4 Minutes
CMF, Nothing's design-focused sub-brand, has unveiled the CMF Headphone Pro — a budget-friendly over-ear pair that emphasizes customization, long battery life, and tactile controls without losing sight of sound quality.
A familiar, friendly design with swap-and-match cushions
Unlike Nothing's transparent, angular aesthetic, the CMF Headphone Pro goes for a more conventional rounded silhouette. The headphones come in Light Green, Light Gray and Dark Gray finishes, and you can change the look instantly by swapping the removable ear cushions for either Light Green or CMF’s signature Orange. Replacement pads are sold separately, letting owners personalize color and comfort as they please.
Prices, availability and how they compare
The big surprise is the price: CMF Headphone Pro undercuts Nothing’s Headphone 1 by a wide margin. In Europe they’re available now for €100/£80, with additional cushions priced at €25/£20. The US launch is set for October 7 at $100, and spare cushions cost $25. For context, the Nothing Headphone 1 originally launched around €300/$300.
Battery life and real-world endurance
Battery life is a standout spec: up to 100 hours of playback with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) off, and around 50 hours with ANC engaged. Those figures are close to our hands-on measurements and compare favorably against the Nothing headphone’s listed 80/35-hour split (ANC off/on).
Noise control, spatial modes and adaptive tuning
The CMF Headphone Pro feature Hybrid Adaptive ANC which the company says can cut noise by as much as 99% under some conditions. The system automatically shifts between strong, moderate and light cancellation depending on your environment, and a full transparency mode is available when you need awareness of the outside world. Static Spatial Audio offers Cinema and Concert presets that reshape the soundstage to emulate a movie theater or live venue.
Hardware controls and the Energy Slider
Rather than touch panels, CMF chose physical controls: a multi-function roller lets you roll for volume, press to play or pause, and long-press to cycle ANC modes. There’s also a small customizable button for quick actions such as toggling Spatial Audio, starting a voice note (which syncs to the Essential Space on compatible Nothing/CMF phones), or even invoking ChatGPT.
One distinctive element is the Energy Slider — a hardware control that adjusts either bass or treble on the fly. You select which EQ parameter the slider changes in the Nothing X app, so you can tune the headphones without touching your phone.
Sound hardware and personalization
Under the hood are 40mm drivers with 16.5mm copper voice coils. The headphones support the LDAC codec and carry Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification for higher-quality wireless streaming. Nothing partnered with Audiodo to include a Personal Sound Profile: a quick three-minute hearing test calibrates the sound specifically for your ears, and that profile is stored on the headphones so the tuning travels with the device even when you use them with a PC.
Conclusion
The CMF Headphone Pro strikes a smart balance between style, battery life and practical features. With extensive customization options, tactile controls, an on-device Energy Slider and strong battery endurance, they represent excellent value for those who want simple personalization and solid audio performance without paying flagship prices.
Source: gsmarena
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