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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs Xiaomi Mi Air 2 Pro: 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
  • Xiaomi Mi Air 2 Pro
HearWiki score
84
56
Sound
7.4
6.5
Noise cancelling
7.8
5.5
Battery
9.0
6.7
Calls
7.8
5.8
Value
9.8
5.0
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?

Half a step newer

Nothing CMF Buds Neo (2026) against Xiaomi Mi Air 2 Pro (2020). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. It also adds Custom EQ.

  • CMF Buds Neo20266 yr newer
  • Mi Air 2 Pro2020
What differsCMF Buds NeoMi Air 2 Pro

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
Hybrid

Everyday features

Custom EQ
Yes
No

Level on: USB-C, Companion app.

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoMi Air 2 Pro
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$30
HearWiki score
84
56
Released
2026
2020
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
Driver
12.4 mm dynamic
12 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
12.4 mm
12 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
-
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
32 Ω
Bluetooth
-
5.0
Codecs
-
SBC, AAC, LHDC
Multipoint pairing
-
No
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
11 h
6 h
Battery life (ANC on)
-
5 h
Battery incl. case
52 h
28 h
Full charge time
10 min
60 min
Quick charge
10 min → 5.5 h
10 min → 1.5 h
Wireless charging
-
Yes
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
hybrid
Transparency mode
-
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
-
Yes
Controls
-
touch
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
-
6.5 g
Water resistance
-
none
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
3
Microphone type
-
MEMS
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
-
3-mic ENC

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

Xiaomi Mi Air 2 Pro

The Xiaomi Mi Air 2 Pro offers a compelling mix of premium features at a budget price, including hybrid ANC, wireless charging, and LHDC codec support. With a 12 mm dynamic driver and three-microphone setup, it delivers solid performance for calls and music, though its noise cancellation is only average in real-world use. Battery life is respectable at around five hours with ANC enabled, extending to 28 hours with the case.

  • Pro:Strong value for the price
  • Pro:Hybrid ANC with transparency mode
  • Pro:Supports LHDC for high-quality audio
  • Con:ANC performance is average
  • Con:No multipoint connection
  • Con:No water resistance rating

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

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New comparisonNothing CMF Buds NeoXiaomi Mi Air 2 Pro