In a world where headphones often cost more than a month's rent, the CMF Headphone Pro delivers a revolution: hybrid active noise cancellation up to 45 dB, a flexible design with replaceable ear pads, and a battery that lasts almost a week. At €99 (108 $), these headphones are CMF's first foray into the over-ear category, combining Nothing's style with affordability - and asks: why pay more for less?
Imagine: sitting in a crowded café, it's raining outside, traffic is roaring like a siren's orchestra, and you're quietly enjoying your favorite quantum physics podcast as if you're in a soundproof bubble. And all this without spending 300 euros on headphones that promise "sonic nirvana." CMF Headphone Pro, the first headphones from Nothing’s sub-brand CMF, offer just that – for a price lower than your monthly coffee budget. If you thought Nothing was just a brand of eccentric phones with flashing lights, this model will surprise you: a modular design that you can customize like an art canvas, and a battery that could power a small village. But are these €99 (108 $) headphones really as good as they promise? Let’s peek under their elegant armor and poke fun at the industry that convinces us that silence is worth breaking the bank.
A sound mosaic that you build yourself
Nothing, a British tech rebel, has accustomed us to a design reminiscent of 1980s sci-fi dreams. Their sub-brand CMF goes one step further: for €99 (108 $) you get headphones that are not just a listening tool, but a canvas for creation. The heart of their charm is the modular design with interchangeable ear pads. They come in three colors – dark gray, light gray and a vibrant light green – and for an extra €25 (27 $) you can buy orange or other color variants that will turn your headphones into a fashion statement. Why would you do it? Because it’s liberating! In an age where headphones often look like boring black squares, CMF says: “Create boldly, but affordably.” The irony? The industry sells you an “exclusive” look for €500, but CMF offers it for the price of extra pads.
Where melody finds its home
The headphones will be available from September 29, 2025 in the EU and UK, and from October 7, 2025 in the US. You can buy them at Nothing's website or at select retailers. If you're impatient, start dreaming about how they'll brighten up your Instagram.
A sound that embraces the soul
Let's get to the point: the sound. The CMF Headphone Pro features 40mm drivers with nickel-plated diaphragms and a dual sound chamber, delivering deep bass, crystal-clear highs, and a frequency range of 20Hz to 40kHz. They support the LDAC codec for high-resolution streaming at up to 990kbps — wired or wireless, whichever suits you — and a personal Audiodo sound profile that adjusts the sound to your hearing. Not bad for headphones that cost less than a meal at a fine restaurant.
Conducting the rhythm with one touch
The real magic is in the controls. The multi-function wheel controls volume, playback and ANC switching with a simple twist or press, while the innovative “Energy Slider” lets you quickly adjust bass and treble to suit your music mood. It’s like carrying a portable mixer! Add a customizable surround button or AI features via the Nothing X app, and you have a device that’s your audio companion, not just a piece of plastic. Reviews like those on SoundGuys and TechRadar, praise this approach: “The tactile controls are an improved version of Nothing Ear (1), but at a tenth of the price.”
A battery that lasts longer than your patience
This is where the CMF really shines. Up to 100 hours of playback on a single charge without ANC – and still an impressive 55 hours with ANC on. That’s enough to listen to podcasts from Ljubljana to Lisbon without having to search for an outlet. The hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) reaches up to 45 dB and automatically switches between strong, moderate and light modes, saving battery life. Transparency mode lets you hear your surroundings, and three hybrid microphones with ENC ensure crystal-clear calls. Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable connection, and if you’re in the Nothing/CMF ecosystem, the headphones connect faster than your smartphone finds Wi-Fi in a coffee shop.
Are these headphones your sonic soulmate?
Compared to the Nothing Ear (1) for €299 (327 $), the CMF Headphone Pro are like their more affordable but equally charismatic cousin. They may not be “luxury” for fans of Bose or Sennheiser, but for everyday use – traveling, working from home, or ignoring your neighbor practicing drums at 6am – they’re ideal. Keywords like “affordable ANC headphones” and “Nothing modular headphones” rank them high in search engines, and rightly so.
Conclusion: A symphony of style without breaking the bank
The CMF Headphone Pro isn't just a product, it's a manifesto. In a time of inflation and the "quiet luxury" trend, they remind us that style, quality, and innovation can be affordable without breaking the bank. If you're looking for headphones that won't bore you—or empty your wallet—these are your next move. And if not, at least you have an excuse to buy those orange ear pads.
