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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a — biggest strength: 42dB hybrid ANC plus a quad-mic ENC array with wind-noise reduction, all wrapped in a light 42.75 g package with app-level control.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a — biggest trade-off: IP54 is splash-resistant, not swim-proof, and the case only holds 35.5 extra hours versus the Piluyaa's bigger reserve.
• Piluyaa Earbuds — biggest strength: A 48-hour case reserve, IPX7 waterproofing and a 15 m Bluetooth range that beats the CMF's 10 m.
• Piluyaa Earbuds — biggest trade-off: Noise control is listed as sound isolation rather than active cancellation, so it leans on the ear tips instead of electronics.
• Who each pick is for: The CMF suits commuters and call-heavy users who want tuning depth. The Piluyaa suits long-shift listeners, sweaty workouts and anyone who hates charging.
The Buds 2a is the more "engineered" of the two. Its 12.4mm bio-fiber dynamic driver was co-tuned with DIRAC, and the result is described as a warm soundstage with rich mids and bass you can dial up or down. On top of that sits 42dB smart active noise cancelling, adjustable through the Nothing X app across levels including a transparent mode. If you ride a bus, sit in an open office or just want to mute a noisy kitchen, that's real, hardware-level quiet rather than a tighter seal.
Calling is where it separates itself. Four HD ENC microphones paired with Clear Voice Tech and Wind Noise Reduction 2.0 are aimed squarely at outdoor talkers — the person walking to the train while on a client call. Bluetooth 5.4 handles the connection, with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Quick Switch for hopping between a phone and a laptop, and 32 ohm impedance is an easy load for basically any source.
Piluyaa Earbuds: Who It's For
The Piluyaa XA92 plays a simpler game: give people more of the raw numbers. Its 14.2mm dynamic drivers are the larger of the two, tuned for crisp highs, deep punchy bass and a wide range, and it supports stereo or mono use — so you can run a single bud while the other charges. Impedance is 16 ohm, which means it gets loud easily off a phone.
Battery is the headline. 8 hours per charge, then a 400mAh case that the listing claims adds up to 48 hours total, refilled over USB-C. That's the kind of reserve you notice on a weekend trip where you left the cable at home. Bluetooth 5.4 gives a 15 m range with auto-reconnect to the last device, and the chip is quoted at up to 4 Mbps with low latency for video sync. Four ENC microphones do the call work here too, filtering background noise so your voice stays clear on calls and video chats.
Water is the other differentiator: IPX7 means it can handle a soaked run, a downpour or a rinse, where the CMF's IP54 cannot. Trade-offs are real, though. Noise control is listed as sound isolation, not active cancellation, so the quiet comes from the silicone tips — and those do come in S/M/L. There's also no app layer mentioned, so no custom EQ profiles or adjustable ANC. Buy it if you want endurance, water resistance and a longer leash from your phone. Skip it if you specifically want electronic noise cancelling or deep software customization. For glasses wearers, the in-ear, tip-based fit is the same idea as the CMF, so neither has an obvious edge there.
• Best for active noise cancelling → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. 42dB hybrid ANC is the only true ANC in this pair.
• Best for battery life → Piluyaa Earbuds. Up to 48 hours with the case versus 35.5 hours on the CMF.
• Best for water and sweat → Piluyaa Earbuds. IPX7 versus IP54 is a meaningful gap for rain and workouts.
• Best for calls outdoors → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Quad ENC mics plus wind-noise reduction is purpose-built for windy streets.
• Best for app control and tuning → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Custom EQ, ANC levels, dual-device pairing, low-lag mode and find-my-buds.
• Best for range from your device → Piluyaa Earbuds. 15 m versus 10 m, useful if you leave the phone on a desk and walk around.
• Best for heavy travel days → Piluyaa Earbuds. The bigger case reserve means fewer top-ups.
• Best for a lighter, more tailored fit → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Three tip sizes plus a 42.75 g total package, which helps if you wear glasses and want less pressure behind the ear.
In my opinion, the CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a is the one I'd buy. Real active noise cancelling, an ENC mic setup built for windy outdoor calls, app-level EQ and dual-device switching are the things I'd actually use every day, and for glasses wearers the tip-based in-ear fit with three sizes keeps pressure off your frames. The Piluyaa is a genuinely strong alternative if you'd rather have 48 hours of case battery, IPX7 waterproofing and a longer Bluetooth reach, and I'd point swimmers and long-shift listeners straight at it. For most people weighing a daily pair of wireless headphones with ENC mic, the CMF edges it.
No. Plenty of Bluetooth headphones are listen-only, but both of these have microphones built in. The CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a uses four HD ENC mics with wind-noise reduction, and the Piluyaa uses four ENC noise-cancelling mics, so calls work on either.
Can you use bluetooth headphones as a mic?
Pair the earbuds to your phone or computer, then select them as the input device in your call or meeting app. On these two, the mic is always available during a call — no extra setup. Touch controls handle answer and end, and the CMF adds Microsoft Quick Switch for moving between devices.
Connect over Bluetooth, then open your sound settings and set the earbuds as both playback and recording device. If the mic sounds thin, switch the output to the hands-free profile. The CMF's Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Quick Switch make the hand-off between phone and PC smoother; the Piluyaa relies on standard auto-reconnect.
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