True Wireless
Nothing CMF Buds Neo
84Outstanding
$22
Full review dataNothing CMF Buds Neo vs TRN BT1: 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
TRN BT1
31Weak
$28
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
- TRN BT1
HearWiki score
84
31
Sound
7.4
5.0
Noise cancelling
7.8
0.0
Battery
9.0
2.5
Calls
7.8
1.5
Value
9.8
-
Price (USD)
$22
$28
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 5 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 5 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- CMF Buds Neo20265 yr newer
- BT12021
Level on: USB-C.
Specifications
CMF Buds NeoBT1
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $22
- $28
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 31
- Released
- 2026
- 2021
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 12.4 mm dynamic
- 2-driver hybrid
- Driver type
- dynamic
- hybrid
- Driver size
- 12.4 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.0
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- No
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 11 h
- 3 h
- Battery incl. case
- 52 h
- 18 h
- Full charge time
- 10 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 5.5 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- -
- touch
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Weight
- -
- 4.8 g
- Case weight
- -
- 41 g
- Water resistance
- -
- IPX5
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 4
- -
- 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
TRN BT1
The TRN BT1 offers a balanced and spacious sound signature, making it a solid choice for classical and acoustic music at a budget price. While it features a hybrid dual-driver setup and IPX5 water resistance, its call quality, battery life, and video performance leave room for improvement. Overall, it's a capable entry-level TWS, though saving up for a slightly pricier alternative may be worthwhile.
- Pro:Balanced, spacious sound for acoustic and classical music
- Pro:IPX5 water resistance for workouts or light rain
- Pro:Hybrid dual-driver configuration adds detail
- Con:Battery life is short at only 3 hours per charge
- Con:Call quality and video sync performance are mediocre
- Con:No multipoint connection for multi-device use
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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