Baseus W12 vs Nothing CMF Buds 2a: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nothing CMF Buds 2a comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 78. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | Baseus W12 | Nothing CMF Buds 2a |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $25 | $42 |
| HearWiki score | 66 / 100 · Good | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2022 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 12.4mm Bio-fibre |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 12.4 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Latency | 50 ms | - |
| Wireless range | 10 m | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 5 h | 8 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 35.5 h |
| Full charge time | 60 min | 89 min |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 2 h | 10 min = 5.5 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes |
| ANC type | none | feedforward |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes |
| Wear detection | No | No |
| Controls | buttons | touch |
| Voice assistant | Google Assistant, Apple Siri | Yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 4 g | 4.28 g |
| Case weight | - | 42.75 g |
| Water resistance | IPX5 | IP54 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 2 | 4 |
| Call noise reduction | ENC | - |
What reviewers said
Baseus W12
The Baseus W12 earbuds deliver impressively smooth and enjoyable sound for their budget price, making them a solid pick for music lovers. However, they stumble with subpar call quality and limited on-device controls, so they're best suited for casual listening rather than communication-heavy use. Battery life is decent for the price, though overall performance can feel inconsistent depending on the use case.
- Pro:Pleasant, well-tuned sound signature for music
- Pro:Good value at its low price point
- Pro:Respectable battery life with the charging case
- Con:Poor call quality with mediocre microphones
- Con:Limited physical controls
- Con:Uneven performance in some areas
Nothing CMF Buds 2a
The Nothing CMF Buds 2a deliver a compelling mix of solid audio performance, adaptive noise cancellation, and long battery life at a very accessible price point. They are a practical pick for budget-conscious listeners who want reliable everyday earbuds with app-based customization, though they come with some expected trade-offs in materials and features.
- Pro:Strong value for the price
- Pro:Adaptive ANC with 42 dB reduction
- Pro:Good battery life with case
- Con:Plasticky build quality
- Con:No in-ear detection
- Con:Limited codec support (AAC, SBC)
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.
