CMF Buds Pro 2 by Nothing review: Big delivery on a budget

Rating -- 3.5/5
Nothing is back with a new pair of earbuds. The new CMF Buds Pro 2 earphones sport several features, including multipoint connectivity, fast pair and active noise cancellation – for Rs 4,299 in India. The CMF Buds Pro 2 is available in four colours -- Orange, Dark Grey, Light Grey and Blue. We’ve been testing the TWS earbuds in a Dark Grey colour. How do these new earbuds stack up against other rivals? Let’s dive deeper and find out what we think about the latest earbuds.

Design

The CMF Buds Pro 2 by Nothing showcases a distinctive design language that aligns well with the CMF Watch Pro 2 and CMF Phone 1, which was launched along with the TWS earbuds.

The charging case is squircle-shaped with flat sides and crafted from soft plastic that feels like rubber and is great to touch. This tactile choice makes sense as we had frequent interactions with the case.

A standout feature is the multifunctional Smart Dial located in the corner of the case. This disc not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also adds functionality. We spent a lot of time fiddling with the case and the disc.

The disc on the earbuds case allowed us to control the volume by rotating it and playing/pausing music with a single tap. By double-tapping the dial, we switched between different active noise cancellation modes and enabled Low Lag mode with a triple-tap.

All these functions are customisable through the Nothing X companion app, making the Smart Dial a more intuitive and versatile way to interact with the earbuds compared to traditional touch-sensitive controls on the earbuds.

However, the soft plastic tends to smudge easily, hence, it needs regular wiping. The earbuds sport long stems that include touch-sensitive areas to control playback, handle calls and switch between noise control modes.
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Comfort is a key highlight of the CMF Buds Pro 2. They are lightweight and do not cause ear fatigue, making them suitable for extended wear. The CMF Buds Pro 2 provided a pleasant experience, especially during long flights or cab and metro rides.

Audio and connectivity

Regarding the sound quality, the CMF Buds Pro 2 delivered a strong performance, particularly for bass enthusiasts. The dual driver setup, featuring an 11mm titanium-coated driver and a 6mm tweeter, produces good audio output for bass-heavy songs. The buds also support high-resolution audio codecs like LDAC and AAC, ensuring a crisp and detailed listening experience on compatible devices.

Tracks like "Do I Wanna Know?" by Arctic Monkeys, "Panda" by Desiigner featuring Wiz Khalifa, and "Venom" by Eminem packed a punch even at medium volumes. With Ultra Bass mode enabled via the companion app, the bass becomes so powerful above 70% volume that it can be overwhelming, prompting us to lower the volume.

The companion app also offers customisation options for tailoring the audio to personal preferences. The Dirac Opteo option is great for watching movies and gaming, though it can't be used with the LDAC codec.

The earbuds' default tuning ensures that the bass doesn't overpower the mids and lows when listening to tracks with multiple instruments, like "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, "The Dichotomy of Fame" from the Hindi movie Rockstar, and "Beats of Passion" from the movie Taal at levels above 70%. However, these songs sound even better in the Electronic and Classical modes, respectively.

Vocal-heavy songs like "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls and "Beat It" or "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson shine on the Pop preset, while tracks like "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, "Staying Alive" by Bee Gees, and "Don’t Let Me Down" by The Beatles, as well as a cover of "Something About Us" by Pomplamoose, sound better on the Rock preset.

Overall, the CMF Buds Pro 2 offers decent sound dynamics and an engaging listening experience. However, the strong emphasis on bass can sometimes overshadow vocals and treble at higher volumes. Despite this, the earbuds maintain clarity without distortion, even at high, mid, and lower volume levels.

The CMF Buds Pro 2 features hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) technology that can reduce ambient noise by up to 50 dB.

The ANC performs particularly well in indoor settings, effectively minimizing background chatter and low-frequency sounds from appliances. However, high-pitched noises, such as honking on busy roads, can still be heard. Even without ANC enabled, the earbuds provide a decent level of sound isolation.

The Transparency mode is also effective, allowing ambient sounds to filter through when necessary. This feature was particularly useful for staying aware of our surroundings while walking, commuting, or listening to public announcements.

Connectivity with the CMF Buds Pro 2 was smooth thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 support. Pairing the buds is a breeze, especially with Nothing and CMF phones.

For other devices, the setup is straightforward, involving holding a button on the case to enter pairing mode. The buds maintain a stable connection within a reasonable range.

The buds support dual device pairing and allow us to switch between two devices effortlessly. This feature is particularly useful as we frequently had to switch between the phone and laptop.

The low latency mode, or "low lag mode," is particularly useful for gaming, reducing audio lag to as low as 120ms on compatible devices.

While playing games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Call of Duty with these earbuds, we were able to hear footsteps and other crucial background sounds, like gunfire and explosions, in real-time.

Call quality is enhanced by Clear Voice Technology 2.0, which uses six high-definition microphones to minimise external noise during calls. In our testing, the earbuds delivered clear and crisp voice transmission, although performance may vary in extremely noisy environments.

Battery

The CMF Buds Pro 2 deliver impressive battery performance, positioning them as a strong contender in their category. According to the company, these earbuds offer over 10 hours of playback with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) turned off. However, with ANC enabled, battery life drops to around 6 hours, which is still quite competitive.

During our testing, these claims turned out to be nearly accurate. With ANC off, we managed to almost finish the entire second season of House of the Dragon on JioCinema. Meanwhile, with ANC on, we couldn't get through the new Shekhar Home series on the same platform.

The charging case significantly extends the usage time. According to Nothing, the total battery life, including the case, offers about 40 hours with ANC off and nearly 25 hours with ANC on.

For us, the earbuds went on for days and didn’t need frequent recharging when it's carried around along with the case. With ANC on, the case was able to fully recharge the earbuds more than three times, while with ANC off, the buds were juiced up nearly four times.

Whenever the case recharged the earbuds, it lost nearly 30% and 20% battery life with ANC on and off, respectively.

It's important to note that while the earbuds support quick charging, they do not offer wireless charging. A quick 10-minute charge gave us over 4 hours of playback with ANC on.

Verdict

The CMF Buds Pro 2 presents a compelling mix of features and performance at a price point of Rs 4,299. These earbuds excel in several areas, offering more than 10 hours of playback with ANC off, dual-device pairing, and a unique volume control dial integrated into the case. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is also effective, making it a solid choice for those seeking to minimise distractions.

The sound quality is generally good, particularly if you prefer a bass-heavy profile. However, if a more balanced default sound profile is a priority, this might not be the right option for you.

The CMF Buds Pro 2 also has a practical design. While it doesn’t support wireless charging, its fast charging capabilities ensure you’re not waiting too long. Including features like Bluetooth multipoint and a low-lag mode for gaming adds extra value.

These features help the earbuds offer excellent value for money, particularly if you are seeking a decent ANC performance and a customisable listening experience. All this makes the CMF Buds Pro 2 a strong contender in the sub-Rs 5,000 segment.


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