Nothing’s Next Release Is a Budget-Friendly Set of Over-Ear Headphones.
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CMF, Nothing’s budget sub-brand, has released its first pair of over-ear headphones. Priced at $99, the CMF Headphone Pro is Nothing’s answer to those looking for an affordable alternative to the popular Headphone 1 ( $299 ). While Nothing has a reputation for unusual technology , the CMF Headphone Pro’s somewhat more traditional look and feel, while offering extensive customization options, potentially makes them a better value.
Here’s what we now know about the CMF Headphone Pro.
What do the CMF Headphone Pro headphones offer?
Today’s launch marks the release of CMF’s first full-size headphones, designed to seamlessly integrate with the wider Nothing/CMF ecosystem, including smartphones , watches , and other audio products .
The design features a circular power and Bluetooth button on one side, and a customizable action button on the other, which can be programmed via the Nothing X app. Further personalization options are provided by interchangeable ear pads for $25, available in vibrant orange or lime green, allowing you to completely change the look of the headphones to suit your mood or style.
A distinctive control feature is a multi-function roller on one side and a “power slider” on the other. The multi-function roller controls volume, playback, and ambient sound, while the power slider lets you fine-tune the sound in real time, instantly adjusting the balance of high and low frequencies. Normally, this type of control requires delving into the equalizer settings in the headphone app. As someone who has always preferred tactile controls to sensitive touchscreens, I’m particularly impressed with this design.
As expected from high-quality over-ear headphones, the Headphone Pro features adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) to block out ambient noise. Perhaps most impressive is the battery life: these headphones are rated to last a whopping 100 hours on a single charge (with ANC enabled, this number drops to 50 hours). That’s 15 hours longer than the Headphone 1 with active ANC, and significantly better than the highly rated Sony WH-1000XM6 , which last up to 40 hours.
Bottom line
This is a promising product launch from Nothing. The CMF sub-brand targets the budget market segment while maintaining the aesthetic and technical appeal that initially attracted Nothing fans.
The CMF Headphone Pro headphones go on sale today in the EU and UK, but US buyers will have to wait until October 7th to get their hands on a pair. Whether these headphones will satisfy fans who have been asking for a more affordable option remains to be seen, but on paper, they seem to deliver exactly what they’ve been asking for: Nothing’s design philosophy and build quality at an affordable price.