I’ve always been drawn to brands that do more with less. One of the reasons OnePlus smartphones became my absolute favorite is the fact that the company still manages to deliver solid value for its products, even though the future looks a little shaky for the brand right now.
Another brand that fits this ethos perfectly is Nothing’s CMF. CMF is Nothing’s budget-focused sub-brand that doubles down on Carl Pei’s original OnePlus vision of delivering great value.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro was one of the best budget smartphones we tested last year, and now the company has stepped into the over-ear audio space with the CMF Headphones Pro.
Just like its earbuds, which outperformed almost every budget pair out there, I’ve been using the CMF Headphones Pro for over two weeks now, and they’re about as good as it gets for the price.
The design of the CMF Headphones Pro feels solid and far from budget
One of the core problems with budget over-ear headphones has always been their build and design. Brands in this segment often go overboard with flashy styling to make the product feel premium, but that usually comes at the cost of a flimsy, cheap-feeling build.
The CMF Headphones Pro take the exact opposite approach. They stick to a simple, understated design, but back it up with a solid build that feels sturdy both in hand and on your head. And like other CMF products, there is still a clever touch here that lets you switch things up.
Just like CMF’s other products, the Headphones Pro are modular. You can swap out the ear cushions with a simple twist, and the brand sells replacement cushions separately. This means you can easily replace them once they wear out or just change the look without much effort.
Beyond that, the CMF Headphones Pro get all the basics just right. The padding on the headband is comfortable, and these are among the few headphones I’ve used that actually cover my entire (giant) ears.
The ear cushions strike a nice balance, too, snug enough to feel secure without causing discomfort over longer sessions. At 283 grams, they are a bit on the heavier side, but I actually like that added weight since it makes the headphones feel more confidence-inspiring overall.
Sound quality is impressive and customizable without the app
What I love most about the CMF Headphones Pro is that they let you tweak the sound on the fly without ever opening the app. CMF has included what it calls an Energy Slider, which lets you control the amount of bass directly from the headphones. You just slide it up or down, and that’s it, no app required.
Most budget headphones lean heavily into a bass-heavy sound profile, and while you can usually adjust things through an app, the CMF Headphones Pro lets you do this entirely on the hardware itself.
For me, that’s genuinely useful. I like more bass when listening to music, but I often dial it back when watching TV shows or videos.
I already like the default tuning here, but being able to adjust the sound instantly using the slider is surprisingly fun and practical. For context, these headphones use custom 40mm drivers with nickel-plated diaphragms, which CMF says help deliver clearer and deeper audio.
Beyond that, CMF has packed in plenty of physical controls. You get a volume knob that adjusts volume and can also be pressed to control playback and ANC, along with a dedicated power button that doubles as the pairing button. There’s also a good old 3.5mm headphone jack here, and CMF even includes the cable in the box, which is always nice to see.
There are a few drawbacks you should still know about
ANC, however, is one area where these headphones fall a bit short. CMF claims up to 40dB of noise cancellation, but in real-world use, it feels fairly weak, especially if you’ve used something like Sony’s WH-1000XM6 series. To be fair, those cost significantly more.
The ANC here isn’t bad, but if you plan to use these on flights or noisy commutes, you’ll still hear some ambient noise, even though the music does a decent job of masking it.
There are a few other drawbacks, too. You don’t get wear detection, so playback doesn’t pause when you take the headphones off. The headphones also don’t fold, which means they take up a bit more space in your bag. The included case is made of cloth, which doesn’t feel particularly durable either.
That said, all of this is fairly expected at this price point. What makes the CMF Headphones Pro stand out is how well they nail the core experience. These aren’t deal-breakers so much as compromises you can easily live with, especially when the fundamentals are done this well.
The CMF Headphones Pro are available in three color options, Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Light Green. They start at $99 in the U.S., though you can currently pick them up for $79. In the UK, they’re priced at £79, while in India they retail for Rs 7,999.
At these prices, in my opinion, they’re easily some of the best cheap over-ear headphones you can buy right now.
- Battery Life
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Up to ~100 hours
- Brand
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CMF by Nothing
- Weight
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283 g
- IP rating
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IPX2
- Driver size
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40 mm custom drivers
- Supported codecs
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AAC, SBC, LDAC
The CMF Headphones Pro punch well above their weight where it actually counts. The design is simple, comfortable for long sessions, and does not scream for attention. Noise cancellation works reliably, battery life is solid, and controls are easy to live with.
