CMF Buds 2 Plus Review: The Perfect Budget Earbuds?

At Rs 3,299, the CMF Buds 2 Plus earbuds put a bold proposition forward. Nothing, CMF’s parent brand, has crammed a whole array of features into them that make them look like the ideal product to buy in this price range. But that’s only on paper; things could be completely different in real life. Or the CMF Buds 2 Plus could very well be the ideal budget earbuds to buy at the moment. You can let this review decide which statement is true.

Design

The square shape of CMF’s earbuds case is already a pretty sight in a market filled with similar-looking cases. CMF’s earbuds stand out due to their unique look, and that has been retained by the new product. This includes a circular dial at the top left, which, unlike the Pro model, does not control anything. The matte coating on the rest of the case oozes a premium vibe, while the hinge is strong and gives a satisfying sound when it’s shut. An LED indicator and a charging port are the only other attributes of this case.

Opening the case reveals earbuds and a circular pairing button. These earbuds don’t feature any major design changes. Their onboard controls are easy and responsive. The earbuds maintain an IP55 rating, meaning a good resistance to dust and splashes, making them suitable for exercise and light rain.

Functionality

Once paired, the CMF Buds 2 Plus work like any regular earbuds, but exploring their real capabilities requires you to download the Nothing X app. The neatly designed app’s main purpose is to furnish the earbuds’ ANC modes to you. Noise cancellation can be set to Low, Mid, or High; a choice that’s frankly not needed, as someone who wants ANC would seldom want to lower its intensity. Apart from these three levels, though, there’s a fourth one called Adaptive, which is a welcome addition. It analyses the noises around you to lower or increase the intensity of the ANC. A Transparency mode exists as well, and does its job properly.

Also present is the Spatial Audio functionality that’s nothing more than a gimmick. I had kept this feature on during my entire time with the earbuds, and there wasn’t even one instance where I noticed this feature contributing anything. There’s an Ultra Bass feature onboard as well, but I’ll speak about it later. The Nothing X app also gives you access to an Equaliser and a Personal Sound feature that makes you take a short hearing test to create a customised EQ curve tailored to your specific hearing sensitivities. This means each listener will experience the earbuds slightly differently, compensating for individual hearing differences. In my testing, I did notice a slight improvement in quality on turning it on.

Nothing has done well to add a bevvy of features to its CMF Buds 2 Pro. However, they don’t have as big an impact on the user experience as one would expect. That said, what actually matters to most people is the quality of its ANC, and I can attest to the fact that it’s remarkable.

Sound Quality

When it comes to sound, the CMF Buds 2 Plus are surprisingly capable for their price. They deliver a sound profile that’s bass-forward, making them ideal for genres like EDM, hip-hop, and Bollywood chartbusters. The Ultra Bass mode does make the low-end feel heavier, but it also tends to muddy the mids and highs if overused. Thankfully, you can turn it off or tweak the EQ in the Nothing X app to balance the sound to your liking.
Vocals come through clearly, and instruments are well-separated for the most part. However, at higher volumes, the treble can feel a little sharp, and complex tracks may lose some of their clarity. Still, considering the price, these compromises are entirely forgivable. For casual listeners and daily commuters, the overall sound signature will feel rich and enjoyable.

Call quality on the CMF Buds 2 Plus is above average for this segment. The multiple mics on each earbud do a good job of picking up your voice and cancelling out moderate background noise. While not on par with flagship earbuds, they perform well enough for office calls, Zoom meetings, and voice notes.
Connectivity is also reliable, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3. The earbuds pair quickly and reconnect without a hitch. I didn’t face any dropouts or latency issues during my testing, even when switching between my phone and laptop, for which the dual connection feature came in as a godsend.

Battery Life

Nothing claims up to 14 hours with ANC off, with the case providing a total of 61.5 hours. In my real-world usage with ANC on, I managed around 10.5 hours, which is respectable but does not match up to the claim. With ANC on, the earbuds provide up to 6.5 hours of playback. Fast charging is supported as well, giving you about 4–5 hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge.