It's only been five months and CMF, which is Nothing's affordable sub-brand, has officially revealed its second product line: a new pair of even cheaper Buds along with a brand new device, the Neckband Pro.
Neckband-style headphones haven't been a popular headphone design for quite some time, so we were surprised, to say the least, when we first heard about the Neckband Pro. But if there is any company that can put it back neckband headphones are trending, it's definitely CMF by Nothing.
CMF is not the only one who wants to revive the design. Last year, we saw Beyerdynamic launch the Blue Byrd, which we fell in love with, especially for its super affordable price. But the new CMF Neckband Pro and Buds undercut that massively. The Buds cost $39 in the US and £39 in the UK (around AU$60 in Australia), while the Neckband Pro is even cheaper: $35/£35.
Nothing Buds and Neckband Pro CMF: Key Specs
Let's start with the Neckband Pro. When CMF by Nothing first teased this new style of headphones, it said it was the “first-in-class 50 dB hybrid ANC device,” which we suspect refers to the best headphones for running, many of which do not support active noise cancellation (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS).
This alone already makes the Neckband Pro stand out among the best workout headphones we've reviewed that offer ANC like the Beats PowerBeats Pro, JBL Reflect Aero, and Amazfit Powerbuds Pro; After all, hybrid ANC that intuitively adjusts the ANC level is a feature increasingly found in the best headphones.
In addition to this premium ANC feature, you get an IP55 water and dust resistance rating, multi-device pairing, Bluetooth 5.3 support, spatial audio effect, and a fantastic 37-hour battery life. Also included are five microphones with a dual-channel design to help reduce wind noise and make call quality exceptionally clear.
Finally, there are also the new Buds, which are a more affordable alternative to the Buds Pro that launched in September last year. The new model also comes in the same three colors: dark and light gray and a surprisingly bold orange. It also uses a dynamic driver, although CMF lists it as 12.4mm (it doesn't offer details on the size of the driver on the Pro).
Unlike the Buds Pro, the simpler Buds model uses four microphones instead of six and offers voice assistant support. Apart from this, the buds are very similar on the specifications front. Both have an IP54 rating, Bluetooth 5.3 support, touch controls and access to the Nothing X app, and ANC up to 45 dB.
Both products will see a staggered international launch. The Nothing Buds CMF will launch in the US on March 28, but will be available earlier at the Nothing store in Soho, London on March 9. Otherwise, those based in the UK can pre-order a pair starting March 12 with shipping. scheduled for March 18.
Meanwhile, the CMF Neckband Pro will be available in April in the US. The earbuds will also be initially available at London's Soho store on the same day in March and online sales will begin from March 18 in the UK.
