CMF Buds review: Combined with a typically eye-catching design, the CMF Buds are perhaps the perfect TWS with ANC for those on a tight budget. In fact, they, at times, seem a better option than their slightly more expensive Pro bros!
Its phones might get more attention, but Carl Pei’s venture, Nothing, has actually released more audio products than phones. The latest in the Nothing audio army comes from its more budget-friendly brand, CMF (which stands for Color, Materials, Finish in industrial design), the CMF Buds. These are the second TWS with CMF branding, the first being the CMF Buds Pro, which were launched last year. They lack the Pro tag, but in many ways, these are actually as good as and, in some ways, even better than their Pro counterparts and could well be the benchmark for affordable TWS with ANC. CMF Buds Design and Appearance: So delightfully orange (and with a spinny disc, too)
Nothing has been turning heads with its designs, and the CMF Buds continue this trend. Their design is actually very similar to the Nothing Ears (2); instead of being transparent, they are very solid orange. You get them in dark grey and light grey, but take our word for it: if you want a pair of TWS that turns heads, just go for the bright orange ones.
The buds are very similar to the Ear (2) and even the CMF Buds Pro, with prominent stems and bulbous heads that incline downwards with changeable tips. They are laid horizontally inside the square-ish case, which has an aluminum alloy disc in the corner, which allows you to attach a lanyard to it. It is a typically whimsical design touch, and while we did get a lanyard separately, we actually had more fun just spinning the disc randomly – it gave us such fidget spinner vibes.
The buds are about 5 grams each in weight and very comfortable to wear. They will drop out sometimes, as all TWS do, but they generally stay in place. Together with the case, they weigh about 53 grams, and the case is super easy to carry around. The buds have IP54 splash resistance, so they are good enough for gyms and runs. We liked the orange shade of the CMF Buds Pro, and we love the same shade of the Pro-less bros, which actually look slightly more Pro because of their square case. CMF Buds Interface: Simple enough to use
Pairing the buds is simple enough. You long-press the button next to the Type-C port – spotting the button can be a little difficult as it too is orange – and then simply choose the buds from the list of connected devices on your phone.
