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Nothing CMF Buds 2 vs Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360: 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
  • Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360
HearWiki score
82
65
Sound
7.7
6.0
Noise cancelling
7.8
0.0
Battery
8.8
5.6
Calls
6.5
5.6
Value
9.4
8.7
Price (USD)
$37
$24

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 2 (2025) against Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360 (2023). The Nothing CMF Buds 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds Wear detection, Custom EQ, Companion app and Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.

  • CMF Buds 220252 yr newer
  • Smokin' Buds® 3602023
What differsCMF Buds 2Smokin' Buds® 360

Platform

ANC type
Hybrid
None

Everyday features

Wear detection
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No
Water resistance
IP55
IPX4

Level on: Bluetooth, Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C.

Specifications

CMF Buds 2Smokin' Buds® 360
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$37
$24
HearWiki score
82
65
Released
2025
2023
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
11 mm driver
6 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
11 mm
6 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
-
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Sensitivity
-
100 dB/mW
Bluetooth
5.4
5.4
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Latency
110 ms
-
Wireless range
10 m
-
Battery life
13.5 h
7 h
Battery life (ANC on)
7.5 h
-
Battery incl. case
55 h
20 h
Full charge time
93 min
120 min
Quick charge
10 min → 4 h
10 min → 2 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
No
ANC type
hybrid
-
Transparency mode
Yes
-
Companion app
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
Yes
No
Controls
touch
buttons
Voice assistant
Yes
Yes
Weight
4.5 g
4 g
Case weight
41.5 g
37 g
Water resistance
IP55
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
6
2

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

Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360

The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds 360 are a budget-friendly true wireless option that offer solid everyday features like Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint pairing, and IPX4 sweat resistance. With around 7 hours of playback per charge and 20 hours total with the case, they deliver dependable battery life for the price. While they lack noise cancellation and app support, their lightweight build and physical buttons make them a straightforward, practical pick for casual listeners.

  • Pro:Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint support
  • Pro:Lightweight at 4g per bud
  • Pro:IPX4 water resistance
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:No app support or custom EQ
  • Con:SBC and AAC codecs only

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

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