Headphone Review: Silence Spells Success with Nothing Buds Pro 2
Rewritten Article:
Nothing's momentum is unstoppable right now. In just four months, they've released two smartphones and their Ear (a) buds made it to our list of Best Monthly Gadgets. Founded by the brilliant Carl Pei, CMF is a sub-brand focusing on budget earbuds and smartwatches. This June, CMF dropped the Flagship buds, an upgrade from the Buds Pro, the Buds Pro 2, priced at an affordable $60. The striking orange charging case, smart dial, and retro Look were the selling points for me.
However, the competition is fierce at this price point, with juggernauts like Samsung and OnePlus offering more robust features.
Pros of CMF Buds Pro 2
- Long battery life
- Dial adds a unique touch aesthetically
- Multi-point connectivity up to two devices
Cons
- Cheap-feeling buds
- Unintuitive navigation
- Dial's functionality is limited
- Glitchy ChatGPT integration
- Mediocre sound and ANC
Design
The bright orange on the Buds Pro 2's charging case is a hot trend this year – it looks as sexy as it did on the Rabbit R1 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The case is a lightweight, 46g plastic box that doesn't feel expensive. The earbuds, on the other hand, appear cheap, although the case feels solid and sturdy. The dial on the case is a stylish addition, but it's not necessary for functional purposes unless you're using it for YouTube watch sessions on your phone only.
Controls
The case fits comfortably in your hand, but its compact size becomes a hassle when you're engaged in chores or errands or have limited pocket space. The dial is a glorified accessory, adding visual charm but not much in terms of function. Customizing it on the Nothing X app allows you to perform a variety of actions like play/pause, answer calls, enable low lag mode, voice assistance, and volume control.
The buds themselves have subpar controls. There's no single-tap gesture for playback, and double-tapping requires extra attention. Navigating the controls isn't intuitive, which is frustrating for users who are accustomed to one-tap functionality.
ChatGPT Integration
At $60, offering ChatGPT integration is impressive, but the execution could be better. The setup process is straightforward, but integration can be glitchy, and the voice assistant is occasionally out of sync. Users can't interrupt the assistant's responses or speak over them. This defeats the purpose of having an LLM directly integrated into your earbuds.
Sound and ANC
The Buds Pro 2 boast an 11mm bass driver and a 6mm tweeter for treble, with a frequency range of 20 to 40KHz. While the range is impressive, it doesn't significantly enhance audio quality since human hearing is limited to 20 to 20KHz. The Nothing X app provides presets and customizable settings. However, the audio experience is still underwhelming, with the sound lacking clarity and distinguishing elements.
ANC performance is average, silencing background noise like air conditioners but falling short in loud environments like subways.
Battery
The Buds Pro 2 delivers on battery life, promising up to 43 hours with the case and 11 hours on a single charge for the buds. The quick-charge feature gives you seven hours of playtime with a 10-minute recharge.
Verdict
The Buds Pro 2 are a disappointing letdown, with poor sound quality, unintuitive controls, and glitchy ChatGPT integration. Even for a budget option, Samsung's Galaxy Buds FE offers far superior ANC for a slightly higher price. If you're seeking excellent audio quality at an affordable price, opt for the OnePlus Buds 3, which offers exceptional sound imaging for just $70. The Galaxy Buds FE shines if you prioritize a secure fit, simple controls, and excellent ANC. Both budget alternatives boast long battery life and are worthy alternatives to the CMF Buds Pro 2.
- The Buds Pro 2, priced at an affordable $60, showcase a bright orange charging case, smart dial, and retro design, making it a popular choice among consumers.
- Despite the pros such as long battery life, multi-point connectivity, and stylish dial, the Buds Pro 2 face criticism for their cheap-feeling build, unintuitive navigation, limited dial functionality, glitchy ChatGPT integration, and mediocre sound and ANC.
- To customize the functions of the dial, users can navigate the Nothing X app, offering options like play/pause, call answering, low lag mode, voice assistance, and volume control.
- At $60, while the ChatGPT integration on the Buds Pro 2 is impressive, the execution leaves much to be desired with occasional glitches and limited functionality.
