True Wireless
Nothing CMF Buds 2
82Outstanding
$37
Full review dataNothing CMF Buds 2 vs Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Active: 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.
True Wireless
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Active
73Great
$34
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Nothing CMF Buds 2 leads on 5 of 7 measures.
- Nothing CMF Buds 2
- Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Active
HearWiki score
82
73
Sound
7.7
6.5
Noise cancelling
7.8
-
Battery
8.8
7.5
Calls
6.5
6.5
Value
9.4
9.0
Price (USD)
$37
$34
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
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Active (2026) against Nothing CMF Buds 2 (2025). The Nothing CMF Buds 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds Water resistance IP55 against IP54.
- CMF Buds 22025
- Redmi Buds 8 Active20261 yr newer
What differsCMF Buds 2Redmi Buds 8 Active
- ANC type
- Hybrid
- None
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IP54
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Bluetooth, Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
CMF Buds 2Redmi Buds 8 Active
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $37
- $34
- HearWiki score
- 82
- 73
- Released
- 2025
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 11 mm driver
- 14.2 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 11 mm
- 14.2 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 32 Ω
- 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
- 37 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 7.5 h
- -
- Battery incl. case
- 55 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 93 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
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 4.5 g
- -
- Case weight
- 41.5 g
- -
- Water resistance
- IP55
- IP54
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 6
- 4
- Call NR technology
- -
- AI ENC
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
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Active
The Xiaomi Redmi Buds 8 Active are budget-friendly semi-in-ear true wireless earbuds featuring a 14.2mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, and touch controls. They offer a long 37-hour total battery life with the case, IP54 water resistance, and app-based EQ customization, though they lack active noise cancellation. With dual-mic AI call noise reduction and quick charging, they're a solid pick for everyday use on a tight budget.
- Pro:Long 37-hour total battery life
- Pro:Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint for seamless switching
- Pro:Lightweight semi-in-ear design with IP54 sweat resistance
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:SBC and AAC codecs only, no aptX or LDAC
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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