When Nothing launched its new CMF audio line-up recently, it tried to tick all the boxes – affordability, clean design, and good features. There are three earphones on the platter. These are the Buds 2a, Buds 2, and Buds 2 Plus. We’ve tested the mid-tier Buds 2 and the top-end Buds 2 Plus, and both promise impressive value for their price. The CMF Buds 2 earphones are priced at Rs 2,699, and the Buds 2 Plus at Rs 3,299. If you’re wondering which one is right for you, here’s a detailed comparison based on design, sound, noise cancellation, battery life, and overall experience.

Design and comfort

The CMF Buds 2 come in a familiar square case with a playful twist – a transparent rotating element for attaching a lanyard. It has a PC + ABS (a thermoplastic blend) matte finish that doesn’t pick up fingerprints and is compact enough to slide into your pocket. The earbuds themselves are light (4.5g), have a secure fit, and are IP55-rated, so they can survive sweaty workouts and a bit of rain.

The Buds 2 Plus, on the other hand, look a little more premium. The case feels smoother, with a soft-touch finish and tight panel seams, which is a rare treat at this price point. There’s a similar decorative aluminium dial on the case, which sadly serves no real function but looks cool. The earbuds feel just as light, though the silicone ear tips could be better – they don’t seal as well as they should, which affects both comfort and ANC performance. It’s a small but noticeable design quirk.

Between the two, the Buds 2 win on comfort, while Buds 2 Plus edge ahead on aesthetics and quality.

Setup and controls

Both earbuds pair easily with devices via Bluetooth 5.4 and work well with the Nothing X app, available on Android and iOS. The app offers easy control over ANC, gestures, EQ presets, and firmware updates.

We set up the Buds 2 with the CMF Phone 2, Infinix GT 30 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro and pairing was near instant. Buds 2 Plus offer a similarly smooth setup, and both earbuds support dual connection to two devices at once.

The touch gestures on both are fully customisable – you can adjust volume, switch ANC modes, or skip tracks with a tap. You can also disable wear detection and use ‘Find My Earbud’ to locate a missing bud via a loud beep.

When it comes to set up and control, it is a tie between the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Plus. Both offer slick pairing and user-friendly control options.

Sound quality

This is where the two earbuds begin to differ more noticeably.

The CMF Buds 2 feature custom 11mm drivers with a tuning that leans towards clarity and balance. They also include Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, Dirac Opteo correction, and a Spatial Audio Effect. This is technical jargon, but here is what it means in the real-world: bass is definitely present on the Buds 2 but it doesn’t overwhelm. The mids and highs come through cleanly, offering a pleasing, accessible sound across genres. For many, this will be more than enough.

The Buds 2 Plus, however, crank things up a notch with larger 12mm LCP drivers and support for LDAC Hi-Res Audio. The difference is noticeable – there is more depth, better instrument separation, and a bit more body in the low end. But the bass can get heavy-handed, especially on the default Pop preset, which ends up muddying the clarity. If you prefer a more natural sound, the Classical EQ preset works better.

That said, there’s also a Personal Sound Profile feature on the Buds 2 Plus that tailors the sound to your hearing. It’s a great feature in theory, but you need a very quiet environment for it to work well or else ambient noise interferes with the calibration.

Essentially, the Buds 2 Plus offer more advanced audio options, but if you’re not a fan of overpowering bass, you might actually prefer the simpler, more balanced sound of the Buds 2.

ANC and Transparency Mode

Both earbuds support Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode, but the Buds 2 Plus have the upper hand on paper with 50dB ANC with a 5400MHz frequency range, compared to 48dB and 5200Hz on the Buds 2. In practice, the ANC performance on the Buds 2 is excellent for its price. You will feel the difference when using the earbuds in a noisy environment like a market or even a newsroom. It even supports adaptive ANC that adjusts in real time.

The Buds 2 Plus, however, do better with low and mid-frequency noise and have more powerful ANC overall. But there’s a catch, the weak seal caused by the low-quality ear tips limits its full potential. High-frequency noise tends to slip through more easily.

Transparency modes on both are good for conversations and awareness.

But comparing the two, we were obviously expecting the Buds 2 Plus to win on ANC performance, and they do as long as you swap the tips. Otherwise, Buds 2 give you a more consistent experience out of the box.

Mic quality and call performance

The CMF Buds 2 come with three mics per earbud and Clear Voice Technology 3.0, which helps reduce wind noise and keeps your voice clear. During calls, background noise was handled reasonably well, and voice pickup was natural and steady.

The CMF Buds 2 Plus, on the other hand, raise the bar slightly with six microphones and even better voice pickup. The call audio sounded natural, and voices were clear.

Between the two, the Buds 2 Plus take the clear win here, especially for regular callers or remote workers.

Battery life and charging

Battery life is another strong suit for both earbuds.

The Buds 2 promise up to 13.5 hours on a single charge without ANC, and about 7.5 hours with ANC on. In real-world usage with AAC and ANC toggled occasionally, we got about 8 to 9 hours, which is excellent. The case adds up to 55 hours total without ANC, and a quick 10-minute top-up gives you 4 hours of playback.

The Buds 2 Plus slightly edge ahead by delivering 14 hours with AAC and about 9 to 10 hours with LDAC. In our testing, the claims held up, with actual numbers even going a bit beyond what was promised. A 10-minute charge delivers about 5 hours of use, which is incredibly convenient.

When it comes to battery and charging, the Buds 2 Plus win, but both models offer top-tier battery life at their price.

So, which one should you buy?

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Choose the CMF Buds 2 if you want a lightweight, comfortable design with decent ANC, balanced sound, and excellent battery life at a budget-friendly price. These are great for general listeners who want something reliable and easy to use daily.

Choose the CMF Buds 2 Plus if you care about high-resolution audio, deeper ANC, and better call quality. Despite the slightly annoying ear tips, the overall experience – especially with LDAC and improved microphones – makes these great for those looking to maximise audio features without spending much more.