Key Highlights
- 11mm + 6mm dual drivers
- 5,000Hz frequency range
- Clear voice technology 2.0
- Quick, intuitive sound control
- Immersive 3D sound experience
- Dual connection
We all have those mornings where the world seems to move in slow motion. The strain of yesterday lingers with you like a shadow. If you will ask me, the best therapy to shake off that morning lethargy is to dive into my favorite music. Letting my favorite tracks carry me to a calm place before the chaos of the day begins.
Lately, my go-to music for mornings has been the CMF By Nothing Buds Pro 2. With just a tap, these stylish, compact earbuds have become my faithful friends on my early-morning adventures. They convert my fuzzy mood into one of blissful serenity. The soulful notes of Ali Sethi or the pop songs by BTS, the Buds Pro 2 have been filling my ears with a symphony that temporarily helps me forget about the outside world.
With its design-centric and affordable products, Nothing’s sub-brand CMF has undoubtedly made a name for itself. The company recently launched the CMF Buds Pro 2 at Rs. 4,299. We at Giznext also received these products for review. So, are these buds the best in this price range? How was my overall experience? Let’s get to know here in this full-fledged review.
Also Read | CMF Buds Review: Do They Stand Out In The Crowded TWS Earbuds Market?
| Pros | Cons |
| Decent sound quality with strong bass | No IP rating for the case |
| Ergonomic design | Outdoor call noise cancellation could be better |
| Convenient smart dial | ANC can cause a slight vacuum-like sensation |
| Good calling experience |
What’s Inside The Box?
- CMF By Nothing Buds Pro 2 (Orange)
- USB Type-C Cable
- Ear Tips (Small, Large Size)
- User Manual
Design That Delights
Let’s start with my first impression. The CMF Buds Pro 2 share a diverse design language that is beautifully in sync with their other products, the CMF Phone 1 and CMF Watch Pro 2. I personally found it exactly like the CMF Buds. The squire-shaped case, made of plastic, has a soft-touch. It has a matte finish that feels smooth and blissfully free from those annoying fingerprints that leaves glossier marks. It is the kind of case that doesn’t slip out of your hand and can easily slide around in your pockets. Though, it’s worth noting that the case doesn’t come with any IP ratings, so don’t go testing its durability with a splash or two.
Innovative Rotatable Dial
Let’s now discuss the small rotatable dial on the case. Unlike the metal lanyard ring from the earlier CMF Buds, the Buds Pro 2 features an innovative smart dial. It lets you manage everything from volume to ANC without ever opening the case. It’s one of those features that makes you wonder why more earbuds don’t have something similar—it’s that convenient.
When you open the lid, you can see the earbuds that are completely secured in place by perfectly sized magnets. It’s easy to pick them up. All you have to do is lift them, and they are good to go. It’s even simpler to put them back in their cozy little homes; the magnets almost seem eager to clasp them there. A small LED on the case quietly communicates the status of pairing and charging, keeping things simple.
Fit And Comfort
The earbuds are a beautiful blend of glossy and matte textures. Each bud features three microphones to ward against annoying wind noise. The CMF-branded touch-sensitive section serves as your command center for volume, ANC, and play/pause functions. Additionally, these buds can withstand mild drizzles and dust as they have IP55 rating.
Now coming to the fit and comfort. Well, I’ve had trouble finding the perfect earbud fit, so I was happy to discover that the CMF Buds Pro 2 fit my ears rather nicely. They stay in place comfortably whether I am cruising along at a fast pace or just relaxing. I rarely ever notice these buds because they are so light and comfortable on the ears. All in all, the CMF Buds Pro 2 offer a design that’s not just thoughtful, but thoroughly enjoyable to interact with.
Also Read | CMF Neckband Pro Review: Perfect Blend Of Style And Performance
Sound Quality: Bass That Packs A Punch
Just one word – Solid. For earbuds in this price range, they deliver sound quality that’s surprisingly good. It comes with the 11mm titanium-coated driver and 6mm tweeter. These buds are ideal, especially if you’re into bass-heavy tracks. The soundstage is not the widest out there, but it’s certainly not cramped either. The vocals come through clear, and the bass? Well, it’s definitely something you will feel. Also, the EQ presets give you the flexibility to fine-tune it for other genres too. You can pick from five different levels of bass intensity in order to get just the right amount of thump. Honestly, when it came to the sound quality, I couldn’t find much to complain about. The CMF Buds Pro 2 handled different genres like a pro.
Noise Cancellation
And let’s not forget about the ANC. I found it impressive for buds in this price range, as it is more than capable of dulling out strong noises. Though, at higher ANC levels, you might experience a bit of that vacuum-like sensation in your ears. The adaptive ANC feature adjusts automatically to the noise around you. But, if you’re picky like me, you can always tweak it to your liking through the Nothing X app.
Overall, the CMF Buds Pro 2 offer a sound experience that’s hard to beat at this price. Whether you’re jamming out to your favorite tracks or just trying to tune out the world, these buds have got you covered.
Connectivity And Pairing
I had no trouble getting started, and the connection was instant. Don’t worry if you use an iPhone, these earbuds are equally compatible with iOS devices. I synced them with my iPhone 13 and adjusted the controls and sound settings using the Nothing X app.
Playback control is simple with the touch sensors on top of the stem. All it takes is a tap to start, stop, or switch between tracks. Opening the case will enable Bluetooth. You just have to follow the instructions that are required for pairing with your phone.
Dual connection lets you connect to two devices at once, though it does require a quick reboot to toggle the feature. The Nothing X app unlocks more features like LDAC support, spatial audio, ANC, and even voice assistance with ChatGPT.
Call Quality
The call quality on the CMF Buds Pro 2 is impressive. I had no complaints from people on the other end, they hear me loud and clear and vice-versa. The six microphones, combined with Nothing’s Clear Voice tech, do a great job of delivering crisp audio during calls.
Nothing claims that the input is analyzed by sophisticated algorithms that reference more than 28 million sound samples, making it more efficient than earlier versions. I found that Wind-Noise Reduction 2.0 totally eliminated wind noise for the receiver. And I think it’s a huge improvement. But there were still some sounds from outside, like traffic and footsteps. Overall, the CMF Buds Pro 2 performed admirably. However, they might not rival Nothing’s flagship earbuds in terms of performance when it comes to outdoor call noise cancellation.
Battery
In terms of battery life, the CMF Buds Pro 2 are fairly competitive. With a 60mAh battery, the earbuds themselves should last roughly 10 hours when not using ANC and 6.5 hours when using it. During my usage, I was able to attain slightly over five hours with LDAC and noise cancellation turned on. The volume was roughly at roughly 60-70 percent, which I think is good.
Charging the case and earbuds completely takes over an hour. But the fast charge feature is a lifesaver. With just 10 minutes of charging, it gives you seven hours of playback without ANC.
Also Read | OPPO Enco Air3 Pro TWS Earbuds Review: Takes The Top Spot?
Giznext’s Final Verdict
The CMF Buds Pro 2 deliver solid sound, easy pairing, and a stylish design, all at an affordable price. With a great fit, seamless connectivity, and convenient features like the smart dial, they offer great value. For anyone seeking quality earbuds without breaking the bank, these are a strong contender.
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