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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want active noise cancellation, a smart charging-case dial and LDAC hi-res audio in an in-ear design, choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2; if you need an open-ear fit that keeps your ears uncovered, a battery display on the case and Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint, choose Groovz Open-Ear Plus True.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2 — biggest strength: 50dB adaptive hybrid ANC plus a hybrid dual-driver setup (11mm bass driver + 6mm tweeter) with LDAC and Hi-Res Audio support, backed by up to 43 hours total playtime.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2 — biggest trade-off: It's a sealed in-ear bud with a plastic case and a touch/button/APP control stack — if you dislike things sitting inside your ear canal, this is the wrong shape for you.
• Groovz Open-Ear Plus True — biggest strength: A true open-ear design with flexible ear hooks, Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint pairing on two devices, and an LED battery display right on the case.
• Groovz Open-Ear Plus True — biggest trade-off: No active noise cancellation at all, the only rated battery figure is 10 hours per charge (32 hours from the case), and the fit relies on ear hooks rather than silicone tips.
• Who each pick is for: Pick the CMF Buds Pro 2 if you want to block out the world; pick the Groovz Open-Ear Plus True if you want to keep hearing it.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 is built around one big idea: shutting out noise. Its 50dB adaptive hybrid ANC actively detects leakage between the bud and your ear canal and adjusts, and it also reads ambient sound so you can flip into transparency mode when you're running or crossing a street. That's the kind of feature set that matters on a plane, on a train, or in a shared office.
Then there's the hardware. A hybrid driver setup pairs an 11mm ultra-bass driver with a 6mm tweeter, and the earbuds support LDAC lossless transmission plus Hi-Res Audio. Six microphones with AI-enhanced Clear Voice Technology 3.0 handle calls. Bluetooth 5.3 supports multipoint, and at 120ms latency it's clearly aimed at gamers too. The charging case adds a smart dial for volume, tracks and noise modes — a genuinely unusual control method — plus up to 10 hours on a single charge and 43 hours total, with a 10-minute quick charge giving 3 hours of playback. IP55 means it shrugs off sweat and a post-swim rinse.
Who should buy it: commuters, travellers, gamers and anyone who wants their music to arrive with detail and bass while the outside world disappears. Who should skip it: people who hate in-ear pressure, want to stay aware of traffic and conversation, or prefer a hook-style fit they don't have to reseat.
Groovz Open-Ear Plus True: Who It's For
On the spec side you get Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint pairing on two devices at once, touch controls that now cover volume as well as track skipping and call answering, and dual microphones with noise reduction for calls. Sound comes from a dynamic driver, tuned for richer bass and clearer vocals. Battery is rated at 10 hours per charge with 32 hours from the case, and there's an LED battery display on the case itself so you can see your charge at a glance instead of guessing. IPX4 durability covers sweat and light rain.
Who should buy it: runners, walkers, cyclists, delivery riders and anyone who needs to stay aware while listening. Who should skip it: anyone who wants silence on a flight, deep isolation in a noisy office, or the bass pressure that only a sealed in-ear fit delivers.
• Best for noise cancellation → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. 50dB adaptive hybrid ANC with transparency mode is in a different category; the Groovz has none.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → Groovz Open-Ear Plus True. The open-ear, hook-based fit never seals your canal.
• Best for total battery life → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. 10 hours per charge and 43 hours total versus 10 and 32.
• Best for a quick top-up → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. A 10-minute charge is rated for 3 hours of playback.
• Best for hi-res and lossless listeners → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. LDAC, Hi-Res Audio support and a hybrid dual-driver setup with Dynamic Bass Boost 2.0.
• Best for newer Bluetooth and easy pairing → Groovz Open-Ear Plus True. Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint on two devices, versus 5.3 on the CMF.
• Best for knowing your battery level → Groovz Open-Ear Plus True. The LED display on the case shows charge in real time.
• Best for gaming → CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. 120ms low latency, plus a case dial for quick volume and mode changes.
• Best for workouts and sweaty sessions → both, with a caveat. The CMF carries IP55; the Groovz carries IPX4 and hooks over your ear instead of sitting in it.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the CMF BY NOTHING Buds Pro 2. In my opinion it simply does more: real adaptive ANC, LDAC and Hi-Res Audio support, a hybrid dual-driver setup, six call mics, 43 hours total and a quick charge that actually means something. It fits the way most people listen — commuting, working, gaming, travelling.
The Groovz Open-Ear Plus True is the right call only if the open-ear fit is non-negotiable for you. If you run on roads, ride a bike, or need to hear your name being called, the hook design and the case battery display make it a sensible, comfortable choice. Otherwise the CMF wins on capability.
Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding — that's the one variable I can't compare for you here.
For noise cancellation, audio codecs and battery life, yes — the CMF has 50dB adaptive ANC, LDAC, Hi-Res Audio and 43 hours total. But "better" depends on fit: if you want open-ear awareness, the Groovz is the better match by design.
No. Its spec sheet lists noise control as none. The dual microphones with noise reduction are for call clarity, not for blocking out the world around you.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 is rated at 10 hours per charge and 43 hours total with the case, with a 10-minute quick charge giving 3 hours. The Groovz Open-Ear Plus True is rated at 10 hours per charge and up to 42 hours total, with 32 of those coming from the charging case.
The Groovz Open-Ear Plus True, in my opinion. Its flexible ear hooks and open-ear design keep you aware of traffic, and IPX4 handles sweat. The CMF is IP55 and fine for exercise, but its sealed fit blocks out exactly the sounds you want to hear outdoors.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 leans harder into voice: six microphones with AI-enhanced Clear Voice Technology 3.0. The Groovz uses dual microphones with noise reduction, which is a simpler setup but still aimed at clear conversations in busy places.
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