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Nothing CMF Buds 2 vs QCY MeloBuds N20: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Nothing CMF Buds 2 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 82. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Nothing CMF Buds 2 - Outstanding overall at around $37.

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.

  • Nothing CMF Buds 2
  • QCY MeloBuds N20
HearWiki score
82
74
Sound
7.7
6.8
Noise cancelling
7.8
6.9
Battery
8.8
7.5
Calls
6.5
6.0
Value
9.4
9.0
Price (USD)
$37
$30

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

QCY MeloBuds N20 (2026) against Nothing CMF Buds 2 (2025). The QCY MeloBuds N20 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.4 and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. The Nothing CMF Buds 2 answers on convenience features: it adds Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.

  • CMF Buds 22025
  • MeloBuds N2020261 yr newer
What differsCMF Buds 2MeloBuds N20

Platform

Bluetooth
5.4
6.0
ANC type
Hybrid
Adaptive

Everyday features

Water resistance
IP55
IPX4

Level on: Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

CMF Buds 2MeloBuds N20
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$37
$30
HearWiki score
82
74
Released
2025
2026
Availability
Sold new
Sold new
Driver
11 mm driver
13 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
11 mm
13 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
20 Ω
Bluetooth
5.4
6.0
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Latency
110 ms
68 ms
Wireless range
10 m
10 m
Battery life
13.5 h
10 h
Battery life (ANC on)
7.5 h
7.5 h
Battery incl. case
55 h
40 h
Full charge time
93 min
-
Quick charge
10 min → 4 h
10 min → 2 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
hybrid
adaptive
Transparency mode
Yes
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
Yes
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
Yes
Yes
Weight
4.5 g
4.6 g
Case weight
41.5 g
-
Water resistance
IP55
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
6
6

What reviewers said

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

QCY MeloBuds N20

The QCY MeloBuds N20 are a budget-friendly pair of true wireless earbuds that deliver a surprisingly robust feature set, including adaptive ANC, transparency mode, and Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint. With a 13 mm driver and 6-mic setup, they offer solid sound and call quality, plus up to 40 hours of total battery life with the charging case. They're a strong value pick for anyone seeking essential features without breaking the bank.

  • Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation for the price
  • Pro:Long battery life: up to 10 hours on a single charge, 40 with case
  • Pro:Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint for seamless dual-device connection
  • Con:No wireless charging support
  • Con:Limited to SBC and AAC codecs, no aptX
  • Con:Battery life drops to 7.5 hours with ANC enabled

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 comparisonNothing CMF Buds 2QCY MeloBuds N20