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JLab JBuds Air Icon vs Nothing CMF Buds 2: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the JLab JBuds Air Icon 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.

  • JLab JBuds Air Icon
  • 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)
$30
$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 JLab JBuds Air Icon (2021). The Nothing CMF Buds 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.0 and ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode and Custom EQ.

  • JBuds Air Icon2021
  • CMF Buds 220254 yr newer
What differsJBuds Air IconCMF Buds 2

Platform

Bluetooth
5.0
5.4
ANC type
None
Hybrid

Everyday features

USB-C
No
Yes
Wear detection
No
Yes
Transparency mode
No
Yes
Custom EQ
No
Yes
Companion app
No
Yes

Level on: Top codec, Water resistance.

Specifications

JBuds Air IconCMF Buds 2
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$30
$37
HearWiki score
Not scored
82
Released
2021
2025
Availability
Discontinued
Sold new
Driver
8 mm dynamic
11 mm driver
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
8 mm
11 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
32 Ω
-
Sensitivity
103 dB/mW
-
Bluetooth
5.0
5.4
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
-
Yes
Latency
-
110 ms
Wireless range
9 m
10 m
Battery life
6 h
13.5 h
Battery life (ANC on)
-
7.5 h
Battery incl. case
24 h
55 h
Full charge time
90 min
93 min
Quick charge
15 min → 1 h
10 min → 4 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
No
Yes
ANC type
none
hybrid
Transparency mode
No
Yes
Companion app
No
Yes
Custom EQ
No
Yes
Wear detection
No
Yes
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
Google Assistant, Siri
Yes
Weight
5 g
4.5 g
Case weight
50 g
41.5 g
Water resistance
IP55
IP55
Detachable cable
No
-
USB-C
No
Yes
Microphones
2
6

What reviewers said

JLab JBuds Air Icon

The JLab JBuds Air Icon are budget-friendly true wireless earbuds that offer a secure, touch-controlled experience with straightforward Bluetooth 5.0 pairing. They deliver around six hours of playback per charge, extending to 24 hours with the included case, and feature an IP55 rating for sweat and water resistance. While they lack active noise cancellation and app support, they provide a simple, reliable listening option for those on a tight budget.

  • Pro:Affordable price point
  • Pro:IP55 water and sweat resistance
  • Pro:Compact and lightweight design
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:No app support or custom EQ
  • Con:Limited codec support (SBC, AAC only)

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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New comparisonJLab JBuds Air IconNothing CMF Buds 2