Nothing Buds 2 Plus B184

The CMF Buds 2 Plus deliver 90th percentile ANC and 98th percentile mic quality for $59. The default sound is bass-heavy and music scores a mediocre 68.1, but the EQ fixes most of it. If you're on a budget and want flagship features, this is the easiest recommendation in wireless earbuds right now.

The 12mm LCP driver pushes serious low end out of the box, maybe too much for some. Users consistently mention the bass-heavy default tuning, but the customizable EQ in the app fixes most of that. LDAC and Hi-Res support mean you're not leaving audio quality on the table if your source supports it. ANC hits 50dB and lands in the 90th percentile, which is impressive for this price, though it struggles with loud gym environments. The six-mic setup is the real standout here, 98th percentile, which means call quality punches way above the price tag. Battery life is solid at 61.5 hours with the case, and that 10-minute quick charge giving you 8.5 hours is genuinely useful. The weak spot is music at 68.1, mostly dragged down by that default tuning and mediocre classical performance.

Against the Sony WF-1000XM5, you're giving up some refinement in sound and ANC consistency, but you're paying a fraction of the price. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro have better integration with Samsung phones and a more balanced default sound, but again, the price gap is massive. The Soundcore P31i is the closest budget competitor, but the CMF Buds 2 Plus beat it on mic quality and ANC depth. The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are better for Pixel users who want seamless Assistant integration, but they cost several times more. For pure value, nothing here touches the CMF.

At $59 USD, this is one of the easiest value calls in wireless earbuds right now. You're getting ANC, LDAC, multipoint, and mic quality that beats buds costing $200 more. The 76.3 budget score in our database reflects that, but honestly it might undersell it. The only real question is whether you're willing to spend five minutes in the app fixing the EQ. If yes, this is a steal.

The CMF Buds 2 Plus are Nothing's budget sub-brand doing what it does best: packing flagship features into a price that makes you do a double take. At $59 USD, you're getting adaptive ANC rated at 50dB, LDAC support, a 12mm driver, and a battery case that stretches to 61.5 hours total. That's a spec sheet that would've cost triple this a couple years ago.

And the numbers back it up. Our database puts these in the 90th percentile for ANC, sound, and build quality, with the mic performance landing in the 98th percentile. That's not just good for the price, that's good, period. The catch? Music performance scores a 68.1, which is the weakest area here, and the default tuning leans heavy on bass.

If you're a classical music purist or want accurate, neutral sound without touching an EQ, look elsewhere. The music score of 68.1 is the weak point here, and the default tuning won't do orchestral pieces any favors. Also skip these if you need compact pocketability, the charging case is noticeably bulky.

If you want flagship features without flagship money, buy these. The mic quality alone justifies the price, and the ANC is genuinely good. Just plan on spending a few minutes in the app to tame the bass and maybe disable in-ear detection if you hit audio cutouts. For $59, that's a very small ask.