CMF by Nothing has launched its latest pair of TWS called CMF Buds. CMF Buds seems a slightly toned-down version of CMF Buds Pro. I have been using CMF Buds for the past few days and here’s a detailed review of CMF Buds. I am trying to put everything one needs to know before buying CMF Buds. It is priced at Rs. 2499, that’s a competitive pricing considering its features. Now let’s see if CMF Buds is worth paying for.
The case of CMF has a squircle shape and looks really good. CMF Buds are available in three colors: Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Orange. I have this orange color variant. There’s a wheel at a corner of the case and the wheel has holes to attach the lanyard cable. There’s a tiny LED light at the front side and the right side has a USB-C port and the setup button.
Buds have a design similar to CMF Buds Pro. Earbuds feature a long pill-shaped stem and a touch-sensitive area at the outer surface. You can double-tap for the next track, triple-tap for the previous track, or tap and hold to switch to ANC modes. Touch controls can also be changed using the Nothing X app, I will talk about it later.
On the inner side, there are two tiny holes for the optical sensor to detect if earbuds are being worn. As soon as you take any of the buds out of the ear, it stops music playback and resumes if you wear the buds again. Each bud features two mics: One at the top and one at the bottom.
Buds are really comfortable and fit properly. Silicone tips are soft and comfortable. Wearing the CMF Buds for long periods was a comfortable experience. In case you don’t get a good fit, try other ear tips that come in the box.
The IP54 water and dust resistance rating enhances its durability, making it suitable for daily use. However, the IP rating doesn’t apply to the case.
Each bud packs a 12.4mm bio-fibre driver and features Ultra Bass Technology 2.0. The music experience is good and the buds do a good job of offering a lively sound signature. The bass response is aggressive, something most people in India like to have. So, you get thumpy low-ends, but it easily gets overwhelming. Buds also handles mids and high-end frequencies well. I tested buds on a wide range of genres and found them good for music.
Buds support A2DP for delivering good audio quality, but the absence of LDAC and aptX may be a consideration for audiophiles seeking the highest audio quality.
CMF Buds feature active noise cancellation to block outer noise. It cancels noises with a depth of up to 45 dB and a bandwidth of up to 2900 Hz. While not as robust as the CMF Buds Pro, the ANC performance is commendable for a budget-friendly TWS. You can switch it off or enable transparency mode depending on your choice. Considering the price segment, I was satisfied with the ANC performance.
CMF Buds support a wide range of devices including Android and iOS. Buds also supports Google Fast Pair and Swift Pair for quick pairing with your Android phone and Windows laptop. With dual pairing, you can keep them connected with two devices at the same time and use them accordingly. However, the use of dual pairing will reduce the battery life. So, make sure to use it only if needed. For people who want to use Buds for gaming, there’s also a low lag mode to provide low latency during gaming for no lag audio.
The dual MIC setup ensures a reliable calling experience. It blocks noise around you and captures a clear voice to deliver on the other side.
CMF Buds is compatible with the Nothing X app for software controls. The app is available for both Android and iOS. When you open the app, it provides battery details of each bud. You can customize the music experience by using equalizer settings. There are some predefined options, but you can also choose Custom to manually select Bass, Mid, and Treble as per your listening preferences. You can also change the tap actions of each bud as per your need. The app also has an option called ULTRA Bass to control the bass depending on your music choice. You can also adjust ANC modes in the app. There are also options to enable or disable In-ear detection, Low Lag Mode, and Dual Connection.
Now let’s talk about the battery life. Each bud packs a 45mAh battery and the charging case has a 460 mAh battery. Without ANC, you get around 8 hours with buds and up to 35 hours with the charging case. If you keep using ANC and Transparency modes, battery life drops to 5.5 hours on buds and up to 23 hours with the case. Those are actually good numbers. The charging case doesn’t support wireless charging, but that’s something no one expects at the price. You can plug it in using a Type-C cable.
Verdict:
The CMF Buds by Nothing offers a compelling blend of design, comfort, and features. While the absence of LDAC or aptX may be noted by audiophiles, the overall performance, especially in terms of sound, battery life, and ANC, makes them a good choice in this price segment.
Pros:
- Aesthetic design with multiple color options
- Comfortable fit with soft silicone tips
- IP54 water and dust resistance
- Impressive battery life with and without ANC
- Dual pairing and low lag mode for gamers
Cons:
- Lack of LDAC or aptX for audiophiles
- Bass response may be overwhelming for some users
- Case does not support wireless charging
