ZDNET's key takeaways The CMF Buds 2 Plus are the most premium pair of earbuds from the Nothing sub-brand.
At $69, they're one of the best-sounding and most feature-rich earbuds in the price segment.
The way these earbuds are designed makes them not ideal for side sleepers. $69 at Amazon
The latest Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus sit above the CMF Buds Pro 2 in price hierarchy and offer similar sound, better call quality, and longer battery life. They fit well and there's not much to fault at that $69 price point. Soon after launch, I shifted to the CMF Buds 2 Plus as my daily driver for music and calls.
Also: Best early Prime Day headphones deals: My 12 favorite sales live now
Apart from one minor annoyance, there's a lot to like. These might be my new go-to recommendation for budget earbuds.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus feature a similar square-ish case to the Bud Pro 2. While the dial is still present, it isn't functional and is only present as a signature CMF design element. The absence of the Smart Dial feature doesn't bother me since I seldom used it on the Pro model.
The overall case build has a textured but slightly slippery finish. I've dropped it a couple of times because it keeps slipping out of my hands, but I haven't noticed any wear and tear due to my accidental drops.
The buds themselves are light and fit me well. They have a small touch control area that recognizes taps. You can double-tap, triple-tap, tap-and-hold, and double-tap-and-hold to control the music playback, volume, and ANC.
Also: Nothing's latest phone might be my favorite midrange Android in 2025
... continue reading