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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs QCY T17 True Wireless Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3: 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 Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3
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 Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3 (2025). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.

  • CMF Buds Neo20261 yr newer
  • T17 True Wireless Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.32025
What differsCMF Buds NeoT17 True Wireless Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
None

Level on: USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoT17 True Wireless Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$22
HearWiki score
84
70
Released
2026
2025
Availability
Sold new
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
-
12 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
-
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
No
ANC type
adaptive
none
Transparency mode
-
No
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
-
No
Controls
-
touch
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
-
4.2 g
Case weight
-
28.1 g
Water resistance
-
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Model code
-
BH21Q17A
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 Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3

The QCY T17 earbuds deliver remarkable value at a budget price, pairing a secure, comfortable fit with clear audio and a practical 26-hour total runtime with the charging case. Bluetooth 5.3 and touch controls round out a solid package for everyday listening, though they skip advanced features like noise cancellation.

  • Pro:Excellent value for the price
  • Pro:Comfortable and secure fit
  • Pro:Long 26-hour total battery life
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:No multipoint connection
  • Con:Only IPX4 water resistance (not IPX5 as some reviews claim)

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

Compare something else

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New comparisonNothing CMF Buds NeoQCY T17 True Wireless Earbuds, 26H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.3