British startup Nothing's answer to Apple AirPods crash below £20 in latest price drop

Need a new pair of earbuds? British brand Nothing has a surprisingly affordable fix.

The newest affordable earbuds from British startup Nothing have plummeted to just £19 in the online store. Usually priced at £29, these AirPods competitors offer up to 35.5 hours of battery life with the case, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity for multiple devices, and more.

The award-winning British brand behind these 'buds and mobile recently launched its latest Android phone, dubbed Nothing Phone (4a) and its new over-ear headphones with 135-hour battery life to compete with the likes of Bose and Sony. If you're looking for something a little more wallet-friendly, you can't go wrong with the CMF Buds 2a from Nothing's affordable sub-brand CMF.

Pocket the CMF Buds 2a from Nothing for under £20

With these budget-friendly earbuds from British startup Nothing, you can expect punchy bass, a bright sound profile, and 42dB adaptive ANC — great for commuting, workouts, or casual listening. While they skip extras like spatial audio and longer battery life found in pricier rivals, they’re a stylish, budget-friendly alternative to models like AirPods or Galaxy Buds.

Designed with the brand’s signature transparent aesthetic, the earbuds are designed to deliver a lively, bass-forward sound that suits everything from podcasts to playlists. With 42dB adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), they’re well-equipped for daily commutes, study sessions, or blocking out gym noise.

They support Bluetooth connectivity with stable pairing and work seamlessly with the Nothing X app, unlocking custom EQ settings, touch controls, and adjustable ANC modes.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Netflix confirms price rise in US, and the UK may not be far behind
• Best VPN deals
• Sony increases PS5 console price in UK again
• Most expensive Kindle EVER launches in the UK today
• British brand Salter launches slushie drink maker at just HALF the price

However, compared to step-up models like the Nothing Ear (2) or Nothing Ear (2 Plus), the 2a makes a few trade-offs.

For instance, you won’t get high-resolution audio streaming found with the Nothing Ear (2) and Nothing Ear (2 Plus).

Battery life clocks in at around 8 hours per charge (up to 35.5 hours with the case), and fast charging gives you quick top-ups on the go. This is shorter than the 55-hour battery life found in the brand's flagship models, and features such as in-ear detection and spatial audio are missing.

Noise cancellation is also slightly less powerful, and while call quality is solid with three mics per bud, you may find that Nothing's higher-end models handle wind noise better.

You also get IP54-rated dust and water resistance, making them practical for gym sessions or rainy UK commutes.

If you do want a slightly more premium option, the CMF Buds 2 is also on sale for £29 — was £39.

Pocket the CMF Buds 2 from Nothing for under £30

The CMF Buds 2 by British brand Nothing offer 42dB active noise cancellation, 12.4mm bio-fibre drivers with Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, and up to 55 hours of battery life with its case. They feature Bluetooth 5.3 with dual-device pairing, customizable EQ via the Nothing X app, and an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance.

These wireless buds are available in Dark Grey, Light Green, and Orange colourways.

These buds give you up to 13.5 hours of listening on a single charge, up from eight. You also get up to 55 hours total with the case. Nothing says a quick 10-minute top-up gets you 7.5 hours of playback.

You get access to spatial audio, too — giving you a surround sound experience that feels like the audio is coming from all around you.

The CMF Buds 2 come with six built-in microphones instead of the standard four. These can improve call clarity and create more effective noise cancellation.