True Wireless
Nothing CMF Buds Neo
84Outstanding
$22
Full review dataNothing CMF Buds Neo vs Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds®: 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
Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds®
66Good
$25
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 7 of 7 measures.
- Nothing CMF Buds Neo
- Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds®
HearWiki score
84
66
Sound
7.4
6.2
Noise cancelling
7.8
0.0
Battery
9.0
6.2
Calls
7.8
6.1
Value
9.8
8.5
Price (USD)
$22
$25
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 Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds® (2022). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- CMF Buds Neo20264 yr newer
- Smokin’ Buds®2022
What differsCMF Buds NeoSmokin’ Buds®
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Level on: USB-C.
Specifications
CMF Buds NeoSmokin’ Buds®
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $22
- $25
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 66
- Released
- 2026
- 2022
- 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
- -
- 104 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.2
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- No
- Battery life
- 11 h
- 8 h
- Battery incl. case
- 52 h
- 20 h
- Full charge time
- 10 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 5.5 h
- 10 min → 2 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- -
- touch
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 4
- 2
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
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
Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds®
The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds are an affordable true-wireless option that prioritize comfort and everyday usability over audiophile-grade sound. They deliver a neutral, serviceable audio profile with a secure fit and decent battery life, though they lack premium features like noise cancellation and multipoint connectivity. Overall, they're a practical, budget-friendly choice for casual listeners who value simplicity and comfort.
- Pro:Comfortable and secure fit for extended wear
- Pro:Neutral sound profile suitable for most genres
- Pro:Good battery life with 8 hours per charge and 20 total with case
- Con:Mediocre sound quality compared to higher-end models
- Con:No active noise cancellation or water resistance
- Con:Lacks multipoint support and aptX codec
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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