CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2
Wireless Earbuds
$45

CMF by Nothing

CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2

4.4(2,000 reviews)

Nothing's budget sub-brand packs the Buds Pro 2 with an 11mm woofer plus 6mm tweeter per side, LDAC, 50dB adaptive ANC, a spatial audio mode, and the party trick: a Smart Dial on the case that twists to adjust volume or toggle modes. The Nothing X app is one of the best in budget audio, with genuinely useful EQ control. Reality checks from owners: the ANC is good-not-great against voices, the spatial audio effect sounds diffuse and most people turn it off, LDAC disables dual-device connection, and the case — while the buds themselves are IP55 — is bare plastic that scuffs quickly. Mics get shouty in wind. Battery runs 6.5 hours with ANC on and 43 total. The price yo-yos between $37 sales and $59 regular, and at the low end these embarrass buds twice the price.

Price
$45
Battery
6.5h / 43h w/ case
Noise Cancelling
Adaptive ANC
Best For
budget Android users wanting ANC with style

Specifications

Battery (single charge)
6.5 hrs
Battery (with case)
43 hrs
Quick Charge
10 min = 3 hrs
Codecs
SBC, AAC, LDAC
Bluetooth
5.3
Multipoint
Yes
Type
Wireless Earbuds
Noise Cancelling
Adaptive ANC
Driver Size
11 mm
Weight
4.9 g
Water Resistance
IP55
Wireless Charging
No
Transparency Mode
Yes
Spatial Audio
Yes
App EQ
Yes
Model
Buds Pro 2

Highlights

Smart Dial charging case control50 dB adaptive ANCDual drivers with LDAC hi-res

Pros

  • 11mm woofer plus 6mm tweeter per side at $45
  • Smart Dial case twists for volume and modes
  • LDAC plus 50dB adaptive ANC
  • Nothing X app is best-in-budget for EQ control
  • IP55 buds beat most cheap rivals
  • $37 sale prices embarrass buds twice the cost

Cons

  • ANC good-not-great against voices
  • Diffuse spatial audio most owners switch off
  • LDAC disables dual-device connection
  • Bare plastic case scuffs quickly
  • Mics get shouty in wind
Anker Soundcore Space A40
$45
Wireless Earbuds
4.2(23,000)

The Space A40 remains the budget ANC benchmark two-plus years after launch, and recurring $45 sales keep it planted on best-seller lists. The adaptive noise cancelling legitimately hangs with buds twice the price, the buds are small enough to sleep on, and you get LDAC, true multipoint, and a wireless-charging case — a spec sheet nothing else at this price matches. Caveats from long-term owners: LDAC drops battery from 8 hours (ANC on) to roughly 5, the touch controls don't cover volume by default and there's no wear detection, and the mics are mediocre for outdoor calls. Some report one bud developing faster battery drain past the one-year mark, which drags the Amazon average to 4.2. If you want maximum ANC per dollar and can live with average call quality, this is still the pick.

Adaptive ANC rivals pricier budsLDAC plus true multipoint50 hours with wireless-charging case
Adaptive ANC8h (50h w/ case)IPX4Multipoint
Best for: travelers and sleepers wanting cheap ANC
View Details
Beats Flex
$40
Wireless Earbuds
4.4(18,000)

The Flex is the last neckband standing in Apple's lineup, and it persists because the format still solves problems true wireless can't: 18.6 grams total (the weight listed is the whole neckband unit, not per bud), nothing falls out or gets lost, the magnetic buds click together to auto-pause, and one USB-C charge covers a 12-hour day. The W1 chip gives instant pairing and iCloud device switching on Apple gear; on Android it's ordinary Bluetooth with SBC/AAC. Be clear about what $40 buys: no ANC, no transparency, no charging case top-ups, and no official sweat resistance — treadmill users report dead units, and water damage isn't covered. The inline remote is plasticky and the cable snags on collars. Long-term owners praise the reliability but note battery capacity fades after a couple of years of daily charging.

12-hour all-day battery lifeApple W1 instant pairingMagnetic earbuds with auto-pause
12h (12h w/ case)
Best for: all-day wear without losing individual buds
View Details
EarFun Air Pro 4
$60
Wireless Earbuds
4.4(5,600)

EarFun's Air Pro 4 is the codec nerd's budget pick: aptX Lossless with Snapdragon Sound, LDAC, LE Audio, Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, wireless charging, and in-ear detection — a list normally reserved for $200 buds. Adaptive ANC is solid if a step behind Bose, and battery is excellent at 7.5 hours with ANC on (11 off) and 52 total. Honest downsides owners flag: the default tuning is heavily bass-boosted until you EQ it in the app, the six-mic array still transmits wind noise on outdoor calls, the Theater Mode spatial effect thins out fidelity and feels like a gimmick, and the glossy shells show every fingerprint. Firmware updates install one bud at a time and take patience. If you're on Android with an aptX or LDAC phone, nothing under $70 extracts more from a Bluetooth pipe.

aptX Lossless and LDAC supportBluetooth 5.4 with multipoint52-hour total battery life
Adaptive ANC7.5h (52h w/ case)IPX5Multipoint
Best for: Android users chasing hi-res codecs cheaply
View Details