HEADPHONES · YOUR NEXT FACE-OFF

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Real specs. Clear sources.Exact models · UK & US buying links

Compared products

YOUR FIRST CHOICE

Apple AirPods Max 2

Midnight

Full product profile Official image

Exact model & source notes

AirPods Max 2 in Midnight (UK part MHWK4ZM/A, US part MHWK4AM/A) are Apple's over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, with an H2 chip in each ear cup and nine microphones. Apple lists Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking and Adaptive EQ among their audio features. They connect over Bluetooth 5.3, and a wired USB-C connection adds Lossless and ultra-low-latency audio. Apple rates them at up to 20 hours with noise cancellation on.

Specifications checked 26 Sept 2026.

Amazon links open search results. Check the exact variant, current price and availability with the retailer.

Manufacturer specifications

WHAT DIFFERS

6 verified differences, led by Wired / wireless connections, battery life and driver construction. Compared in full below. Not a rating.

See the 6 verified differences

THE CONTENDER

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

6974434225114 · Light Grey · UK

CMF Buds 2 Plus light grey earbuds in an open light grey charging case marked Buds 2 Plus

Full product profile Official image

Exact model & source notes

CMF Buds 2 Plus (store SKU 6974434225114 in Light Grey on the UK and US Nothing stores) are true wireless earbuds from Nothing's CMF sub-brand, with hybrid ANC up to 50 dB, a 12 mm LCP driver, LDAC and a hearing-test-based Personal Sound profile.

Specifications checked 26 Sept 2026.

Amazon links open search results. Check the exact variant, current price and availability with the retailer.

Manufacturer specifications

Apple AirPods Max 2 UK & US retailers

UK & US price history: no verified listing yet

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus UK & US retailers

UK & US price history: no verified listing yet

Search links open retailer results, not a matched listing; eBay listings are checked daily. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

THE DIFFERENCES, MADE VISIBLE

Visual facts

Differences first. Select a topic for its graphic, sources and conditions.

How to read this comparison

Manufacturer facts for the exact models shown. Not a quality rating or a test result.
“Different” means the known values differ, not that one is better.
Missing or conflicting evidence is marked and never counts as a difference. Source chips hold each fact’s sources and conditions.

FEATURES SIDE BY SIDE4 topics

Yes and No describe the listed feature. Missing evidence stays unverified.

SELECTED TOPIC

01 / 04

Detachable cable

A detachable cable unplugs at the headphones. A fixed cable does not. Always check the model-specific connector before buying a replacement.

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Bluetooth 5.3; USB-C for charging and wired Lossless / ultra-low-latency audio. Manufacturer specification · No analogue input is listed on the specifications page; only the USB-C charge cable is in the box.

Source 1

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNot verified

Bluetooth 5.4 (AAC, SBC, LDAC) with dual connection; USB-C charging on the case. Manufacturer specification · LDAC needs a supporting Android device and the High-Quality Audio setting in Nothing X. Fast charging is quoted with a Type-C charging cable.

Source 1

Choose your must-haves

Start with your listening environment. Open and closed earcups suit different surroundings. A closed back is not the same as active noise cancellation. Check the exact cable and headphone output. We do not turn impedance, driver size or unpaired lab results into a sound-quality score.

WHAT CHANGES BETWEEN THEM?

Key differences

Full specifications ↓

6 verified differences, most decision-relevant first. Missing information stays separate.

Wired / wireless connections

Apple AirPods Max 2Bluetooth 5.3; USB-C for charging and wired Lossless / ultra-low-latency audio

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusBluetooth 5.4 (AAC, SBC, LDAC) with dual connection; USB-C charging on the case

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · No analogue input is listed on the specifications page; only the USB-C charge cable is in the box.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · LDAC needs a supporting Android device and the High-Quality Audio setting in Nothing X. Fast charging is quoted with a Type-C charging cable.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Battery life

Apple AirPods Max 2Up to 20 hours of listening on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation on; 5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusAAC: earbuds up to 7.5 hours with ANC on and 14 hours with ANC off; with the case 33 hours with ANC on and 61.5 hours with ANC off. LDAC: earbuds up to 5.5 hours ANC on / 8 hours ANC off; with case up to 25 hours ANC on / 36 hours ANC off.

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Each figure has its own Apple test: the 20-hour figure is from testing in January and February 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 17 Pro Max units; the 5-minute charge figure is from testing in March 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 15 Pro Max units. Both used pre-release software, volume at 50%, Active Noise Cancellation enabled and Spatial Audio set to fixed. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage and many other factors.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Nothing laboratory results at 25 °C, 50% volume, AAC, other features at default settings; actual life varies with use. Talk time is listed separately (earbuds 6.5 h ANC on / 8 h ANC off; with case 29 h / 34 h).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Manufacturer claims for the stated mode and equipment. Read each test condition; this is not measured everyday battery life.

Driver construction

Apple AirPods Max 2Apple-designed dynamic driver with custom high-dynamic-range amplifier

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusCustom 12 mm dynamic driver, LCP + PU diaphragm

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple does not publish the driver diameter on the specifications page.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Check whether the diameter describes the complete transducer or only its diaphragm. Different labels and driver sizes do not establish better sound.

Wearing style

Apple AirPods Max 2Over-ear wireless headphones

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusIn-ear, true wireless (ear tips in sizes S, M and L)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple does not describe the ear cups as open or closed-back on the pages read.

Apple Store UK — Buy AirPods Max 2 (colour part numbers)

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · A pair of earbuds and a charging case; ear tips in sizes S, M and L are in the box. Nothing does not state the ear tip material.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Spatial audio

Apple AirPods Max 2Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusSpatial Audio Effect (HRTF-based)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple: compatible hardware and software required; works with compatible content in supported apps; not all content is available in Dolby Atmos.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Nothing says it uses Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) technology for a three-dimensional listening experience; head tracking is not mentioned.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Dimensions

Apple AirPods Max 2168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm including cushions

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusEach earbud 33.6 x 20.9 x 22.7 mm; charging case 53.3 x 53.3 x 23 mm (height x width x depth)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.

Missing or non-comparable evidence (18)

Companion app

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNothing X app (Android and iOS): customise equaliser and controls, find my earbuds, low lag mode, software updates

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Nothing X is for Android 6.0 and above and iOS 13 and above; on Nothing OS 1.5.6 and higher the settings are built into the phone. LDAC needs High-Quality Audio turned on in Nothing X.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Listed audio technology

Apple AirPods Max 2Apple-designed dynamic driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier; Active Noise Cancellation; Adaptive Audio; Transparency mode; Conversation Awareness; Voice Isolation; Personalised Volume; Loud Sound Reduction; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; studio-quality audio recording; Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency audio via USB-C; Live Translation

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNot verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Apple's footnotes tie several of these features to compatible Apple devices running the latest software; Lossless and ultra-low latency audio need a wired USB-C connection and compatible content.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Battery capacity

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusEarbuds 53 mAh each; case 460 mAh

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Charge time

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusFull charge (0-100%) in 95 minutes with the case connected to a USB-C cable; with the case unplugged, the earbuds charge inside it in 60 minutes

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Fast charge: after a 10-minute charge, up to 8.5 hours of playback with the case or 4.5 hours without it (ANC off, 50% volume, AAC, Nothing laboratory, 25 °C).

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Charging

Apple AirPods Max 2USB-C

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNot verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Chip

Apple AirPods Max 2Apple H2 headphone chip in each ear cup

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNot verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Bluetooth codecs

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusAAC, SBC, LDAC (Hi-Res Wireless Audio certified)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Controls

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusTouch controls: double tap to skip forward or answer/hang up calls; triple tap to skip back or reject calls; tap and hold to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Customisable (footnote 9): double tap, triple tap, tap & hold and double tap & hold can be set to next song, previous song, volume up, volume down, voice assistant or switching noise cancellation modes, via phone settings on Nothing OS 1.5.6+ or the Nothing X app on Android 6.0+/iOS 13+.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Quick pairing

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusGoogle Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Fast Pair works on supported Android devices running Google Play services 11.7+ (back to Android 6.0); Find My and device renaming support need Android 10 or later.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

In-ear detection

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusYes

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

In the box

Apple AirPods Max 2AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNot verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Low lag mode

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plusless than 110 ms (as low as 105 ms)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Only with a Nothing phone in Game Mode. The Other features table says 'less than 110 ms under Game Mode'; footnote 7 says latency can be reduced to as low as 105 ms. Source field: Low lag mode.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Multipoint (dual connection)

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusYes

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Platform compatibility

Apple AirPods Max 2Full feature set with current Apple devices; works as Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices with possibly limited functionality

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNot verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Sound features

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusPersonal Sound Profile, Spatial Audio Effect, Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, Custom EQ; tuning by Nothing

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Personal Sound is powered by Audiodo and uses a pure tone audiometry test.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Dust, sweat and water resistance

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusIP55 (earbuds)

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

The specification lists 'IPX2 case', but footnote 6 says the charging case is not rated for water-proofing; the case rating is therefore left out. · Manufacturer specification

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Weight per earbud

Apple AirPods Max 2Not verified

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus4.5 g

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

No source recorded for this side.

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Manufacturer specification · Each earbud. The charging case weighs 42.5 g.

Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Weight

Apple AirPods Max 2386.2 g

Nothing CMF Buds 2 PlusNot verified

Sources

Apple AirPods Max 2

Manufacturer specification · Headphones including cushions; the Smart Case adds 134.5 g. Apple notes that weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.

Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

2 shared fields have the same recorded value.

YOUR HEADPHONES. YOUR RULES.

Check against your must-haves

Feature matching for the features you select. It doesn’t rate sound or comfort.

Start with your listening setup.

Choose a starting point, then fine-tune your must-haves.

FINE-TUNE THE DETAILS

Your essentials.

These shortcuts select the features shown above. Check the fit against your own equipment and listening space.

A feature match describes the selected requirements. It doesn’t rate sound or comfort.

Open-back designFor a quiet listening spaceClosed-back designAn enclosed outer earcupDetachable cableUnplug the cable at the headphonesBuilt-in microphoneFor calls and voice chatActive noise cancellationNot the same as a closed back

YOUR CHOICE

Apple AirPods Max 2

Select a feature to check your fit.

YOUR CHOICE

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Select a feature to check your fit.

Feature matching, not a sound-quality score. The specification table links to the evidence for each feature.

WHAT EACH CHOICE ASKS OF YOU

What it brings and what to check

Apple AirPods Max 2

What it brings

USB-C does more than charge: Apple lists wired Lossless and ultra-low-latency audio over it, with compatible content from supported apps and services.
Manufacturer source
Apple lists nine microphones in total, eight for noise cancellation and three for voice pickup, two of them shared. There is an Apple H2 chip in each ear cup.
Manufacturer source

What to check

Apple states 386.2 g including cushions, a figure worth weighing up for long listening sessions, and the Smart Case adds another 134.5 g when carried.
Manufacturer source
Many features rely on Apple devices with current software. Apple notes that functionality may be limited on non-Apple devices, and no analogue input or cable is listed in the box.
Manufacturer source

Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

What it brings

Nothing rates 14 hours per charge and 61.5 hours with the case using AAC with ANC off, or 7.5 and 33 hours with ANC on.
Manufacturer source
It supports LDAC and dual connection, and its Personal Sound profile, powered by Audiodo, is built from a pure tone audiometry hearing test.
Manufacturer source

What to check

The case charges over USB-C only; no wireless charging is listed, and LDAC works only with supporting Android phones and cuts rated playback to 5.5 hours with ANC on.
Manufacturer source
The earbuds are IP55, but Nothing's own page is inconsistent about the case (IPX2 in the table, not water-proof rated in the footnote).
Manufacturer source

COMPARE THE DETAILS

Full specifications

How we verify

Differences only

26 of 26 specifications Sources in each row

Source-backed specifications for Apple AirPods Max 2 and Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus
Specification	Apple AirPods Max 2	Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus

Wearing styleDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple does not describe the ear cups as open or closed-back on the pages read. Apple Store UK — Buy AirPods Max 2 (colour part numbers) Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · A pair of earbuds and a charging case; ear tips in sizes S, M and L are in the box. Nothing does not state the ear tip material. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Over-ear wireless headphones	In-ear, true wireless (ear tips in sizes S, M and L)
Weight Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Headphones including cushions; the Smart Case adds 134.5 g. Apple notes that weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus No source recorded.	386.2 g	Not provided
DimensionsDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm including cushions	Each earbud 33.6 x 20.9 x 22.7 mm; charging case 53.3 x 53.3 x 23 mm (height x width x depth)
Weight per earbud Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Each earbud. The charging case weighs 42.5 g. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	4.5 g
Dust, sweat and water resistance Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus The specification lists 'IPX2 case', but footnote 6 says the charging case is not rated for water-proofing; the case rating is therefore left out. · Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	IP55 (earbuds)

Wired / wireless connectionsDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · No analogue input is listed on the specifications page; only the USB-C charge cable is in the box. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · LDAC needs a supporting Android device and the High-Quality Audio setting in Nothing X. Fast charging is quoted with a Type-C charging cable. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Bluetooth 5.3; USB-C for charging and wired Lossless / ultra-low-latency audio	Bluetooth 5.4 (AAC, SBC, LDAC) with dual connection; USB-C charging on the case
Battery lifeDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Each figure has its own Apple test: the 20-hour figure is from testing in January and February 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 17 Pro Max units; the 5-minute charge figure is from testing in March 2026 with pre-production AirPods Max 2 paired with production iPhone 15 Pro Max units. Both used pre-release software, volume at 50%, Active Noise Cancellation enabled and Spatial Audio set to fixed. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage and many other factors. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Nothing laboratory results at 25 °C, 50% volume, AAC, other features at default settings; actual life varies with use. Talk time is listed separately (earbuds 6.5 h ANC on / 8 h ANC off; with case 29 h / 34 h). Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Up to 20 hours of listening on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation on; 5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours	AAC: earbuds up to 7.5 hours with ANC on and 14 hours with ANC off; with the case 33 hours with ANC on and 61.5 hours with ANC off. LDAC: earbuds up to 5.5 hours ANC on / 8 hours ANC off; with case up to 25 hours ANC on / 36 hours ANC off.
Charging Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus No source recorded.	USB-C	Not provided
Platform compatibility Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus No source recorded.	Full feature set with current Apple devices; works as Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices with possibly limited functionality	Not provided
Charge time Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Fast charge: after a 10-minute charge, up to 8.5 hours of playback with the case or 4.5 hours without it (ANC off, 50% volume, AAC, Nothing laboratory, 25 °C). Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Full charge (0-100%) in 95 minutes with the case connected to a USB-C cable; with the case unplugged, the earbuds charge inside it in 60 minutes
Bluetooth codecs Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	AAC, SBC, LDAC (Hi-Res Wireless Audio certified)
Multipoint (dual connection) Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Yes
Low lag mode Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Only with a Nothing phone in Game Mode. The Other features table says 'less than 110 ms under Game Mode'; footnote 7 says latency can be reduced to as low as 105 ms. Source field: Low lag mode. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	less than 110 ms (as low as 105 ms)
Quick pairing Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Fast Pair works on supported Android devices running Google Play services 11.7+ (back to Android 6.0); Find My and device renaming support need Android 10 or later. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair
Battery capacity Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Earbuds 53 mAh each; case 460 mAh

Spatial audioDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple: compatible hardware and software required; works with compatible content in supported apps; not all content is available in Dolby Atmos. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Nothing says it uses Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) technology for a three-dimensional listening experience; head tracking is not mentioned. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking	Spatial Audio Effect (HRTF-based)
Listed audio technology Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple's footnotes tie several of these features to compatible Apple devices running the latest software; Lossless and ultra-low latency audio need a wired USB-C connection and compatible content. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus No source recorded.	Apple-designed dynamic driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier; Active Noise Cancellation; Adaptive Audio; Transparency mode; Conversation Awareness; Voice Isolation; Personalised Volume; Loud Sound Reduction; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; studio-quality audio recording; Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency audio via USB-C; Live Translation	Not provided
Driver constructionDifferent Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Apple does not publish the driver diameter on the specifications page. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Apple-designed dynamic driver with custom high-dynamic-range amplifier	Custom 12 mm dynamic driver, LCP + PU diaphragm
Chip Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus No source recorded.	Apple H2 headphone chip in each ear cup	Not provided
Sound features Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Personal Sound is powered by Audiodo and uses a pure tone audiometry test. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Personal Sound Profile, Spatial Audio Effect, Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, Custom EQ; tuning by Nothing

Microphone Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Nine microphones in total; three pick up voice, two of which are shared with noise cancellation. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Six HD microphones in total (three per bud) with Clear Voice Technology 3.0 and Wind Noise Reduction 3.0. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Yes	Yes
Active noise cancellation Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification · Also offers Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode. Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Hybrid ANC up to 50 dB (Nothing's laboratory theoretical maximum) over up to 5400 Hz, with Smart Adaptive mode, Environmental Adaptive ANC and Transparency mode. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Yes	Yes

Companion app Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Nothing X is for Android 6.0 and above and iOS 13 and above; on Nothing OS 1.5.6 and higher the settings are built into the phone. LDAC needs High-Quality Audio turned on in Nothing X. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Nothing X app (Android and iOS): customise equaliser and controls, find my earbuds, low lag mode, software updates
Controls Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification · Customisable (footnote 9): double tap, triple tap, tap & hold and double tap & hold can be set to next song, previous song, volume up, volume down, voice assistant or switching noise cancellation modes, via phone settings on Nothing OS 1.5.6+ or the Nothing X app on Android 6.0+/iOS 13+. Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Touch controls: double tap to skip forward or answer/hang up calls; triple tap to skip back or reject calls; tap and hold to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.
In-ear detection Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 No source recorded. Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus Manufacturer specification Nothing (UK store, nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications Nothing (US store, us.nothing.tech) — CMF Buds 2 Plus product page with technical specifications	Not provided	Yes

In the box Sources Apple AirPods Max 2 Manufacturer specification Apple AirPods Max 2 — official UK technical specifications Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus No source recorded.	AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation	Not provided

First product manufacturer source Second product manufacturer source

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Weight per earbud: 4.6 g
Wireless audio connections: Bluetooth v6.1 (Bluetooth Version); A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, PBP, TMAP (Bluetooth Profiles); LE Audio (yes); Auto Switch (yes)
Microphone: Yes

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Samsung Galaxy Buds3

Weight per earbud: 4.7 g
Wireless audio connections: Bluetooth v5.4 (Bluetooth Version); A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, PBP, TMAP (Bluetooth Profiles); LE Audio (yes); Auto Switch (yes)
Microphone: Yes

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Sony LinkBuds Fit

Weight per earbud: 4.9 g
Wearing style: In-ear true wireless earbuds with fitting supporters
Wired / wireless connections: Bluetooth 5.3; Classic Audio or compatible LE Audio (LC3)

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Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE

Weight per earbud: 5 g
Wireless audio connections: Bluetooth v5.4 (Bluetooth Version); A2DP, AVRCP, HFP (Bluetooth Profiles); Auto Switch (yes)
Microphone: Yes

Prices & product profile

Each record represents an explicitly checked model and configuration. Original import: 5 Sept 2026; this is not its verification date. This is not a list of current offers or a popularity ranking.