CMF Buds Review: Vibrant and Affordable True Wireless Earbuds

Nothing recently launched its latest budget TWS, the CMF Buds, alongside the Nothing Phone 2a in India. Priced at Rs. 2,499, it’s a more affordable version of the CMF Buds Pro. Despite its lower price, these earbuds offer ANC, powerful bass, and a great sound experience, all wrapped in a unique design.

We received the iconic orange-colored CMF Buds from Nothing at the AzmoTech office and have been using them for about a week. Here’s our review.

CMF Buds: Box Contents

The unboxing experience was somewhat underwhelming, as the box contains only a few items, similar to other Nothing and CMF products. Inside the box, you’ll find:

1. CMF Buds

2. Pair of small and large ear tips (Medium tips pre-applied)

3. User Manual, Safety, and Warranty Card

Design and Build Quality

At first sight, the design of the CMF Buds case might seem unusual. However, the more you carry it around, the more you’ll appreciate its unique charm. The case is square-shaped with a shiny, spinning wheel at the top left corner.

This wheel isn’t just a design element; it also serves as an attachment point for a lanyard cable. The matte texture of the case adds character to its already attractive look, and it’s also resistant to fingerprints.

The vibrant orange color of the CMF Buds made them instantly noticeable wherever I went. During my commute to work, people would tap my shoulder to ask about these earbuds. The orange stands out in a sea of white, black, and grey earbuds.

However, being a fan of the matte black aesthetic championed by MKBHD, the color choice felt somewhat childish and out of place to me. The case features an LED indicator at the front, a charging port, and a pairing button on the side. Opening the case is incredibly satisfying, thanks to the strong magnets and the spring-loaded hinge.

As for the earbuds themselves, they have a rather generic design, typical of in-ear earbuds. The outer side of the stem has a matte texture. Both the case and the buds are made of plastic, which feels solid in hand but slightly cheap at the same time. They come with an IP54 rating for protection against sweat and dust, though this applies only to the buds, not the case.

The earbuds fit well in my ears, and I had no issues using them during my 6-hour train journey home. However, there were a couple of instances where they fell out, so I had to be careful with sudden movements. This can be resolved by choosing the right ear tips for your ears, especially if you plan to use them at the gym.

Overall, I find them to be among the best-designed and most comfortable buds in their segment. They feel well-made and durable. The compact case easily fits into pockets, making them highly portable. I don’t think you’ll have any complaints in this regard.

My only wish is that the wheel served a more practical purpose, as it does in the CMF Neckband Pro. Hopefully, this will be implemented in the next iteration.

CMF Buds: Connectivity

The CMF Buds are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and support SBC and AAC audio codecs. Pairing them with your device is a breeze; simply hold down the pairing button until the LED indicator on the case blinks, and you’re ready to pair.

They also offer support for Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. When connecting them for the first time with your Android smartphone or Windows PC, you should see a prompt.

One of their standout features is dual-device pairing, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously. This is particularly useful for me as I often switch between audio sources on my laptop and phone, eliminating the need to constantly connect and disconnect different devices.

Since my phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, I usually use a headset with my laptop. However, with the CMF Buds, I could easily switch back to my phone from my laptop when I needed to answer a call, and then switch back again. This entire experience was simple and seamless, just as it should be.

In conclusion, I have no complaints in this area. I encountered no issues with the connectivity and pairing of the Buds. Their connection remained stable, and they instantly connected to my phone as soon as I opened the lid. There were no significant instances of audio dropping as long as I stayed within an acceptable range.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of the CMF Buds is a bit of a mixed bag. They feature a 12.4mm large driver, which is standard for earbuds in this price range. The driver is a bio-fiber unit with a custom TPU, and it includes Dirac Opteo tuning and Ultra Bass Technology 2.0 for enhanced bass.

While these specs sound impressive, the actual sound quality is not as impressive. The buds are heavily tuned for bass, which might appeal to many users but not to me. I noticed an oddity while watching the Phone 2a launch with them on— the buds added extra bass to parts of the video when someone was speaking. This issue has been addressed in a recent update, but the overall sound profile still leans heavily towards bass.

The default Dirac Opteo tuning doesn’t work well for the mids and vocals in songs. As a fan of Bollywood music, where vocals are crucial, I found that the vocals were overshadowed while listening on these buds. However, a positive aspect is that the sound remains clear even at high volumes.

Other brands like Realme, OnePlus, and especially Oppo perform well in this segment. While you can adjust the equalizer settings from the Nothing X app, most presets are not satisfactory. I suggest custom tuning for those who prefer a balanced sound experience over heavy bass. You can try it out yourself using the screenshot below.

The Ultra Bass Mode, which you can enable from the Nothing X app, doesn’t significantly improve the bass. I was expecting deep, impactful bass that would really grab my attention, but instead, it delivered a fairly standard bass experience similar to other earbuds in this price range. There are five levels of bass to choose from, but the differences between them are hardly noticeable.

In conclusion, the CMF Buds are ideal for EDM and bass-heavy track enthusiasts, as well as for those who watch a lot of YouTube videos. They are designed for background music listeners rather than those who actively focus on the music. I’m not saying that the sound quality is poor; it’s decent for the price.

CMF Buds: Microphone Quality

The microphone setup on the CMF Buds is impressive. Each bud is equipped with four microphones that effortlessly capture your voice without any problems. CMF has also integrated its Clear Voice Technology to enhance the clarity of your voice, particularly in noisy environments during calls.

I tested the buds while walking down the bustling streets of Noida, with car horns blaring in the background, and the person on the other end of the call could hear me clearly. The same was true when I was traveling on the metro with a mask on my face. Overall, you should be quite satisfied with the microphone quality and sound pickup of these earbuds.

Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode

Finding a well-built pair of truly wireless earbuds with noise cancellation at a competitive price in India is like searching for a needle in a haystack. So when I heard that the CMF Buds would offer active noise cancellation (ANC), I was eager to test it out.

The ANC on these earbuds offers 42 dB with a frequency of 2900 Hz, which is quite respectable. I switched on the ANC during my one-and-a-half-hour commute. It effectively reduced most of the environmental noise, such as the hustle-bustle inside the metro and most of the traffic noise when I walked outside.

However, loud noises like train announcements, horns, and incoming call ringtones were still audible. If you’re listening to music at a medium volume, you can effectively drown out most of the surrounding noise.

Having previously used superior noise-canceling headphones, I quickly noticed some flaws in the CMF Buds. Certain external sounds, like keyboard clicks, workplace conversations, and street vendor noises, were still audible. However, it’s important to consider that these earbuds cost only a fraction of what I’m used to paying. For the price, the noise cancellation performance is reasonable.

On the other hand, the Transparency mode on the CMF Buds is not as effective as it should be. I couldn’t discern much difference between the standard mode and the Transparency mode. Typically, Transparency mode should enhance the environmental noise around me, but in this case, I could barely hear my colleagues sitting next to me.

As of writing this review, the CMF Buds have received two updates, but the Transparency mode remains unchanged. I can’t say whether it will be improved in the future. If you’re purchasing the CMF Buds now, you’ll need to accept this limitation as it is.

Touch Controls

The CMF Buds come equipped with touch controls that allow you to independently manage music playback without needing to use your phone. The specific controls are outlined in the table below.

If desired, you can customize these touch controls using the Nothing X app. This allows you to assign specific actions to each bud and even add gestures to adjust volume levels.

I typically don’t find myself using touch controls on earbuds, as I often struggle to tap on the exact spot required. However, this was not an issue with the CMF Buds. The brand has thoughtfully included a circular indentation on the stem of the buds, making it easier for my fingers to locate the right spot to activate the touch action. It’s this level of attention to detail that I appreciate CMF for incorporating into these earbuds.

Battery Life and Charging

The battery life of the CMF Buds plays a crucial role in how long you can enjoy your favorite tracks. Each earbud boasts a 45 mAh capacity, while the case features a 460 mAh battery. These numbers translate to an average playback time of 5-6 hours without ANC. With ANC activated, I managed to squeeze out nearly 4.5 hours of music playback, including a couple of calls.

For travelers, the case offers enough juice to charge the buds up to three times, based on my usage experience.

When the battery runs low, it takes approximately an hour to fully charge the case. Additionally, with support for fast charging, a 10-minute charge can provide up to 6.5 hours of playback, according to the brand. However, I did not test this feature, as I typically charged the case while using the buds.

Companion App Experience

To adjust the settings of your CMF Buds, you’ll need to download the Nothing X app from the Play Store or App Store, depending on your device. This app is also compatible with other CMF and Nothing wearables. I appreciate Nothing’s decision not to create a separate app for CMF devices, as it maintains a seamless experience for users and enhances the overall Nothing experience, especially for first-time customers who may have purchased the Buds along with the Phone 2a.

Once installed, the app allows you to check the current battery levels of each earbud, customize the equalizer settings and touch controls, and switch between ANC, Transparency, and Normal Mode. The app also features the much-advertised Ultra Bass Mode, which can be toggled on and adjusted for bass volume. However, as previously mentioned, this mode does not seem to significantly enhance the bass experience.

In the device settings of the Nothing X app, you’ll find options for In-Ear Detection, Low Lag Mode, Dual Connection, and Find My Earbuds. It would be more convenient if these features were readily available on the home page, considering they are some of the buds’ key features. I also find it disappointing that Dual Connection isn’t enabled by default.

During the initial setup, I encountered an issue where the app couldn’t automatically detect the Buds and I had to manually select them within the app. However, once paired, everything worked smoothly.

I observed an issue where the Nothing X app would forget the Buds, requiring us to reconnect them. Although my iPhone remained paired with the earbuds, this prevented me from configuring the settings until I reconnected the buds with the app. This seems to be a common bug among iOS users with the app, but it has been fixed in a recent update.

Despite these issues, I believe the Nothing X app is a great companion for the CMF Buds. It has a clean interface with polished animations, and the dot matrix theme that Nothing is known for is evident throughout the app. Additionally, it does not require you to create an account, which is something I appreciate, unlike the Realme Link app, which forces users to create an account.

Our Verdict: Should You Buy the CMF Buds?

I want to reiterate that the CMF Buds are among the best-designed earbuds in their price range. From the packaging to the buds themselves, you get a satisfying experience, not to mention the companion app. Apart from the average sound quality, there’s little to dislike here.

While the sound could potentially be improved through updates and equalizer adjustments, there are limitations to how much can be done. Additionally, it’s often wiser to evaluate a product based on its current performance rather than relying on promises of future updates.

Having covered all aspects of the CMF Buds, the decision to purchase them boils down to whether they meet your needs. The range of features they offer sets them apart from most other earbuds in this price segment. ANC, dual pairing, and the Nothing X app are particularly impressive features. They provide a premium experience at a fraction of the cost of competitors.

In conclusion, the Nothing CMF Buds are a well-constructed pair of earbuds for those on a budget. If you enjoy casual music listening, podcasts, or bass-heavy music, then these earbuds are a solid choice.

Pros and Cons

Ratings

At the sub-Rs 2,500 price point, the CMF Buds offer great value for most users. While the sound quality is its only weakness, this can be improved with custom tuning through the app. Overall, the user experience is quite good. Those who prioritize sound quality over convenience features may want to look elsewhere.