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Nothing CMF Buds Neo vs Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3: 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 Redmi AirDots 3
HearWiki score
84
53
Sound
7.4
4.3
Noise cancelling
7.8
-
Battery
9.0
6.0
Calls
7.8
5.0
Value
9.8
-
Price (USD)
$22
$26

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 Redmi AirDots 3 (2021). The Nothing CMF Buds Neo edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Custom EQ and Companion app.

  • CMF Buds Neo20265 yr newer
  • Redmi AirDots 32021
What differsCMF Buds NeoRedmi AirDots 3

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
None

Everyday features

Custom EQ
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No

Level on: USB-C.

Specifications

CMF Buds NeoRedmi AirDots 3
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$22
$26
HearWiki score
84
53
Released
2026
2021
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
12.4 mm dynamic
9 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
12.4 mm
9 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
-
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Bluetooth
-
5.2
Codecs
-
SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
Multipoint pairing
-
No
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
11 h
7 h
Battery incl. case
52 h
30 h
Full charge time
10 min
90 min
Quick charge
10 min → 5.5 h
5 min → 1.5 h
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
No
ANC type
adaptive
none
Transparency mode
-
No
Companion app
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
-
Yes
Controls
-
touch
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
-
4.6 g
Case weight
-
51 g
Water resistance
-
IPX4
Foldable
-
No
Detachable cable
-
No
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
4
1
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

Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3

The Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3 offer a long 7-hour battery life per charge and 30 hours with the case, plus solid Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX Adaptive support. While they mark an improvement over earlier models with USB-C charging, their larger fit, limited touch controls, and sound tuned more for speech than music make them a tough sell at their price point.

  • Pro:Long 7-hour single charge battery life
  • Pro:USB-C charging for convenience
  • Pro:Supports aptX Adaptive for better wireless audio
  • Con:Bulky case and earbuds compared to predecessors
  • Con:Limited touch controls
  • Con:Sound quality leans toward podcasts, not music

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 Redmi AirDots 3