Key Highlights
- 42 dB ANC
- IP54 Dust and water resistance
- Dual-device connection
- 12.4mm Bio-fibre driver with ultra bass 2.0
Users are constantly on the lookout for earbuds that strike the perfect balance between style, comfort, and great sound quality, all while remaining within a reasonable budget. Can we find such gems priced under Rs. 3,000? Enter Nothing’s latest offering, the CMF Buds. Nothing’s sub-brand unveiled a budget-friendly model that promises to turn heads with its sleek design, lightweight build, and impressive audio performance. But do these buds live up to the hype?
After spending a month with the CMF Buds, I’m here to share my verdict. Spoiler alert: they not only boast an eye-catching funky orange finish but also deliver a punchy bass and surprisingly reliable ANC, making them a standout contender in their price range. Let’s delve deeper into the review to uncover all the details. Also Read | Inbase Free Buds Elite TWS Review: Budget-Friendly Gem Or Missed Opportunity?
| Pros | Cons |
| Decent sound quality | No charging cable |
| Good battery life | Average call quality |
| Dual device connectivity |
What’s Inside The Box?
- CMF by Nothing buds (Orange color)
- Ear tips in small and large size (Medium pre-installed)
- User guide
Design
Let’s kick things off with the design. The CMF Buds by Nothing come in three cool color options: Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Orange. For this review, I’ve got my hands on the vibrant Orange variant, which really catches the eye. While black and white are safe choices, there’s something special about the pop of orange that adds a fun twist.
These buds sport a design that screams ‘Nothing’ with its modern and minimalist vibe, even though they’re not transparent like some of Nothing’s other offerings. The square case with rounded corners is sleek, but what really stands out is the innovative rotary dial on the corner, perfect for attaching a lanyard. Plus, the smooth matte finish keeps fingerprints at bay, adding both style and practicality. It further has the LED light on the front and the USB Type-C port on the back, accompanied by the handy function key and the ‘CMF’ logo.
Opening up the case reveals the earbuds neatly settled inside, thanks to the magnets ensuring a secure lock. Speaking of magnets, they’re not just in the case; they’re also keeping the earbuds in place. With a matte finish for the stem and a glossy touch elsewhere, these buds look as good as they sound. And with two mics on each earbud promising top-notch wind noise cancellation, you’re in for a treat.
But it’s not just about looks. They come with an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, perfect for handling splashes or light rain. And when it comes to fit, they’re spot-on. It was really comfortable for me. The lightweight design adds to the comfort.
Connectivity & Pairing
Let’s dive into the connectivity features of the CMF Buds. These buds boast Bluetooth 5.3 support with AAC and SBC codecs. Pairing with phones, especially Nothing devices, is quite easy. You simply have to open the charging case near your phone and follow the prompts.
For other devices, like laptops or tablets, placing the Buds back in the case with the cover opened allows you to enter Bluetooth settings by pressing and holding the setup button for two seconds. Then select the CMF Buds. I primarily used them with my iPhone and I got glitch-free performance, even when the phone was across my home. Plus, with Microsoft Swift Pair, connecting to Windows devices is easy.
With the option for dual connections, you can seamlessly switch audio playback between two devices. I found it perfect for multitasking between my laptop and phone. An in-ear detection sensor pauses playback when you remove an earbud, a handy feature for quick conversations. And don’t forget the “find my earbuds” feature for those unavoidable moments of misplacement. Although it’s worth noting that the headset reboots every time you toggle this feature on or off.
Sound Quality
Starting with their standout feature: punchy bass, courtesy of their impressive 12.4mm driver. While the bass-heavy sound might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s sure to resonate with those who enjoy contemporary music. The audio, tuned by Dirac, offers decent instrument separation and clear vocals, though the high and mid-range frequencies could be better.
One of the major highlights of these buds is the presence of ANC, reaching up to 42dB. This effectively blocks out ambient sounds like fan noise or background chatter, as well as minimizing vehicle noise, as long as they’re not too close. The ANC performance is quite good for the price, exceeding expectations. Additionally, the Transparency mode is a useful feature that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings by blending in ambient sound, ensuring safety in various situations.
When it comes to call quality, the earbuds perform well indoors, providing clear communication on both ends. However, in outdoor or noisy environments, the call quality may suffer slightly. This is lessened to some extent by the 4-mic array used to eliminate background noise and focus on primary voices during calls.
Controls
The CMF Buds have touch controls. With a simple touch, you can skip tracks, switch between noise cancellation modes, and even adjust volume settings. And the best part? These controls are fully customizable using the Nothing X app. You can tailor the controls to your liking on both Android and iPhone.
But that’s not all. You have the option to disable in-ear detection from the settings menu, and there’s even a handy “Find My Earbud” feature. Simply activate it, and the buds emit a high-pitched sound, making it easy to locate them when they go missing.
Also Read | Jabra Elite Active 8 TWS Review: Premium And Solid Sports Earbuds
Battery
The CMF Buds don’t disappoint in this department either. Equipped with a 45mAh x 2 battery in the earbuds and a 460mAh battery in the case, they offer impressive longevity.
In my experience, using the earbuds for around 4-5 hours daily, coupled with the charging case, I could go 3-4 days without needing to recharge. That’s almost half the week stress-free from charging distresses. And even when it was time to juice them up, I found the charging process to be remarkably fast. Throughout my entire week of use, I only needed to charge them twice, which speaks volumes about their endurance and efficiency. Though, its quite disappointing that CFM doesn’t include a charging cable with the case. Thankfully, any charger with a USB-C connector will do the trick for juicing up these buds.
Giznext’s Final Verdict
At Rs. 2,499, the CMF Buds from Nothing are an absolute steal. If you’re in the market for earbuds that deliver good sound quality, decent ANC, long battery life, lightweight design, then look no further. The CMF Buds tick all the boxes and are sure to exceed your expectations. Just bear in mind that their sound leans towards the bass-heavy side, which may not be everyone’s preference, but if you’re like me and enjoy that extra punch, you’ll be more than satisfied. In my opinion, these buds come highly recommended.
