some sounds may seep through, but overall, the noise cancellation is impressive, and you can use ANC for long periods without feeling a vacuum in your ears. You get different modes to set the ANC level and an Adaptive mode, too. Transparency Mode works well and does the job perfectly.

Now it’s time to share what I liked the most in these earbuds, spatial audio is implemented well without degrading the sound, which is rare at this price. It feels like I am hearing the audio from every direction without any quality loss.

The call quality is quite good in quiet environments, with no complaints coming in from folks on the other end of the call. While the CMF Buds 2 Plus features six mics, 3 on each earbud, and uses Clear Voice Technology 3.0 and Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 to suppress the background noise, it struggles a bit in moderately loud environments. On the receiver’s end, the voice can sound somewhat muffled, so overall, I would call it average call quality.

Battery and charging

Nothing claims the CMF Buds 2 Plus can last:

• 14 hours with ANC off and AAC on
• 6.5 hours with AAC and ANC on,
• 8 hours with LDAC on and ANC off
• 5.5 hours with LDAC and ANC on.

The total playback time, including the charging case, is up to 61.5 hours with AAC and around 36 hours with LDAC. In other words, you can easily get about a week’s worth of use on a single charge with moderate usage. From my experience, the battery backup was consistently reliable, even with ANC and the high-fidelity codec enabled.

The earbuds also support quick charging, which claims to deliver up to 4.5 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging. While I couldn’t independently verify that exact figure, battery life was never a concern during my time with the CMF Buds 2 Plus.

Verdict

At Rs 3,299, the CMF Buds 2 Plus offers impressive value, packing high-end features like LDAC support, ANC, and well-implemented spatial audio. I also found the design comfortable, even with the default silicone tips. The case is slightly heavy to carry, but it’s not a dealbreaker given its unique design. Battery life is equally impressive, even with ANC and LDAC turned on.

That said, like most earbuds in this price segment, the microphones could use improvement as call quality tends to suffer in noisy environments. Overall, the CMF Buds 2 Plus is a strong contender, especially if you’re using a Nothing or CMF smartphone.

Editor’s Rating: 8 / 10

Pros:

• Comfortable & lightweight
• Long battery life
• Very good spatial audio
• Rich sound quality with LDAC and ANC

Cons:

• Bulky case
• Call quality could have been better