How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want marathon battery life and a true IPX8 waterproof build for sweat-soaked workouts, choose TOZO Hybrid Active Noise; if you need a lighter everyday bud with newer Bluetooth 5.4, dual-device pairing and deeper app-level control over transparent mode, choose CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a.
• TOZO Hybrid Active Noise — biggest strength: Up to 68 hours of total playtime (13 hours per charge with ANC off) plus an IPX8 waterproof rating that shrugs off sweat, rain and splashes.
• TOZO Hybrid Active Noise — biggest trade-off: The older Bluetooth 5.3 standard and a bulkier charging case mean it feels less modern than the CMF option.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.4 with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Quick Switch, plus the Nothing X app where you can adjust ANC levels and transparent mode.
• CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a — biggest trade-off: Battery life tops out at 8 hours per charge and 35.5 hours with the case, and its IP54 rating only handles light splashes, not swimming-level water.
• Who each pick is for: Pick the TOZO if you want endurance and water resistance; pick the CMF Buds 2a if you want the newest connectivity and the most customizable sound.
The TOZO NC3 is built around two ideas: quiet and stamina. Its hybrid active noise cancellation is rated to cut ambient noise by up to -45dB, which the spec sheet frames around steady low-frequency sounds like subway rumble, airplane engines and air-conditioning hum. Six microphones with ENC handle your voice on calls, cutting background chatter so you come through clearly in cafés, offices or on a busy street. And the transparency mode is exactly what the "transparent mode headphones" crowd is looking for: flip it on and you hear announcements, conversations and traffic without pulling the buds out.
Where this one pulls ahead is endurance and durability. With ANC off you get up to 13 hours per charge and 68 hours total with the case; with ANC on that drops to 9.5 hours per charge and 40 hours total. A 10-minute quick charge buys you roughly an hour of playback, which is enough to get through a commute or a back-to-back call block. The IPX8 rating is the real differentiator — it's designed to survive sweat, rain and splashes, so running, cycling and hard training sessions are squarely in its lane.
CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a: Who It's For
The CMF Buds 2a is the more modern, more customizable option. Bluetooth 5.4 is the headline on the connectivity side, and it brings Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Quick Switch along with it, so hopping between a phone and a laptop is genuinely painless. The 12.4mm bio-fiber dynamic driver, co-tuned with DIRAC, is aimed at a warm soundstage with rich mids and a bass that the app lets you push hard or dial back. The 42dB hybrid ANC is tuned for everyday scenarios rather than extremes.
The transparency story here is app-driven. Inside the Nothing X app you can adjust ANC levels — including transparent mode — alongside custom EQ profiles, dual-device connectivity, find-my-earbuds and a low-lag gaming mode. If you pair with a Nothing or CMF phone, you also get ChatGPT access through a voice assistant. That's a deeper software layer than most budget buds offer, and it's the main reason to pick these over the TOZO.
The trade-offs are real. Battery life is 8 hours per earbud and 35.5 hours with the case, so it trails the TOZO noticeably on long trips. A 5-minute quick charge gets you up to 2 hours, which is genuinely useful, but the ceiling is lower. The IP54 rating covers dust and splashes — fine for daily wear and light workouts, not for heavy sweat or rain. The case is also lighter and slimmer than the TOZO's, which matters if you carry it in a pocket.
Who should buy it: Android users, anyone juggling two devices, and people who want to fine-tune their sound and transparency settings. Who should skip it: endurance athletes and long-haul travelers who need maximum hours and serious water protection.
• Best for battery life → TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. 68 hours total versus 35.5 hours is not close.
• Best for workouts and wet weather → TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. IPX8 versus IP54 is a meaningful gap in water resistance.
• Best for the newest connectivity → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Bluetooth 5.4 with Fast Pair and Quick Switch beats 5.3.
• Best for transparency mode control → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. The Nothing X app lets you adjust ANC levels including transparent mode; the TOZO gives you a transparency toggle without the same granularity.
• Best for sound customization → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Custom EQ profiles plus a DIRAC-tuned 12.4mm driver; the TOZO counters with 32 presets and EQ sharing.
• Best for dual-device users → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Dual device connectivity is built in.
• Best for call clarity in noisy places → tie, leaning TOZO. TOZO has 6 mics with ENC; CMF has quad HD ENC mics with Clear Voice Tech and Wind Noise Reduction 2.0.
• Best for a pocket-friendly case → CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a. Its case is smaller and lighter than the TOZO's.
In my opinion, the TOZO Hybrid Active Noise is the better buy for most people, because the battery life and IPX8 waterproofing are the two things you actually notice every single day — and 68 hours versus 35.5 hours is a huge practical difference. I'd only steer you to the CMF Buds 2a if Bluetooth 5.4, dual-device pairing and app-level control over transparent mode are your priorities. If you're a runner, a commuter or someone who forgets to charge, take the TOZO. If you switch between a phone and a laptop all day and want to tweak every setting, take the CMF Buds 2a.
FAQ
It's the same feature under a slightly different name — transparent mode headphones let ambient sound through on purpose instead of blocking it. Both earbuds here offer it: TOZO as a dedicated Transparency Mode, CMF as an adjustable level in the Nothing X app.
Switch back to active noise cancellation or to normal listening mode, usually with a touch control on the earbud or through the companion app. On the CMF Buds 2a you change ANC levels in the Nothing X app; on the TOZO you toggle the mode directly on the earbud.
It depends on what you value. The CMF wins on Bluetooth 5.4, dual-device pairing, a smaller case and deeper app controls including transparent mode. The TOZO wins on battery life (68 hours vs 35.5 hours) and IPX8 water resistance. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: APETOO USB C Headphones vs TAGRY Headphones True, Annivia Anivia Gaming Headset vs GAMEPRO LED Gaming Headphones, Sonitum Bulk Kids Headphones vs Wantek Headset, CXPSUE Neckband vs Atheewon Headset