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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360: 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
  • Skullcandy Smokin' Buds® 360
HearWiki score
84
65
Sound
7.4
6.0
Noise cancelling
7.8
0.0
Battery
9.0
5.6
Calls
7.8
5.6
Value
9.8
8.7
Price (USD)
$22
$24

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® 360 (2023). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Custom EQ and Companion app.

  • CMF Buds Neo20263 yr newer
  • Smokin' Buds® 3602023
What differsCMF Buds NeoSmokin' Buds® 360

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
None

Everyday features

Custom EQ
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No

Level on: USB-C.

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoSmokin' Buds® 360
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$24
HearWiki score
84
65
Released
2026
2023
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
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Sensitivity
-
100 dB/mW
Bluetooth
-
5.4
Codecs
-
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
-
Yes
Battery life
11 h
7 h
Battery incl. case
52 h
20 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
No
ANC type
adaptive
-
Companion app
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
-
No
Controls
-
buttons
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
-
4 g
Case weight
-
37 g
Water resistance
-
IPX4
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® 360

The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds 360 are a budget-friendly true wireless option that offer solid everyday features like Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint pairing, and IPX4 sweat resistance. With around 7 hours of playback per charge and 20 hours total with the case, they deliver dependable battery life for the price. While they lack noise cancellation and app support, their lightweight build and physical buttons make them a straightforward, practical pick for casual listeners.

  • Pro:Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint support
  • Pro:Lightweight at 4g per bud
  • Pro:IPX4 water resistance
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:No app support or custom EQ
  • Con:SBC and AAC codecs 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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