The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro is a budget over-ear headphone made by CMF, Nothing’s value-focused sub-brand, released in September 2025 at $99 USD (£79 GBP), available globally through major retailers. After testing them against established competitors like the Bose QuietComfort, these lightweight, modular headphones challenge the assumption that premium sound requires premium pricing.
Key Takeaways
- CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro costs $99 with 100-hour battery life and LDAC codec support
- Hybrid ANC reaches 40dB with 81% average noise reduction, strongest on low frequencies
- V-shaped sound profile excels with EDM and hip-hop but needs EQ tweaking for balanced mids
- Modular design with swappable ear cushions and physical controls beats app-only rivals
- Outperforms Bose QuietComfort in sound quality and battery longevity at half the price
The real news here is that CMF’s first over-ear headphones punch far above their $99 weight class. Nothing’s design philosophy—stripping away bloat, keeping controls physical, and adding high-end codecs like LDAC—delivers something the budget segment usually lacks: genuine audio ambition. For casual listeners willing to spend 15 minutes tweaking the app’s EQ, these become a no-brainer purchase.
CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro Sound Quality and Codec Support
The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro ships with custom 40mm drivers tuned to a V-shaped profile that prioritizes bass impact and treble sparkle over midrange depth. With LDAC enabled—a lossless Bluetooth codec that most $99 headphones ignore—they sound supreme, especially for streaming high-bitrate audio from services that support it. This alone separates them from competitors like the JBL Tune 770NC and Sony WH-CH720N, which rely on standard AAC or SBC codecs.
Stock sound scores 8.2 out of 10, but post-EQ tuning via the Nothing X app bumps that to 8.5. The app’s 3-band EQ is basic—no parametric controls—yet responsive enough to dial in missing midrange presence. Bass thumps convincingly in EDM and hip-hop, though high-volume listening can expose sharpness in the treble. Casual listeners will hear detail and spatial width that justifies the price; audiophiles will note the recessed mids and lack of depth that even budget competitors like the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 handle more smoothly.
The Energy Slider—a physical bass and treble adjuster on the left earcup—sounds useful in theory but delivers mostly gimmickry, adding boominess and distortion rather than true EQ control. Skip it and rely on the app instead.
Active Noise Cancellation and Real-World Performance
Hybrid ANC up to 40dB sounds impressive until you test it in the real world. The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro excels at low-frequency rumble—plane and bus noise see roughly 30dB attenuation with 81% average noise reduction—but struggles with mid and high frequencies like voices and traffic. Three ANC modes exist, but the adaptive auto-switching is unreliable; switch to manual high mode and leave it there.
Transparency mode works adequately, allowing you to hear nearby voices and car horns, though speech comes through slightly processed and muffled. Battery life takes a hit with ANC enabled: expect 50 hours with AAC codec and ANC on, or 38 hours with lossless LDAC, versus 100 hours with ANC off. Real-world testing confirms 43+ hours with ANC active, which still outlasts most rivals by a significant margin.
Design, Controls, and Comfort
The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro weighs almost nothing and feels comfortable even with glasses on. Its modular design lets you swap ear cushions, a feature that extends lifespan and justifies the $99 price point when replacements eventually wear out. The physical control layout—power button, volume knob, play/pause/skip buttons, and customizable action button—puts it ahead of touch-sensitive competitors that demand app-dependent gestures.
Build quality feels solid without excess heft. IPX2 water resistance handles vertical water drops, suitable for light rain or sweat during casual use. The included carrying case and stereo cable add genuine value. Color options span Light Green, Light Gray, and Dark Gray, offering subtle aesthetic variety without gimmicky designs.
CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro vs Bose QuietComfort
The Bose QuietComfort commands three times the price but delivers inferior LDAC codec support and shorter battery life. Where Bose excels in ANC refinement and midrange balance, the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro wins on codec flexibility, battery longevity, and design modularity. For listeners prioritizing sound quality over pure noise isolation, the CMF is the obvious choice. Bose remains better for frequent travelers who demand superior ANC consistency, but that advantage shrinks when you factor in the price difference.
Against other budget rivals like the Sony ULT Wear and Skullcandy Crusher Evo, the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro edges ahead through LDAC support and physical controls, though the Soundcore Space Q45 offers more sophisticated ANC. None match its battery endurance.
Should You Buy the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro?
Yes, if you value codec quality, battery life, and design flexibility over absolute ANC performance. Yes, if you’re willing to spend 15 minutes in the Nothing X app tweaking the EQ to balance the V-shaped profile. No, if you need best-in-class noise cancellation for noisy commutes or frequent flights—the Bose QuietComfort or premium Sony models handle that better. No, if you demand parametric EQ or spatial audio beyond basic Cinema and Concert modes.
What’s the battery life on the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro with ANC on?
With ANC enabled and AAC codec, expect 50 hours of playback. Using lossless LDAC reduces that to 38 hours, still outlasting most competitors by weeks. Turning ANC off extends battery to 100 hours with AAC or 70 hours with LDAC, though most real-world use lands around 43+ hours with ANC active.
How does ANC perform on voices and mid-frequency noise?
The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro’s ANC struggles with voices and mid-to-high frequency noise, though it excels at low-frequency rumble like plane engines. For blocking office chatter or traffic, you’ll notice leakage. Switch to manual high ANC mode rather than relying on adaptive switching, which proves unreliable.
Can you replace the ear cushions on the CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro?
Yes. The modular design allows you to swap ear cushions, extending the headphone’s lifespan beyond typical budget models. This modularity justifies the $99 price and sets it apart from rivals with glued-on ear pads.
The CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro proves that budget audio doesn’t mean compromising on codec quality or design philosophy. At $99, it delivers LDAC, 100-hour battery life, modular components, and physical controls that most competitors ignore at twice the price. Its V-shaped sound needs EQ tweaking and its ANC has blind spots, but neither flaw outweighs the value proposition. For anyone tired of paying premium prices for basic features, this is the headphone to buy right now.
Where to Buy
$67.55 at Amazon | $98.21 at Amazon | $99 | £79 | $95-$99 on Amazon U.S.
This article was written with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
Source: Tom's Guide
