Nothing Buds 2
KZ ZST
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
KZ ZST
The KZ ZST in-ear monitors deliver exceptional sound quality for their low price, with many users comparing them favorably to far more expensive models from brands like Shure and Beats. While the build quality of the cable and mic housing feels cheap, the audio performance—featuring strong bass, clear mids, and crisp highs—consistently impresses. They are popular among musicians for live monitoring and are praised for their comfort and secure fit during workouts. The main drawbacks are the flimsy cable, lack of volume control on the inline remote, and the need for a very firm connection to prevent the cable from detaching.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality for the price
- Strong bass with clear mids and highs
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Great for live monitoring and music
- Removable and replaceable cables
Cons
- Cheap-feeling cable and mic housing
- No volume control on inline remote
- Cable can detach if not firmly connected
- Requires very firm connection to stay in place
- Noise isolation could be better with stock tips
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | KZ ZST | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | in-ear |
| Ear Tips | — | S, M, L |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | 0.06 kg |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | hybrid |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | — |
| Drivers | 2 | 2 |
| Freq Min | — | 20 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz | 20 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 18 Ω |
| Sensitivity | — | 120 dB★ |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | — |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | — |
| ANC Type | hybrid | — |
| Transparency | ✓★ | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | — |
| Multipoint | ✓★ | — |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 13.5 hrs★ | — |
| Charge Time | 0.16599999368190765 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 7.5 hours playback | — |
| Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 55 hrs★ | — |
| Case Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Wireless Charging | ✗ | — |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6★ | — |
| NC Mic | ✓★ | — |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | ChatGPT | — |
| 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
KZ ZST
- Strong social proof (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong sound (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong comfort (72nd percentile)
- Below average connectivity (28th percentile)
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
- Below average build (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 15 of 34 specs.