CMF, the affordable sub-brand of design-focused technology brand Nothing, has officially announced its first over-ear model, making a bold move into the headphone market. Despite its aggressive $99 price tag, the company aims to disrupt the mid-range segment by combining premium features like a modular design, high-resolution audio support, adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), and impressive battery life.
What do the CMF Headphone Pro offer?
The CMF Headphone Pro puts personalization at the heart of the user experience. One of the headphones’ most striking features is their modular design, featuring interchangeable and removable ear cushions that allow users to mix and match different colors. This allows users to personalize their headphones.
Instead of touch controls, CMF offers intuitive and practical physical controls. These include the “Energy Slider,” which instantly adjusts bass and treble levels, and the multifunctional “Roller” control, which rotates to manage volume, pauses and starts music with a short press, and toggles between ANC modes with a long press. Additionally, a programmable “Button” that can be set as an AI shortcut allows quick access to services like ChatGPT. The headset is available in three primary colors: Dark Gray, Light Gray, and Light Green.
Assertive Sound Quality: Hi-Res Certified and Personal Sound Profile
Despite its price, the Headphone Pro maintains uncompromising sound quality, equipped with custom 40mm dynamic drivers. Supporting the LDAC codec for high-quality wireless audio transmission, the headset is Hi-Res (High Resolution Audio) certified for both wired and wireless use. With data rates up to 990 kbps, it promises a studio-quality, rich, and detailed listening experience. The device also stands out with “Personal Sound” technology developed by Audiodo™. This technology customizes the sound to the user’s hearing profile, completely customizing the music.
The CMF Headphone Pro features Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (Adaptive ANC) technology, which can reduce ambient noise by up to 40 decibels. This “Adaptive” feature allows the headphones to automatically adjust noise cancellation based on their surroundings. For those who prefer to be aware of the outside world, there’s a Transparency Mode. Three hybrid microphones and Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology enhance voice clarity during phone calls.
Battery life is one of the headphones’ most impressive features. The CMF Headphone Pro offers up to 100 hours of music playback on a single charge with ANC off, and up to 50 hours with ANC on. These figures allow you to use the headphones for weeks without recharging. Thanks to fast charging via USB-C, you can get 5 hours of use with just a 5-minute charge.
Connectivity, Price, and Availability
Equipped with modern connectivity features, the headphones use Bluetooth 5.4 technology and pair instantly with devices using Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. They can also connect to two devices simultaneously. Low latency mode, which reduces audio latency to under 120 milliseconds for games and videos, can also be activated via the Nothing X app. The CMF Headphone Pro, which offers IPX2 certification and resistance to light water splashes, is available today for $99.
