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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs QCY T17 True Wireless: 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.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Nothing CMF Buds Neo leads on 7 of 7 measures.

  • Nothing CMF Buds Neo
  • QCY T17 True Wireless
HearWiki score
84
70
Sound
7.4
6.8
Noise cancelling
7.8
-
Battery
9.0
7.2
Calls
7.8
5.8
Value
9.8
8.2
Price (USD)
$22
$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 QCY T17 True Wireless (2021). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against Feed-forward. It also adds Custom EQ and Companion app.

  • CMF Buds Neo20265 yr newer
  • T17 True Wireless2021
What differsCMF Buds NeoT17 True Wireless

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
Feed-forward

Everyday features

Custom EQ
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No

Level on: USB-C.

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoT17 True Wireless
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$22
HearWiki score
84
70
Released
2026
2021
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
12.4 mm dynamic
6 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
12.4 mm
6 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
-
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Sensitivity
-
102 dB/mW
Bluetooth
-
5.3
Codecs
-
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
-
No
Latency
-
68 ms
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
11 h
7.5 h
Battery incl. case
52 h
26 h
Full charge time
10 min
120 min
Quick charge
10 min → 5.5 h
10 min → 2 h
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
feedforward
Transparency mode
-
No
Companion app
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
-
No
Controls
-
touch
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
-
4.2 g
Water resistance
-
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
2
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
-
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 T17 True Wireless

The QCY T17 are ultra-affordable true wireless earbuds that punch above their weight with a comfortable fit, balanced sound, and impressive battery life. They offer basic feedforward active noise cancellation and IPX4 water resistance, making them a solid choice for budget-conscious listeners seeking everyday reliability. While they lack extras like wireless charging or multipoint, their performance and value are hard to beat at this price point.

  • Pro:Excellent value for the price
  • Pro:Comfortable and secure fit
  • Pro:Balanced sound with clear treble
  • Con:No wireless charging
  • Con:No multipoint connection
  • Con:Basic feedforward ANC 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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New comparisonNothing CMF Buds NeoQCY T17 True Wireless