CMF BY NOTHING CMF Buds Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds with Smart Dial, Review

The CMF Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds deliver exceptional value for $49. You get class-leading 43-hour battery life, effective 50dB adaptive noise cancellation, and a handy smart dial on the case. They're perfect for music and commuting, though call quality is just average.

If you're hunting for wireless earbuds with killer noise cancellation and a massive battery, the CMF Buds Pro 2 should be on your radar. For just $49, you get features that usually cost twice as much: 50dB adaptive hybrid ANC, LDAC support for high-res audio, and a wild 43-hour total battery life. They're designed for music lovers and commuters who want to block out the world without breaking the bank. The standout feature is the smart dial on the case, which lets you tweak volume, tracks, and noise modes without ever touching your phone—a clever trick that makes them feel more premium than their price tag suggests.

Let's talk numbers. In our tests, the ANC performance lands in the 95th percentile, meaning it's genuinely excellent at silencing everything from airplane rumble to office chatter. The dual drivers (an 11mm bass unit and a 6mm tweeter) deliver sound quality that scores in the 88th percentile, with a warm, bass-forward signature that's great for pop and hip-hop. The battery life is the real star, though, sitting in the 99th percentile. You'll get about 10 hours from the buds themselves, and the case adds another 33 hours. That's enough for a cross-country flight and then some. The one weak spot is the microphone, which scores in the 36th percentile. It's fine for quick calls, but don't expect studio-quality clarity in windy conditions.

At $49, the CMF Buds Pro 2 are punching way above their weight. You're getting ANC performance and battery life that compete with earbuds costing $150 or more, like the Sony WF-1000XM5. Sure, you sacrifice some polish in the app and microphone quality, but for the price, it's an easy trade-off. If your budget is tight but you refuse to compromise on noise cancellation or longevity, these are arguably the best value in wireless earbuds right now.

Stacked up against the competition, the CMF Buds Pro 2 make a strong case. The Sony WF-1000XM5 has slightly better ANC and a more refined sound profile, but it costs three times as much and doesn't have the clever case dial. The Nothing Ear (a) is from the same family and shares similar DNA, but the CMF Buds Pro 2 beat it on battery life and ANC strength. Then there's the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC—a frequent favorite around $100—which offers comparable ANC but can't touch the CMF's 43-hour battery. If you prioritize battery and ANC strength over absolute call quality, the CMF Buds Pro 2 are the clear budget champions.

Skip these if you're a podcast host or someone who takes important calls all day—the microphone is the weak link. Also, if you demand a perfectly neutral, reference-grade sound signature out of the box, you might find the bass too heavy. In that case, look at the more tunable Technics AZ100 or even the standard Nothing Ear. And if you absolutely need the smallest possible case, the bulkier dial design here might annoy you.

So, should you buy the CMF Buds Pro 2? If you want powerful noise cancellation and epic battery life for under $50, absolutely. They're a no-brainer for commuters, travelers, and anyone who hates charging their gear. The smart dial is a genuinely useful feature, and the sound quality is great for the price. Just know that if crystal-clear call quality is your top priority, you might want to look elsewhere. For everyone else, these earbuds offer a feature set that feels like it should cost way more, and that's a win in our book.