True Wireless
Nothing CMF Buds Neo
84Outstanding
$22
Full review dataNothing CMF Buds Neo vs QCY MeloBuds A30: 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
QCY MeloBuds A30
78Great
$33
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.
- Nothing CMF Buds Neo
- QCY MeloBuds A30
HearWiki score
84
78
Sound
7.4
7.6
Noise cancelling
7.8
7.5
Battery
9.0
8.8
Calls
7.8
6.8
Value
9.8
9.2
Price (USD)
$22
$33
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?
Same generation
Both shipped in 2026. These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Nothing CMF Buds Neo adds Custom EQ.
- CMF Buds Neo2026
- MeloBuds A302026
What differsCMF Buds NeoMeloBuds A30
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
Everyday features
Level on: ANC type, USB-C, Companion app.
Specifications
CMF Buds NeoMeloBuds A30
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $22
- $33
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 78
- Released
- 2026
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 12.4 mm dynamic
- 10 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 12.4 mm
- 10 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Bluetooth
- -
- 6.0
- Codecs
- -
- LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- Yes
- Latency
- -
- 60 ms
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 11 h
- 11 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 6 h
- Battery incl. case
- 52 h
- 50 h
- Full charge time
- 10 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 5.5 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- -
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Controls
- -
- touch
- Case weight
- -
- 40.4 g
- Water resistance
- -
- IPX5
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 4
- 8
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- 8-mic ENC
What reviewers said
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
QCY MeloBuds A30
The QCY MeloBuds A30 are compact, stemless true wireless earbuds offering a well-balanced sound and robust adaptive noise cancellation at a budget-friendly price. With Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC support, and a comfortable fit, they're a solid pick for commuters and everyday listeners, though battery life and a quirky multipoint feature keep them from perfection.
- Pro:Strong adaptive ANC for the price
- Pro:Balanced, impressive sound quality
- Pro:Compact and comfortable stemless design
- Con:Average battery life, especially with ANC on
- Con:Multipoint connection can cause reboots
- 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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