True Wireless
Nothing CMF Buds Neo
84Outstanding
$22
Full review dataNothing CMF Buds Neo vs Soundcore A20i: 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
Soundcore A20i
78Great
$30
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
- Soundcore A20i
HearWiki score
84
78
Sound
7.4
6.6
Noise cancelling
7.8
-
Battery
9.0
8.1
Calls
7.8
5.7
Value
9.8
8.3
Price (USD)
$22
$30
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
The Nothing CMF Buds Neo is 3 years newer, but it is 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. For 3 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- CMF Buds Neo20263 yr newer
- A20i2023
Level on: USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
CMF Buds NeoA20i
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $22
- $30
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 78
- 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
- Frequency response
- -
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.3
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- No
- Latency
- -
- 88 ms
- Battery life
- 11 h
- 9 h
- Battery incl. case
- 52 h
- 28 h
- Full charge time
- 10 min
- 120 min
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 5.5 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- -
- touch
- Weight
- -
- 5.2 g
- Case weight
- -
- 43 g
- Water resistance
- -
- IPX5
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 4
- 2
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- noise-cancelling mic
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
Soundcore A20i
The Soundcore A20i delivers a fun, bass-forward sound with a comfortable and secure fit, making it a strong option for budget-conscious listeners. It offers exceptional battery life, stable Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and IPX5 water resistance, all wrapped in a lightweight, no-frills design. While the included ear tips may feel small for some and the app EQ has room for improvement, the overall value is hard to beat at this price point.
- Pro:Outstanding battery life with case
- Pro:Entertaining, bass-heavy sound signature
- Pro:Comfortable and lightweight fit
- Con:Included ear tips may be too small for some
- Con:App EQ tuning could be better
- Con:No wireless charging or multipoint support
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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