Nothing Buds 2
Apple AirPods 2nd Gen
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 2nd Gen
The AirPods (2nd Gen) receive mixed feedback, with many praising the sound quality and value of refurbished units, but a significant number report early failures like battery death, one side stopping, or charging issues within months. Verified buyers and long-term users note decent performance, while complaints about long wait times, poor refurbishment quality, and customer service problems are common. Overall, the product is a gamble: great when it works, but reliability is inconsistent.
Pros
- Great sound quality
- Good value for refurbished price
- Works like new
- Easy pairing with Apple devices
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Battery dies quickly
- One side stops working
- Charging case fails
- Long delivery wait times
- Poor refurbishment quality
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | Apple AirPods 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | true wireless |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | 0.16 kg |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | — |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | — |
| Drivers | 2★ | — |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz★ | — |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 23 Ω |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | Apple AirPods with Charging Case, 2nd Gen |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | — |
| ANC Type | hybrid | — |
| Transparency | ✓★ | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | 5.0 |
| Multipoint | ✓★ | — |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 13.5 hrs★ | 5 hrs |
| Charge Time | 0.16599999368190765 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 7.5 hours playback | 15 minutes gives you up to 3 hours of listening time |
| 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 2nd Gen
- Strong social proof (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong mic (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong comfort (72nd percentile)
- Strong connectivity (66th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (3rd percentile)3rd %ile
- Below average battery (23rd percentile)
- Below average sound (29th percentile)
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 14 of 31 specs.