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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs Soundcore Space A40: 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 6 of 7 measures.

  • Nothing CMF Buds Neo
  • Soundcore Space A40
HearWiki score
84
75
Sound
7.4
7.3
Noise cancelling
7.8
8.3
Battery
9.0
8.0
Calls
7.8
5.5
Value
9.8
8.8
Price (USD)
$22
$41

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 4 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 4 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.

  • CMF Buds Neo20264 yr newer
  • Space A402022

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

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoSpace A40
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$41
HearWiki score
84
75
Released
2026
2022
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
12.4 mm dynamic
10 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
12.4 mm
10 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Bluetooth
-
5.2
Codecs
-
SBC, AAC, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
-
Yes
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
11 h
10 h
Battery life (ANC on)
-
8 h
Battery incl. case
52 h
50 h
Full charge time
10 min
-
Quick charge
10 min → 5.5 h
10 min → 4 h
Wireless charging
-
Yes
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
adaptive
Transparency mode
-
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
-
No
Controls
-
touch
Weight
-
4.9 g
Case weight
-
48.4 g
Water resistance
-
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
6
Call noise reduction
Yes
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

Soundcore Space A40

The Soundcore Space A40 earbuds deliver a compelling budget-friendly package with adaptive noise cancellation, multipoint connectivity, and support for high-resolution LDAC audio. They offer a comfortable, lightweight fit suitable for extended listening, including sleep, while providing robust battery life and wireless charging convenience. Though the microphone quality and touch controls have some inconsistencies, the overall value and feature set make them a strong contender in their price range.

  • Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
  • Pro:Long battery life with wireless charging case
  • Pro:Multipoint connection and LDAC support
  • Con:Microphone quality is only average
  • Con:Touch controls can be inconsistent
  • Con:Case hinge feels less secure

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

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparisonNothing CMF Buds NeoSoundcore Space A40