Nothing Buds 2
Soundcore Liberty D1200
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
Soundcore Liberty D1200
The Soundcore Liberty Buds are semi-open earbuds that prioritize comfort and awareness of surroundings. Sound quality is widely praised as excellent, especially after EQ, and the ANC is considered surprisingly good for the open design, though not as effective as in-ear competitors. The biggest point of contention is the fit: while some users find them secure and comfortable for all-day wear, others report that the earbuds feel loose and fall out with minimal movement, despite trying different ear fins. Additional minor complaints include the lack of wireless charging and an occasional weak sound output that may require a firmware fix.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality with good bass
- Surprisingly effective ANC for open design
- Very comfortable for all-day wear
- Secure fit for many users
- Great app with customizable controls
Cons
- Fit is inconsistent and may be loose
- Earbuds may fall out with movement
- ANC less effective than in-ear competitors
- No wireless charging
- Occasional weak sound output
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | Soundcore Liberty D1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | semi-in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | Dual Ear True Wireless Earbud |
| Ear Tips | — | Four Sizes |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | 0.05 kg |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | 9.199999809265137 mm |
| Drivers | 2★ | 1 |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz★ | — |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 14 Ω |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✓★ |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | LDAC |
| Surround | — | Spatial Audio |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | hybrid | adaptive |
| Transparency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | 5.2 |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 13.5 hrs★ | 9 hrs |
| Charge Time | 0.16599999368190765 hrs★ | 1 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 7.5 hours playback | 15 Minutes for 3 Hours |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 55 hrs★ | 30 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6 | 6 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | ChatGPT | — |
| Touch Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| App | Nothing X | Soundcore |
| Volume Limiting | — | ✗ |
| Gaming Mode | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | IPX4 |
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
Soundcore Liberty D1200
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong sound (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong connectivity (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Nothing Buds 2 offers 2.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 5 of 7 usage categories and 9 of 35 specs.
