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Need a new pair of earbuds? British brand Nothing has a surprisingly affordable fix.
The newest affordable earbuds from British startup Nothing have plummeted to just £19 in the online store. Usually priced at £29, these AirPods competitors offer up to 35.5 hours of battery life with the case, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity for multiple devices, and more.
The award-winning British brand behind these 'buds and mobile recently launched its latest Android phone, dubbed Nothing Phone (4a) and its new over-ear headphones with 135-hour battery life to compete with the likes of Bose and Sony. If you're looking for something a little more wallet-friendly, you can't go wrong with the CMF Buds 2a from Nothing's affordable sub-brand CMF.
Pocket the CMF Buds 2a from Nothing for under £20
With these budget-friendly earbuds from British startup Nothing, you can expect punchy bass, a bright sound profile, and 42dB adaptive ANC — great for commuting, workouts, or casual listening. While they skip extras like spatial audio and longer battery life found in pricier rivals, they’re a stylish, budget-friendly alternative to models like AirPods or Galaxy Buds.
Designed with the brand’s signature transparent aesthetic, the earbuds are designed to deliver a lively, bass-forward sound that suits everything from podcasts to playlists. With 42dB adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), they’re well-equipped for daily commutes, study sessions, or blocking out gym noise.
They support Bluetooth connectivity with stable pairing and work seamlessly with the Nothing X app, unlocking custom EQ settings, touch controls, and adjustable ANC modes.
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However, compared to step-up models like the Nothing Ear (2) or Nothing Ear (2 Plus), the 2a makes a few trade-offs.
For instance, you won’t get high-resolution audio streaming found with the Nothing Ear (2) and Nothing Ear (2 Plus).
Battery life clocks in at around 8 hours per charge (up to 35.5 hours with the case), and fast charging gives you quick top-ups on the go. This is shorter than the 55-hour battery life found in the brand's flagship models, and features such as in-ear detection and spatial audio are missing.
The Nothing CMF Buds 2a supports Bluetooth connectivity with stable pairing and work seamlessly with the Nothing X app, unlocking custom EQ settings, touch controls, and adjustable ANC modes
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Noise cancellation is also slightly less powerful, and while call quality is solid with three mics per bud, you may find that Nothing's higher-end models handle wind noise better.
You also get IP54-rated dust and water resistance, making them practical for gym sessions or rainy UK commutes.