Over the past couple of years, London, UK-based Nothing has been building out a portfolio of consumer audio products, including lower-cost options under its subsidiary brand called CMF. One such product offering is the CMF Buds 2 Plus, which is available on the market for a relatively affordable $70 USD / $80 CAD.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus is a unique proposition within the world of true wireless earbuds, as it brings over some of Nothing’s unique brand identity at a price point that’s hard to argue with. The Buds 2 Plus isn’t trying to outmatch its high-end peers, instead opting to refine the end-user experience at its designated price range.
I’ve been using the CMF Buds 2 Plus for several months now, and it’s become a staple in my day-to-day life. These CMF buds aren’t perfect by any means, but they’re reliable and stylish, which can’t be said about every pair of low-cost Bluetooth buds out there. Here are three ways in which I find the Buds 2 Plus to be a stand-out product in an otherwise AirPods-dominated audio landscape.
A refreshing external design language
Breaking away from the AirPods mold
Most true wireless earbuds have settled into an AirPods-esque holding pattern, with stem-like buds that slide into an oblong case for charging and transportation. With its CMF Buds 2 Plus, Nothing hasn’t wildly bucked this trend, but it has carved out a bespoke design language that mimics that of its higher-end Ear 3 product.
Like with the Ear 3, the Buds 2 Plus lie sideways within their square-like charging case, which is just different enough from average to stand out in a unique way. The case itself is made of a soft-touch plastic that feels smooth and pebble-like in the hand, with tight tolerances and a lack of creaking that I’ve experienced on some other sub-$100 earbuds in the past.
The Buds 2 Plus can be had in a fairly standard light grey colorway, but it’s the blue hue option that really stands out. The two-tone effect of a matte case and a shinier dial design element is visually pleasing, and the on-device branding is tastefully implemented across both color options. The dual LED indicator lights are a nice touch, as is the addition of a dedicated pairing button on the inside section of the case.
A lanyard hole built into the charging case
To stop you from losing your buds
Speaking of the CMF Buds 2 Plus’ shiny dial design element, it serves a functional purpose outside of just adding a touch of visual flair to the hardware experience. The dial can be rotated freely, which makes for a great fidget toy, but it also serves as a way to hide or reveal the dedicated lanyard hole built into the charging case.
Now, I’m personally not one to strap a lanyard to my mobile devices, but I can see the appeal here. With how lightweight the Buds 2 Plus is at 1.5 oz (42.5 g), strapping it onto your wrist, belt loop, or backpack might be a convenient option that could solve misplacing the unit by accident. Unfortunately, a matching lanyard isn’t included in the box, which is disappointing.
Now, Nothing has actually taken the rotating dial concept a step further with its CMF Buds Pro 2 product in the form of a functional and customizable Smart Dial. Nothing knows how to make a solid tactile slider, and its Smart Dial is a unique offering on the Buds 2 Pro, and so it’s a shame not to see even a stripped-back version of the feature be included here as well. If nothing else, I’d have loved to be able to adjust my current volume level using the dial, but that’s simply not an option on the Buds 2 Plus.
LDAC, spatial audio, and noise cancellation
For a sonic experience that punches above its weight
It’s fair to say that at $70 USD / $80 CAD, the CMF Buds 2 Plus aren’t trying to win over the audiophile constituency of the audio market. That being said, the product does punch above its weight, owing to a mix of technologies like LDAC (an advanced Bluetooth audio codec that improves sound quality with compatible host devices, spatial audio (for a 3D surround sound experience), Bluetooth 5.4 with dual connection compatibility, and a Hi-Res Audio certification.
In practice, the Buds 2 Plus’ 12 mm LCP driver makes for a pleasant listening experience, which pairs well with the 50 dB active noise cancellation (ANC) also on deck. ANC isn’t going to knock your socks off, but it’s enough to drown out basic frequencies, and it’s also a feature not found on all competitors at this price range. Small, medium, and large ear tips are all included in the box, and so finding a size that seals out sounds best for your ears isn’t an issue, either.
Being a Nothing product, the CMF Buds 2 Plus also connect and interface using the dedicated Nothing X application for Android and iOS/iPadOS, which gives you granular control over your soundscape. There’s a set of basic equalizer (EQ) presets available, but the software also lets you make more advanced bass, treble, and mid edits to home in on the precise sound signature you’re looking for, which is a much appreciated inclusion.
This device was provided to Pocket-lint by Nothing.
