Nothing Buds 2
Apple AirPods 1st Generation
What Buyers Say
Nothing Buds 2
The CMF Buds 2 are widely praised for delivering excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit at an affordable price. Users highlight the rich bass, clear vocals, and solid ANC performance that rivals more expensive models. While some note the bass can be slightly overpowering and the touch controls have limited customization, the overall value is considered outstanding. The long battery life, USB-C charging, and premium build further cement these as a top budget choice.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality with rich bass
- Effective noise cancellation for the price
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Long battery life with USB-C charging
- Premium build and design
Cons
- Bass can be slightly overpowering
- Limited touch control customization
- Case lacks functional dial
- Case is somewhat bulky
- No Google Fast Pair support
Apple AirPods 1st Generation
Users generally appreciate the value for money of these refurbished AirPods, with many praising fast shipping and good sound quality. However, several reviews report issues with one earbud not charging or working, and the charging cable sometimes fails. Overall, satisfaction is mixed, with positive experiences balanced by reliability concerns.
Pros
- Fast shipping
- Good sound quality
- Great value for money
- Official packaging included
- Compact case
Cons
- One earbud not charging
- Charging cable defective
- Bluetooth connectivity issues
- Sound imbalance at high volume
- Battery drains quickly
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | Apple AirPods 1st Generation | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | true wireless |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | — |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | — |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | — |
| Drivers | 2★ | — |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz★ | — |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | AAC |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | ✗ |
| ANC Type | hybrid | — |
| Transparency | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | — |
| Multipoint | ✓★ | — |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 13.5 hrs★ | 5 hrs |
| Charge Time | 0.16599999368190765 hrs★ | 0.25 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 7.5 hours playback | true★ |
| Charging | USB-C★ | Lightning |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 55 hrs★ | 24 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C★ | Lightning |
| Wireless Charging | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6★ | 2 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | ChatGPT | Siri |
| Touch Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| App | Nothing X | — |
| Gaming Mode | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | — |
Pros & Cons
Nothing Buds 2
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong connectivity (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong battery (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong anc (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
Apple AirPods 1st Generation
- Strong social proof (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong mic (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong sound (68th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average comfort (29th percentile)
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
- Below average build (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 15 of 31 specs.