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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs Tronsmart Apollo Bold: 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
  • Tronsmart Apollo Bold
HearWiki score
84
55
Sound
7.4
5.9
Noise cancelling
7.8
5.6
Battery
9.0
5.7
Calls
7.8
5.7
Value
9.8
3.5
Price (USD)
$22
$42

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 Tronsmart Apollo Bold (2020). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid.

  • CMF Buds Neo20266 yr newer
  • Apollo Bold2020
What differsCMF Buds NeoApollo Bold

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
Hybrid

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

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoApollo Bold
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$42
HearWiki score
84
55
Released
2026
2020
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
Driver
12.4 mm dynamic
10 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
12.4 mm
10 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
-
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
32 Ω
Bluetooth
-
5.0
Codecs
-
SBC, AAC, aptX
Multipoint pairing
-
Yes
Wireless range
-
15 m
Battery life
11 h
10 h
Battery life (ANC on)
-
7 h
Battery incl. case
52 h
30 h
Full charge time
10 min
150 min
Quick charge
10 min → 5.5 h
-
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
hybrid
Transparency mode
-
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
-
Yes
Controls
-
touch
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
-
6.8 g
Case weight
-
54 g
Water resistance
-
IP45
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
6
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
-
cVc

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

Tronsmart Apollo Bold

The Tronsmart Apollo Bold offers hybrid active noise cancellation and a transparency mode at a budget-friendly price, making it a versatile option for commuters. Its warm, bass-forward sound signature is complemented by a capable app with a custom EQ, while multipoint Bluetooth 5.0 adds convenience. With around 7 hours of battery life with ANC on and an IP45 rating, it balances features and portability.

  • Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
  • Pro:Useful transparency mode for situational awareness
  • Pro:Custom EQ and app support for sound tuning
  • Con:Sound signature may be too warm for some
  • Con:No wireless charging support
  • Con:Battery life with ANC is modest at 7 hours

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

Compare something else

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New comparisonNothing CMF Buds NeoTronsmart Apollo Bold