Nothing CMF Neckband Pro vs Realme Buds Wireless 2: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Nothing CMF Neckband Pro comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 77. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Nothing CMF Neckband Pro - Great overall at around $22.

Neckband

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Nothing CMF Neckband Pro leads on 6 of 7 measures.

Nothing CMF Neckband Pro
Realme Buds Wireless 2

HearWiki score

Sound

7.1

6.3

Noise cancelling

7.4

5.8

Battery

8.7

6.0

Calls

7.5

Value

9.2

Price (USD)

$22

$25

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?

Mixed generations

Nothing CMF Neckband Pro (2024) against Realme Buds Wireless 2 (2021). Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Nothing CMF Neckband Pro brings Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0, while the Realme Buds Wireless 2 answers with ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. The Nothing CMF Neckband Pro answers on convenience features: it adds Custom EQ and Water resistance IP55 against IPX5.

CMF Neckband Pro20243 yr newer
Buds Wireless 22021

What differsCMF Neckband ProBuds Wireless 2

Bluetooth: 5.3; 5.0
ANC type: Hybrid; Adaptive
Custom EQ: Yes; No
Water resistance: IP55; IPX5

Level on: Top codec, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Companion app.

Specifications

CMF Neckband ProBuds Wireless 2

Type: Neckband; Neckband
Price (USD): $22; $25
HearWiki score: 77; 64
Released: 2024; 2021
Availability: Still sold new; Discontinued
Driver: 13.6 mm dynamic; 13.6 mm driver
Driver type: dynamic; -
Driver size: 13.6 mm; 13.6 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 1
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz; 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance: -; 16 Ω
Bluetooth: 5.3; 5.0
Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC; SBC, AAC, LDAC
Multipoint pairing: Yes; Yes
Wireless range: 10 m; 10 m
Battery life: 37 h; 22 h
Battery life (ANC on): 17 h; 18 h
Full charge time: 30 min; 50 min
Quick charge: 10 min → 18 h; 10 min → 12 h
Wireless charging: No; No
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: hybrid; adaptive
Transparency mode: Yes; Yes
Companion app: Yes; Yes
Custom EQ: Yes; No
Wear detection: No; No
Controls: both; buttons
Weight: 29.6 g; 29 g
Water resistance: IP55; IPX5
USB-C: Yes; Yes
Microphones: 5; 1
Call noise reduction: -; Yes
Call NR technology: ENC; AI ENC

Specification comparison of Nothing CMF Neckband Pro vs Realme Buds Wireless 2
Spec	Nothing CMF Neckband Pro	Realme Buds Wireless 2
Type	Neckband	Neckband
Price (USD)	$22	$25
HearWiki score	77 / 100 Great	64 / 100 Good
Released	2024	2021
Audio
Driver	13.6 mm dynamic	13.6 mm driver
Driver type	dynamic	-
Driver size	13.6 mm	13.6 mm
Drivers per side	1	1
Frequency response	20 Hz - 20 kHz	20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance	-	16 Ω
Wireless
Bluetooth	5.3	5.0
Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC	SBC, AAC, LDAC
Multipoint pairing	Yes	Yes
Wireless range	10 m	10 m
Battery
Battery life	37 h	22 h
Battery life (ANC on)	17 h	18 h
Full charge time	30 min	50 min
Quick charge	10 min → 18 h	10 min → 12 h
Wireless charging	No	No
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	hybrid	adaptive
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Companion app	Yes	Yes
Custom EQ	Yes	No
Wear detection	No	No
Controls	both	buttons
Design
Weight	29.6 g	29 g
Water resistance	IP55	IPX5
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Calls
Microphones	5	1
Call noise reduction	-	Yes
Call NR technology	ENC	AI ENC

What reviewers said

Nothing CMF Neckband Pro

The CMF Neckband Pro is a budget-friendly neckband that packs hybrid ANC, LDAC support, and Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint into a lightweight 29.6g design. Its 13.6mm dynamic driver delivers bass-forward sound, while the 37-hour total battery (17 with ANC) and IP55 rating make it a versatile daily companion. With five mics for calls and app-based EQ, it offers strong value for its price point.

Pro:Long battery life, especially with ANC off
Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
Pro:LDAC codec support for high-res audio

Con:Bass-heavy tuning may not suit neutral listeners
Con:No wireless charging despite USB-C
Con:ANC battery life drops significantly to 17 hours

Realme Buds Wireless 2

The Realme Buds Wireless 2 is an affordable neckband that packs a surprising number of features for its price, including adaptive ANC, multipoint connectivity, and LDAC support. It offers long battery life, a bass-forward sound signature, and a handy companion app, making it a strong value pick for budget-conscious listeners. While its audio quality is decent and call handling works fine, some users may notice slight audio lag and the ANC isn't the most effective at blocking out noise.

Pro:Excellent battery life with up to 22 hours of playback
Pro:Supports LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs for flexible audio streaming
Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode for versatile listening

Con:ANC performance is limited and lets in some ambient noise
Con:Occasional audio delay can be noticeable in videos or games
Con:Sound quality is good but not exceptional for critical listening

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

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