Nothing Buds 2
Sony MDR-EX14APB
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
Sony MDR-EX14APB
These Sony budget earbuds are praised for their decent sound quality, comfort, and affordability. Users highlight that they are lightweight, comfortable for extended wear, and offer good value for under $20. However, the bass is somewhat lacking compared to higher frequencies, and the cord is described as flimsy. Overall, they are recommended as a reliable, inexpensive option for casual listening.
Pros
- Decent sound quality
- Very comfortable for long wear
- Lightweight design
- Great value for under $20
- Includes multiple ear tip sizes
Cons
- Weak bass response
- Flimsy cord
- Volume control doesn't work
- Muffled call quality for some
- Left/right labels hard to read
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | Sony MDR-EX14APB | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | — |
| Ear Tips | — | Large, Medium, Small |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | — |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | 9 mm |
| Drivers | 2★ | — |
| Freq Min | — | 8 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz | 22 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | — |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✗ |
| 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 | 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 | Smart Key app |
| 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
Sony MDR-EX14APB
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average sound (8th percentile)8th %ile
- Below average comfort (29th percentile)
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
- Below average build (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sony MDR-EX14APB offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 16 of 34 specs.
