CMF (Nothing) CMF Buds Pro 2 by Nothing Wireless Earbuds (Dark Grey)

CMF (Nothing) CMF Buds Pro 2 by Nothing Wireless Earbuds (Dark Grey)

By CMF (Nothing) · Budget Wireless Earbuds · Audio & Electronics

  • Up to 50 dB hybrid ANC
  • 11 mm bass driver
  • Up to 43 hours playtime with charging case
  • Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC Hi-Res audio

Lowest price seen
~$49.00 (approx.)
from $49.00 at Amazon

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

Budget true-wireless earbuds with dual drivers, up to 50 dB hybrid ANC, LDAC and a Smart Dial on the case. Check the battery reports before you buy: multiple owners describe severe playback decline within months.

Strengths

  • SoundGuys measured ~81% reduction in perceived external loudness; RTINGS calls noise isolation very good.
  • Dual drivers, LDAC, ANC, spatial audio and the Smart Dial at a $59 MSRP undercut most rivals.
  • Three independent listening tests returned about six hours with ANC and a standard codec, near CMF’s advertised 6.5 hours.
  • The Smart Dial on the case is satisfying to use and eliminates the need to touch the buds.
  • Comfortable for 2–3 hour sessions.
  • Wind noise reduction works well for calls.

Weaknesses

  • Bass-heavy default sound: SoundGuys measured 12–15 dB of bass elevation above its preferred response.
  • Call quality is muffled even in quiet rooms, according to GSMArena.
  • No true multipoint: you can pair to two devices but cannot receive audio from both at once.
  • The Smart Dial is prone to accidental activation in pockets, and its notification sound is startlingly loud.
  • Stock ear tips may not stay in all ears; third-party tips are a common fix.
  • In-ear detection can pause music unexpectedly while walking.

Verified specifications

ModelCMF Buds Pro 2 (hardware model B172).
ColorDark Grey (also Light Grey, Orange, Blue).
Drivers11 mm bass driver + 6 mm micro-planar tweeter per earbud.
ANCup to 50 dB hybrid ANC with adaptive mode.
Batteryup to 11 h buds / 43 h total (ANC off); 6.5 h / 26 h (ANC on); LDAC: 6.5 h / 25 h (ANC off), 4.3 h / 16.6 h (ANC on).
Bluetooth5.3 (some retail listings say 5.4; CMF’s own FAQ and all independent reviews confirm 5.3).
CodecsAAC, SBC, LDAC (LDAC requires the Nothing X app).
IP ratingIP55 (buds only, not the case).
Weight4.9 g per bud, 46 g case.
Case dimensions53 × 53 × 23 mm.
Microphones6 total (3 per earbud) with AI noise reduction.
Smart Dial on charging caserotatable, clickable, customizable.
Dual device pairingyes (not true multipoint; no simultaneous audio from two devices).
Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pairyes.
Spatial audioyes.
Wear detectionyes (auto-pause on removal).
Wireless chargingno.
Companion appNothing X (Android/iOS).
Fast charging10 min charge yields ~3 h playback (ANC off) or ~2 h (ANC on).
Frequency response20–40,000 Hz.
Battery capacity60 mAh per bud.
In the boxearbuds, charging case, USB-A to USB-C cable, extra ear tips (S, M, L), user guide.
Warranty12 months limited (Nothing US, direct purchases).
Full research notes and sources

Sound quality and ANC

The dual-driver setup (11 mm bass + 6 mm micro-planar tweeter) gives the Buds Pro 2 a bass-heavy signature out of the box. SoundGuys measured 12–15 dB of bass elevation above its preferred response curve. Bass lovers will enjoy this; neutral-sound fans may find it overwhelming. The Nothing X app offers a 3-band custom EQ, which is limited compared to the 8–10 band EQ on Nothing’s flagship earbuds. The Dirac Opteo EQ preset is divisive: GSMArena found it the best option, while Stuff.tv felt it closed the soundstage.

The ANC is the standout feature. SoundGuys measured ~81% reduction in perceived external loudness overall, strongest against low frequencies like traffic and air conditioning. RTINGS rated noise isolation as very good, including some office speech. Tom’s Guide called it “Apple-worthy.” TechRadar disagreed and judged ANC weak for the price, so fit and test methods matter. Most reviewers agree the ANC handles low-frequency noise better than high-pitched sounds like cutlery or keys.

Transparency mode receives mixed reviews. SoundGuys found it surprisingly good. GSMArena reported lackluster performance with hissing. TechRadar called it particularly poor.

Battery life and charging

CMF’s manufacturer ratings (AAC, 50% volume) are 11 h buds / 43 h total with ANC off and 6.5 h / 26 h with ANC on. With LDAC, those drop to 6.5 h / 25 h (ANC off) and 4.3 h / 16.6 h (ANC on). Real-world tests came in close: SoundGuys and GSMArena both measured about 6 h 15 min with ANC on and a standard codec, and GSMArena got 4 h 15 min with LDAC and ANC. Stuff.tv reported similar numbers. A 10-minute charge yields about 3 h of playback with ANC off or about 2 h with ANC on.

There is no wireless charging, so the case charges over USB-C only.

Long-term reliability, parts and running costs

This is the primary concern. Owners of this exact model repeatedly describe uneven left/right charging, a bud stopping at 70–95%, and severe playback decline after roughly 3–10 months — sometimes under two hours or even minutes. A second owner described 35–40 minutes of playback after several months. A September 2026 owner reported a charging case that stopped supplying power to the buds unless plugged in; a July 2026 case reportedly failed after six weeks. Some owners report no issues after a year. These reports are anecdotal and cannot establish a failure percentage.

Potential causes include dirty contacts, firmware issues or failing cells. No controlled diagnosis or confirmed manufacturer-wide fix has been found. CMF’s support documentation recommends cleaning contacts with a soft lint-free cloth, seating the buds firmly, checking for firmware updates and performing a reset (hold the setup button about 10 seconds until the red flash). Some owners report contact cleaning helped; others say resets did not. The manual warns against replacing the internal battery yourself.

Nothing US offers a 12 months limited warranty on headphones purchased directly, covering qualifying materials and workmanship defects. Owners describe mixed after-sales outcomes: one reports a replacement after testing, another a retailer refund after a support referral, and others unresolved complaints. These reports involve different countries and sellers and are not a measured US approval rate.

There is no mandatory subscription, filter or scheduled paid consumable. The only recurring cost is replacement ear tips when they wear out or lose hygiene. A third-party six-piece S/M/L compatible set was listed on Walmart at $7.74 (white) or $7.99 (black) in October 2026, excluding shipping. No verified CMF OEM part number exists. The included USB-C cable has no mandatory replacement schedule. No official US replacement SKU or separate-unit price was found for the charging case, individual earbuds or internal battery.

At a $49 purchase price, a hypothetical replacement after two years equals $24.50 per year of purchase cost; failure after one year equals $49 per year. These are arithmetic scenarios, not predicted service lives.

Is it worth it?

At $39 or less it is strong value if you are willing to accept unmeasured battery longevity risk. At $40–49 it is a fair price for the feature set; $49 was available direct from Nothing US in October 2026, not a rare price. At $60 or more, compare the Nothing Ear (a), advertised at $59 in Nothing’s US earbuds collection in October 2026 (its product page separately showed $79), or the soundcore P31i at $49.99. At $80–90, the EarFun Air Pro 4 was $89.99 direct and adds wireless charging plus additional codecs.

The Smart Dial is a differentiating feature but not a primary purchase driver; its utility depends on how much you want case-based controls. Key value drivers are ANC performance per dollar, LDAC support at this price, dual-driver sound quality and the Nothing X app ecosystem.

Which model this is

This page covers the CMF Buds Pro 2 in Dark Grey, hardware model B172, released July 2024 as the successor to the first-gen CMF Buds Pro. The Amazon listing for this color is ASIN B0D83J6JJ9. Do not confuse these with the CMF Buds (non-Pro), CMF Buds 2, CMF Buds 2 Plus or CMF Buds 2 Pro.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Parts and stores:

Buying guides for this category

Related products