CMF by Nothing has officially launched the CMF Clip Pro, its first pair of open-ear earbuds. The new earbuds are designed for users who want to stay aware of their surroundings while listening to music or taking calls. They target commuters, fitness enthusiasts, office workers, and anyone who does not like the sealed fit of traditional in-ear earbuds.
The launch also marks CMF’s entry into a fast-growing open-ear audio segment, nearly two years after Nothing introduced the Nothing Ear (Open). However, one thing is important to note. The company has confirmed that the CMF Clip Pro will not launch in India.
The CMF Clip Pro uses a three-point clip design that spreads pressure across the ear for a more comfortable fit during long listening sessions. Each earbud weighs just 5.9 grams.
The earbuds feature a flexible C-bridge made with an elastic titanium wire core wrapped in skin-friendly materials. This allows the earbuds to adapt to different ear shapes. CMF has also designed the acoustic pod to reduce direct contact with the ear while directing sound efficiently towards the ear canal.
The earbuds pack 10.8mm dual-magnet dynamic drivers with a TPU and LCP diaphragm. CMF says the drivers are tuned to deliver balanced vocals and detailed highs.
Since open-ear earbuds naturally struggle with bass because they do not seal the ear canal, CMF uses its Ultra Bass Technology algorithm to enhance low-frequency output while reducing distortion.
The Clip Pro is also Hi-Res Audio certified and supports LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs. LDAC support allows higher-quality wireless audio on compatible Android devices.
For voice calls, the CMF Clip Pro includes four HD microphones with VPU-powered Clear Voice Technology. The system is designed to reduce background noise from traffic, wind, and crowded places.
The earbuds also feature a Sound Seal System that helps reduce audio leakage. Users can choose to apply the feature only during calls or for all media playback through the Nothing X app.
There is a Smart Dial built into the charging case. Users can rotate or press the dial to adjust volume, control playback, answer calls, or initiate Bluetooth pairing without reaching for their phone.
The earbuds also include physical buttons instead of touch controls, making them easier to use during workouts or while wearing gloves.
The CMF Clip Pro supports Bluetooth 5.4 and includes Dual Device Connection, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and Low Lag Mode.
The earbuds are rated IP54 for water and dust resistance, while the charging case has an IPX2 rating.
Each earbud houses a 60mAh battery, offering up to 10 hours of music playback on a single charge. Combined with the 475mAh charging case, users can get up to 32.5 hours of total playback. A 10-minute fast charge provides up to four hours of playback.
The earbuds will be available in Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Coral colours.
Price and availability
The CMF Clip Pro is priced at $99 in the US and £79 in the UK. It will go on sale in the US, UK, and Japan from August 15, while Europe and other selected markets will get it from September 15.
CMF has confirmed that the earbuds will not launch in India.
The open-ear earbuds category has been growing steadily over the past two years. More consumers are looking for earbuds that let them hear traffic, conversations, and announcements without removing their earbuds. This makes them attractive for runners, cyclists, commuters, and office workers.
With the Clip Pro, CMF now gets an affordable product that expands its audio lineup beyond traditional earbuds and competes in a category that is still relatively new. The Smart Dial charging case also helps CMF differentiate itself. Most open-ear earbuds offer similar hardware, so adding physical controls to the charging case gives the product a unique selling point.
The decision to skip India is likely based on market demand rather than manufacturing limitations. Open-ear earbuds remain a niche category in India. Most buyers still prefer traditional TWS earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation because they offer better bass, stronger passive noise isolation, and are often available at much lower prices.
The Indian market is also extremely price sensitive. At around $99 (roughly Rs. 8,700), the Clip Pro would likely retail close to Rs. 9,999 or even higher after duties and taxes. That would put it against premium TWS earbuds from OnePlus, Samsung, Sony, and Nothing itself, many of which offer ANC, better sound isolation, and richer feature sets.
CMF’s brand is built around value-for-money products. Launching a niche open-ear product at a premium price may not generate enough sales volume in India.
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