True Wireless
CMF Buds 2
78Great
$46
Full review dataCMF Buds 2 vs Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the CMF Buds 2 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 78. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: CMF Buds 2 - Great overall at around $46.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
CMF Buds 2
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery8.5
Calls7.0
Value9.0
Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3
Sound5.0
Battery6.0
Calls5.0
Value6.0
Specifications
| Spec | CMF Buds 2 | Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $46 | $31 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 55 / 100 · Average |
| Released | 2025 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 9 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | - | 16 Ω |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No |
| Wireless range | 10 m | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 13.5 h | 7 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 7.5 h | - |
| Battery incl. case | 55 h | 30 h |
| Full charge time | 93 min | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 4 h (ANC off) | 5 min = 1.5 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | hybrid | none |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No |
| Companion app | Yes | No |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair | yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 50.5 g | 4.6 g |
| Case weight | 41.5 g | 51 g |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IPX4 |
| Foldable | - | No |
| Detachable cable | - | No |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | 1 |
What reviewers said
CMF Buds 2
The CMF Buds 2 are a budget-friendly true wireless pair that deliver punchy, bass-forward sound with a lively treble, making them engaging for music lovers. They pack a surprisingly rich feature set for the price, including hybrid ANC, transparency mode, multipoint connectivity, and long battery life, though call quality in noisy settings and limited codec support hold them back slightly. Overall, they're a strong value pick for those prioritizing fun audio and versatile features over premium extras.
- Pro:Punchy, bass-heavy sound with lively treble
- Pro:Excellent battery life with case (55 hours total)
- Pro:Hybrid ANC and transparency mode for the price
- Con:Only AAC and SBC codecs, no LDAC or Hi-Res support
- Con:ANC is decent but not class-leading
- Con:Call quality suffers in loud environments
Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3
The Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3 offer a modest upgrade over earlier models, with better battery life and USB-C charging, but they come with a bulkier case and earbuds, limited touch controls, and a sound profile that leans toward spoken content rather than music. Given the price jump over the AirDots 2, they're not a compelling value for most buyers.
- Pro:Improved battery life with charging case
- Pro:USB-C charging support
- Pro:IPX4 water resistance
- Con:Bulky case and earbuds
- Con:Sound quality better for podcasts than music
- Con:Limited touch controls
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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