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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs Realme Buds Air8 Pro: 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 4 of 7 measures.

  • Nothing CMF Buds Neo
  • Realme Buds Air8 Pro
HearWiki score
84
84
Sound
7.4
8.4
Noise cancelling
7.8
8.4
Battery
9.0
7.2
Calls
7.8
8.5
Value
9.8
9.2
Price (USD)
$22
$74

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. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

  • CMF Buds Neo2026
  • Buds Air8 Pro2026

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

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoBuds Air8 Pro
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$74
HearWiki score
84
84
Released
2026
2026
Availability
Sold new
Sold new
Driver
12.4 mm dynamic
2-driver hybrid
Driver type
dynamic
hybrid
Driver size
12.4 mm
11 mm
Drivers per side
1
2
Frequency response
-
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Bluetooth
-
6.1
Codecs
-
SBC, AAC, LHDC
Multipoint pairing
-
Yes
Latency
-
45 ms
Battery life
11 h
12 h
Battery incl. case
52 h
50 h
Full charge time
10 min
120 min
Quick charge
10 min → 5.5 h
10 min → 11 h
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
adaptive
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
-
Yes
Controls
-
touch
Weight
-
4.8 g
Case weight
-
53 g
Water resistance
-
IP55
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
6
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
-
AI 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

Realme Buds Air8 Pro

The Realme Buds Air8 Pro are feature-rich wireless earbuds that deliver strong adaptive noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a versatile hybrid driver setup for under $100. They offer a long 12-hour battery per charge, Bluetooth 6.1 with triple-device multipoint, and IP55 water resistance, making them a solid everyday choice. Sound tuning requires some adjustment to get the best performance, but the overall package is impressive for the price.

  • Pro:Strong adaptive ANC and usable transparency mode
  • Pro:Long 12-hour battery life with 50 hours total via case
  • Pro:Triple-device multipoint connectivity
  • Con:Sound tuning needs effort to optimize
  • Con:No wireless charging support
  • Con:Battery life per charge may vary depending on usage

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 NeoRealme Buds Air8 Pro