We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want active noise cancellation, a smart charging case and hi-res codec support, choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2; if you need an open-ear design that keeps you aware of traffic, a fully waterproof build for sweaty sessions and a clip-on fit that never plugs your canal, choose Skullcandy Push 720.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2 — biggest strength: 50dB adaptive hybrid ANC with a dual-driver setup (11mm bass driver + 6mm tweeter), LDAC support and 43 hours of total battery.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2 — biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear bud that seals your canal, so you lose natural awareness unless you switch to transparency mode. No known IP rating beyond IP55, and no wireless charging mentioned.
• Skullcandy Push 720 — biggest strength: Open-ear ear-cuff design with IP67 waterproofing, so you hear your surroundings and never worry about rain or sweat.
• Skullcandy Push 720 — biggest trade-off: No active noise cancellation at all, and 30 hours total battery versus CMF's 43. Bluetooth 5.2 instead of 5.3, and no hi-res codec listed.
• Choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2 if you commute, fly, work in noisy spaces, or want the most feature-dense earbud of the two.
• Choose Skullcandy Push 720 if you run outdoors, train hard, or simply can't stand things stuffed in your ear canal.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 is built around blocking sound out. Its 50dB adaptive hybrid ANC actively detects leakage between the bud and your ear canal and adjusts, which matters because a bad seal is the number one reason ANC underperforms. If you've ever owned a pair of noise cancellers that felt weak on a plane, this design detail is aimed squarely at that problem. There's also smart ambient sound recognition, so the buds can keep you alert while running and shift into transparency when you need to hear what's around you.
The audio side is unusually ambitious for this tier. A hybrid driver setup pairs an 11mm ultra-bass driver with a separate 6mm tweeter, and LDAC lossless transmission is supported, so compatible sources can send far more data than a standard Bluetooth stream. Dynamic Bass Boost 2.0 leans into rhythm. Six microphones plus Clear Voice Technology 3.0 handle calls, and the spec sheet claims triple the audio transmission rate of traditional wireless earbuds. For gaming, 120ms low latency is listed, which is the kind of figure that actually matters in a shooter.
Then there's the case, which is the most distinctive thing here. A smart dial on the charging case lets you adjust volume, skip tracks and cycle noise modes without touching your phone. Bluetooth 5.3 handles multipoint, so you can be on a laptop call and take a phone call without repairing. Battery is 10 hours per charge and 43 hours total, with a 10-minute quick charge giving 3 hours. Charging the case takes about 70 minutes. IP55 means it survives sweat and a rinse, though it isn't built for submersion.
Buy it if you want maximum features per earbud: ANC, LDAC, multipoint, a case dial and long battery. Skip it if you need to stay fully aware of your surroundings at all times, hate in-ear pressure, or want a genuinely waterproof bud for heavy outdoor training.
The Push 720 Open goes the opposite direction: it refuses to seal your ear. The ear-cuff design hooks over your ear and fires 12mm dynamic drivers toward your canal from the outside. You hear traffic, gym announcements, a running partner, your own breathing. That's the entire point. For outdoor runners and cyclists, open-ear is a safety feature, not a compromise. It's also the answer for anyone whose ears ache after an hour of silicone tips.
Skullcandy leans hard into the fit-and-durability story. The buds are lightweight, and the ear-cuff shape is designed so they don't bounce when you move. IP67 is the headline spec: that's full waterproofing and sweatproofing, so rain, heavy intervals and hose-downs are all fine. Compare that to the CMF's IP55 and the gap is real if you train outdoors in bad weather.
Battery is 6 hours in the buds and 24 in the case for 30 total, with Rapid Charge delivering 2 hours from a 10-minute top-up. The charging pouch is wireless, which is a small daily-life nicety — drop them in, no cable hunting. The Skullcandy app handles EQ presets, button remapping and even a remote camera shutter on your phone. Bluetooth is 5.2, impedance is 16 ohm, and frequency range runs the standard 20Hz–20,000Hz.
Buy it if you run or ride outdoors, sweat heavily, want full awareness, or find in-ear buds uncomfortable. Skip it if you need to block out noise or want the deepest bass.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noise cancellation → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. 50dB adaptive hybrid ANC versus none on the Push 720.
• Best for outdoor awareness and safety → Skullcandy Push 720. The open ear-cuff design deliberately lets ambient sound in.
• Best for battery life → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. 43 hours total against 30, and 10 hours per charge against 6.
• Best for heavy sweat and rain → Skullcandy Push 720. IP67 waterproof versus IP55 on the CMF.
• Best for sound quality potential → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. Dual drivers, LDAC and Dynamic Bass Boost 2.0 versus a single 12mm dynamic driver with no hi-res codec listed.
• Best for comfort over long sessions → Skullcandy Push 720. Nothing enters your ear canal, which many people find far more tolerable for hours at a time.
• Best for calls and gaming → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. Six mics with Clear Voice 3.0, Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint and 120ms low latency.
• Best for cable-free convenience → Skullcandy Push 720. The pouch charges wirelessly, and the app adds EQ and button customization.
If I had to pick one for myself, I'd take the CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. In my opinion it covers more of everyday life — commuting, calls, flights, gaming, long listening sessions — and the combination of adaptive ANC, LDAC, multipoint over Bluetooth 5.3 and 43 hours total is simply more earbud for more situations. The Push 720 Open is the better tool for one specific job, and it does that job well: open, waterproof and stable for outdoor training. But if your listening isn't almost entirely outdoors, the CMF is the safer single purchase. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one variable I can't weigh for you.
For features, yes — ANC, LDAC, multipoint and longer battery. But "better" depends on use. For outdoor running or cycling, the open-ear Push 720 is the more sensible choice.
No. Its spec sheet lists no noise control, and the open ear-cuff design physically allows outside sound in. That's intentional — it's built for awareness, not isolation.
The Skullcandy Push 720, in my view. IP67 waterproofing and a no-slip ear cuff suit sweat and rain better than the CMF's IP55 in-ear design.
Yes. It has six microphones with Clear Voice Technology 3.0 for voice pickup, plus Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint so it can stay connected to two devices at once.
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