True Wireless
KZ Sora
68Good
$16
Full review dataKZ Sora vs Nothing CMF Buds Neo: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nothing CMF Buds Neo comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Nothing CMF Buds Neo - Outstanding overall at around $22.
True Wireless
Nothing CMF Buds Neo
84Outstanding
$22
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Nothing CMF Buds Neo leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- KZ Sora
- Nothing CMF Buds Neo
HearWiki score
68
84
Sound
6.8
7.4
Noise cancelling
-
7.8
Battery
6.2
9.0
Calls
5.3
7.8
Value
8.6
9.8
Price (USD)
$16
$22
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?
Half a step newer
Nothing CMF Buds Neo (2026) against KZ Sora (2024). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Sora2024
- CMF Buds Neo20262 yr newer
What differsSoraCMF Buds Neo
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
Platform
Level on: USB-C.
Specifications
SoraCMF Buds Neo
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $16
- $22
- HearWiki score
- 68
- 84
- Released
- 2024
- 2026
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 10 mm driver
- 12.4 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- -
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10 mm
- 12.4 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 105 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- -
- Battery life
- 5 h
- 11 h
- Battery incl. case
- 25 h
- 52 h
- Full charge time
- 90 min
- 10 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 10 min → 5.5 h
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- none
- adaptive
- Companion app
- -
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- -
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 1
- 4
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
What reviewers said
KZ Sora
The KZ Sora delivers surprisingly robust sound for a budget-friendly wireless earbud, making it a solid pick for cost-conscious listeners. It keeps things simple with essential features like touch controls and AAC support, though it skips extras like noise cancellation or water resistance. Battery life is decent for the price, but the build quality and fit may feel a bit basic.
- Pro:Good sound quality for the price
- Pro:Lightweight and affordable
- Pro:Touch controls are convenient
- Con:No ANC or water resistance
- Con:Case feels flimsy
- Con:Bulky shell may not fit everyone
Nothing CMF Buds Neo
The CMF Buds Neo deliver impressive value for around $22, combining a punchy, bass-forward sound with surprisingly effective adaptive ANC and marathon battery life of up to 52 hours with the case. They offer a comfortable, lightweight fit, app support with a custom EQ, and quick charging, though some premium conveniences like wear detection are absent. Overall, they stand out as a top budget TWS option for listeners who prioritize bass, battery, and noise cancellation over extra features.
- Pro:Strong bass-heavy sound with good volume
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
- Pro:Excellent battery life (up to 52h with case)
- Con:No wear detection sensor
- Con:Finicky touch controls at times
- Con:No physical pairing button on the buds
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.