We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want one headset that covers PC, console and phone with proper over-ear comfort and a big battery, choose Razer Barracuda X Chroma; if you need pocket-sized earbuds with serious noise cancelling for commuting, gym and travel, choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. These two don't fight over the same buyer — they solve completely different problems, and the right pick comes down to how and where you actually listen.
• Razer Barracuda X Chroma — biggest strength: a true dual-wireless over-ear headset (2.4 GHz + Bluetooth 5.3) with a detachable cardioid mic, 70-hour battery and 40 mm TriForce drivers, built for long gaming and work sessions.
• Razer Barracuda X Chroma — biggest trade-off: it's a full-size over-ear at 285 g with no headphone jack, so it's bulkier and less discreet than earbuds for travel or workouts.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2 — biggest strength: 48 dB hybrid active noise cancellation, 11 mm drivers with Dirac Opteo tuning, IP55 water resistance and up to 55 hours total with the case.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2 — biggest trade-off: in-ear buds mean shorter per-charge stamina than a 70-hour headset, no boom mic, and a fit that depends entirely on getting the seal right.
• For the desk, the couch and the commute → Razer Barracuda X Chroma.
• For the gym, the train and noisy open offices → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2.
This is a headset designed around flexibility. Razer SmartSwitch Dual Wireless lets you pair a 2.4 GHz connection and a Bluetooth device at the same time and toggle between them with a button, so you can be on a PC or console and still take a phone call without unpairing anything. That single feature is what separates it from most budget wireless headsets, which force you to choose one connection at a time.
The comfort story is deliberate. It weighs 285 g, uses breathable memory foam ear cushions, swiveling earcups and a padded top band to spread the load, and it's adjustable to fit different head sizes. That combination is what makes long sessions tolerable — the kind of marathon where you're at a desk for hours, then take the same headset on a commute. The 70-hour battery life means you're charging it roughly once a week in normal use rather than every night.
The gaming side is handled by the TriForce 40 mm drivers, a three-part design that tunes highs, mids and lows separately so they don't smear into each other. The detachable HyperClear cardioid mic is tuned to suppress background noise, and because it comes off, the headset turns into a cleaner-looking pair of over-ears for mobile use. Add six-zone Chroma RGB earcup lighting (16.8 million colors, customizable through the Razer Audio App or Chroma Studio) and you get a headset that's as much about desk presence as audio.
Buy it if you want one device for PC, Mac, PS5, Switch 2 and smartphone, you value a mic you can remove, or you mostly listen in longer stretches at home or in transit. Skip it if you need something that disappears into a pocket, you want active noise cancellation rather than passive isolation, or you'd rather have earbuds for workouts — this is an over-ear, no-jack, wireless-only design, and that's the whole point.
The Buds 2 are built for people who move. They're true wireless in-ear buds at 110 g for the set, with a matte and glossy two-tone finish and a transparent dial wrap on the case. The design language is minimal and modern rather than gamer-flashy, and the light orange colorway leans into that. In-ear placement with rounded tips means the whole experience depends on the seal you get — a good seal is what unlocks both the bass and the noise cancelling.
That noise cancelling is the headline. 48 dB hybrid ANC with a 5200 Hz ultra-wide frequency range, plus an Environmental Adaptive mode that adjusts reduction in real time based on your surroundings. In practice that's the difference between hearing a train rumble and not. The 11 mm PMI driver with Dirac Opteo tuning handles the audio side, aiming for deep bass with clear treble and vocals that stay separated, and a spatial audio effect powered by an HRTF-based algorithm adds a wider, more cinematic stage for films and games.
Battery is where the numbers tell a clear story: up to 13.5 hours on a single charge, 55 hours total with the case, and a 10-minute top-up that gets you 7.5 hours. That fast-charge figure is the practical one — it's the reason these work as a grab-and-go pair even when you forgot to charge them overnight. The 6-mic array with AI-powered Clear Voice Technology 3.0 and Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 targets calls in windy, outdoor conditions, and IP55 water and dust resistance covers sweat, rain and dusty commutes. Everything is tuned through the Nothing X app, including EQ, Ultra Bass, ANC levels, a Low Lag Mode for gaming and ChatGPT voice integration.
Buy it if you commute, train, fly or work out, you want real active noise cancelling, or you want buds you can charge for ten minutes and walk out the door with. Skip it if you need a boom microphone for streaming or meetings, you hate in-ear pressure, or you want one headset that also serves a desktop gaming setup — there's no 2.4 GHz dongle here, just Bluetooth 5.4.
• Best for battery life → Razer Barracuda X Chroma. 70 hours on the headset beats 13.5 hours per charge on the buds, though the Buds 2 stretch to 55 hours with the case.
• Best for noise cancelling → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. 48 dB hybrid ANC with adaptive mode versus passive noise cancellation on the Razer.
• Best for gaming on PC or console → Razer Barracuda X Chroma. 2.4 GHz HyperSpeed Wireless, 40 mm TriForce drivers and a detachable cardioid mic.
• Best for calls on the move → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. Six mics with AI Clear Voice 3.0 and Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 are built for outdoor conversation; the Razer's mic is better for desk use but detaches.
• Best for workouts and bad weather → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. IP55 water and dust resistance is a spec the Razer headset doesn't carry.
• Best for switching between devices → Razer Barracuda X Chroma. SmartSwitch Dual Wireless pairs 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth simultaneously with a toggle.
• Best for travel bulk → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2. 110 g in a case you can pocket versus a 285 g over-ear.
• Best for desk presence and customization → Razer Barracuda X Chroma. Six-zone Chroma RGB with 16.8 million colors, app and Chroma Studio control.
• Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding — the value math shifts a lot between an over-ear headset and a pair of ANC earbuds.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Razer Barracuda X Chroma — but only because my listening happens mostly at a desk and in longer stretches. Dual wireless with a physical toggle, a removable mic, 70 hours of battery and 40 mm TriForce drivers make it the more versatile single device for gaming, calls and music at home. In my opinion the CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2 is the smarter buy for anyone whose listening happens on the move: 48 dB hybrid ANC, IP55, a 10-minute fast charge and a genuinely pocketable case solve problems the Razer headset simply isn't designed to solve. If you split your time between both worlds and can only fund one purchase, ask yourself where you listen more — that answer decides it.
For PC and console gaming, yes — in my opinion. The Razer uses 2.4 GHz HyperSpeed Wireless for lower-latency audio, has 40 mm TriForce drivers and a detachable cardioid mic. The Buds 2 rely on Bluetooth 5.4 and offer a Low Lag Mode in the Nothing X app, which helps but isn't the same as a dedicated dongle.
Yes. The Buds 2 use 48 dB hybrid active noise cancellation with a 5200 Hz range and an adaptive mode that adjusts to your surroundings. The Razer headset relies on passive noise cancellation from its over-ear cushions, which blocks some sound but isn't active.
The Razer Barracuda X Chroma, by a wide margin — 70 hours of battery life on the headset. The Buds 2 give up to 13.5 hours per charge and 55 hours total with the case, plus a 10-minute fast charge for 7.5 hours of playback.
Yes. They carry IP55 water and dust resistance, so sweat and light rain aren't a problem. The Razer Barracuda X Chroma doesn't list a water-resistance rating, so I wouldn't treat it as a workout or rain headset.
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See also: CMF BY NOTHING Buds vs Avantree SoundJet R1&: Hybrid ANC, CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active vs Queemie TV Headphones, Razer Opus X vs ROSESELSA Cambrian Noise Cancelling