CMF Buds Review: Creating new heights in sound and style

CMF Buds Review: When I picked up the newly launched CMF Buds by Nothing, the first thing that caught my attention was the sleek design and the striking colour of the buds. The orange colour with the matte finish, along with the grey accent on the dial, can give any fashion brand a run for their money.

However, I was fairly disappointed when I started using the buds straight out of the box as the sound wasn't loud enough for my preference. But a little tweaking through the Nothing X app changed things for the better and after using it for the whole weekend I feel they have lived beyond my expectations.

At just Rs 2,499, these buds give you a surreal experience and according to me, it is worth every single penny. Let's dive into all the details that make the CMF Buds one of the best in its segment.  

CMF Buds Review: Loud at a perfect volume

Even though my first experience wasn't up to par, the buds later performed beyond my expectations. Straight out of the box, you will notice that the buds aren't that loud. But when I tweaked the equaliser settings in the Nothing X app, it blew my mind.

The buds are loud, and the loudness doesn't hurt your ears even after using them for a very long time. Moreover, the clarity and the bass enhanced by the 'Ultra Bass' mode through the Nothing X app elevated the experience to a different level.

When I heard Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" on the buds, I could easily hear each note in the guitar solo, and strings pulled in the bassline, which enhanced the listening experience for me.

CMF Buds Review: It talks the talk

When it came to the microphone, the person on the other end could not tell if I was speaking via my headphones or the phone. The clarity is by far the finest I have heard, and no sound leaks in or out. This is a result of the Bud's four-microphone setup with AI environmental noise cancellation, which also reduces wind interference.  

CMF Buds Review: Making a Stylish Statement

The buds can give any fashion brand a run for their money with such a slick and minimalist design. The buds come in three colour variants— Orange, Dark Grey, and Light Grey—of which the orange has the most appealing look.

The case is relatively bulky compared to other brands, but it is very well-built. It also has a matte finish, along with that grey accent on the dial, giving it a tempting look. The dial also allows one to attach various lanyards to go with their style, or they can fidget it around when they are bored.

The earbuds have a strong fit and ergonomic design, because of which the buds do not come out, even when you bob your head while listening to your favourite music.

The case has a type-C charging port with a setup button, which helps in pairing and is situated on the same side of the case. The bud also comes with an IP54 dust and water resistance, which makes the device suitable for use in both light rain and during intense exercise.

CMF Buds Review: A connection that can question this generation

As the earbuds have a built-in Google Fast Pair feature, pairing the device with my Android phone was a breeze. I just opened the case to initiate the first pairing process by pressing the setup button, and it automatically connected to my smartphone.

With the recent Bluetooth v5.3 on the device, there is always strong and steady communication. The buds also have a dual-device connect feature, which enables you to control them through two devices.

CMF Buds Review: Cancels out the Chaos

The Buds' 42 dB Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature is very effective, as it blocks out almost all surrounding noise even during the rush hours in Delhi Metro. It also blocks out any external noise due to wind interference. Additionally, you can also change to transparent mode on the device with a long tap on the touch area of the buds or even through the Nothing X app.

CMF Buds Review: Control by the Touch

The device also hit a home run with the touch controls. The touch area has a different texture, which makes it easier to locate. The controls are fast, and there's no noticeable lag.

Straight out of the box, the buds are set up in the default settings of double tapping to skip forward or answer/hang up calls, triple tapping to skip back or reject calls, or tapping and holding to switch between Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency Mode.

You can go into the Nothing X app and change the touch settings according to your preference, with more options available for both buds.  

CMF Buds Review: Battery and Charging

The buds can last a very long time, as they still have about 40 per cent of their charge left even after using them for the whole weekend for two hours daily.

According to the manufacturer, the buds come with a 460 mAh case and offer 35.5 hours of playback with ANC off, with 8 hours on the buds. With the ANC on or in transparency mode, the case gives a playback of 24 hours and 5.6 hours on the buds.

It also has a fast-charging feature, where a 10-minute charge can last 6.5 hours with ANC off. With ANC, or Transparency Mode, on, a 10-minute charge can last 4.3 hours.

CMF Buds Review: Final Verdict

For me, this device is worth every single penny that one has to spend on it. These buds not only sound or feel good but also have a very stylish appeal to them. The device is very versatile, and at this price point, it can surely elevate your listening experience to a different level.