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Creative Zen Air vs Nothing CMF Buds 2: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Creative Zen Air vs Nothing CMF Buds 2, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Creative Zen Air
  • Nothing CMF Buds 2
HearWiki score
-
82
Sound
-
7.7
Noise cancelling
-
7.8
Battery
-
8.8
Calls
-
6.5
Value
-
9.4
Price (USD)
$20
$37

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

Nothing CMF Buds 2 (2025) against Creative Zen Air (2021). The Nothing CMF Buds 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.0 and Top codec AAC against SBC.

  • Zen Air2021
  • CMF Buds 220254 yr newer
What differsZen AirCMF Buds 2

Platform

Bluetooth
5.0
5.4
Top codec
SBC
AAC

Everyday features

Wireless charging
Yes
No
Water resistance
IPX4
IP55

Level on: USB-C, Transparency mode, Companion app.

Specifications

Zen AirCMF Buds 2
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$20
$37
HearWiki score
Not scored
82
Released
2021
2025
Availability
Discontinued
Sold new
Driver
10 mm dynamic
11 mm driver
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
10 mm
11 mm
Drivers per side
-
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Bluetooth
5.0
5.4
Codecs
SBC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
-
Yes
Latency
-
110 ms
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
6 h
13.5 h
Battery life (ANC on)
-
7.5 h
Battery incl. case
18 h
55 h
Full charge time
-
93 min
Quick charge
-
10 min → 4 h
Wireless charging
Yes
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
-
hybrid
Transparency mode
Yes
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
-
Yes
Wear detection
-
Yes
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
Google Assistant, Siri
Yes
Weight
5 g
4.5 g
Case weight
36 g
41.5 g
Water resistance
IPX4
IP55
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
6
Mic sensitivity
-38 dBV
-

What reviewers said

Creative Zen Air

These budget-friendly true wireless earbuds pack active noise cancellation and a transparency mode into a featherlight design, making them a solid pick for commuters. With a 10mm driver, they deliver a balanced sound profile, while the IPX4 rating and wireless charging add practical convenience. Total battery life reaches 18 hours with the case, though the lack of advanced codecs limits audio fidelity for discerning listeners.

  • Pro:Affordable with active noise cancellation
  • Pro:Very lightweight and comfortable fit
  • Pro:Includes transparency mode and wireless charging
  • Con:Only supports SBC codec
  • Con:Battery life is modest at 6 hours per charge
  • Con:Bluetooth 5.0 lacks multipoint connectivity

Nothing CMF Buds 2

The Nothing CMF Buds 2 are an exceptional budget true-wireless option, packing a surprisingly rich feature set for their low price. They deliver engaging sound, robust battery life, and effective hybrid ANC, making them a top-value pick for most listeners.

  • Pro:Excellent value for the price
  • Pro:Strong battery life with ANC off
  • Pro:Effective hybrid active noise cancellation
  • Con:Call performance weak in noisy settings
  • Con:ANC and gaming latency not class-leading
  • Con:No wireless charging support

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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