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Expect Active Noise-Cancellation and Spatial Audio support too

British upstart Nothing has launched its most affordable earbuds ever.

Released under budget-focused sub-brand CMF, which stands for “Colour, Material, and Finish” — a branch of industrial design, Buds Neo cost the equivalent of just £15. That's shockingly cheap for Bluetooth 'buds that offer active noise cancellation, which relies on minuscule microphones to listen to exterior sounds and then funnel in the exact opposite sound wave — cancelling out the distracting background sounds.

CMF by Nothing is promising noise reduction of up to 35dB, which should be enough to eliminate the worst rumble of the train tracks on a commute or hum of a jet engine during a long-haul flight. For comparison, the £149 Nothing Ear (3) earbuds promise to quash 45dB with its active noise-cancellation.

In addition to noise cancellation, those four microphones enable Clear Voice Technology, which CMF says is designed to ensure your voice comes through clearly during calls — even in busy environments.

When it comes to audio, Buds Neo are fitted with 12.4mm dynamic drivers to ensure songs, podcasts, and audiobooks come through loud and clear. The earbuds support spatial audio, which maps out sounds in a three-dimensional space — adding height and depth, like a surround sound system.

The immersive format is available in audio equipment like Apple AirPods, Sonos Ace headphones, and smart speakers, and supported by streamers like Netflix. You can customise the sound signature via the equaliser built into the Nothing X app, which manages all Nothing and CMF accessories.

But it's battery life where these budget 'buds really impress for the price tag. You'll get 11-hours of playback from a single charge if you keep the active noise-cancellation switched off. CMF Buds Neo ship with a carry case that also recharges the 'buds when they're not in-use. That extends the total listening time to a remarkable 52-hours, which should see you through most weeks without the need to hunt for a charger.

Turn on the active noise cancellation and those numbers drop to eight hours per charge and 30 hours combined with the case, which is still pretty decent. There's quick-charging support too – just 10-minutes in the case will give you around five and a half hours of playback when you're in a rush.

The charging case has a square shape with rounded edges, with the trademark dial we've seen on numerous 'buds from the award-winning design team at Nothing, including recently with its first clip-on earbuds for £79.

Connectivity comes through Bluetooth 6.0, and you'll be able to pair the earbuds with two devices simultaneously, which is handy if you're switching between your phone and laptop.

Nothing includes three different silicone tips in the box to help you find the right fit.

For durability, these affordable earbuds carry an industry-standard IP55 rating against dust and water, which means you won't need to worry about sweat or a downpour ruining your favourite album. The case boasts a more modest IPX2 rating, so you'll need to be more careful not to drop that into the water at the pool or beach.

CMF Buds Neo arrive in Black, Dark Blue, and White colour options. You'll be able to pick them up from 26th August, but there's a catch – they're currently exclusive to the Indian market. CMF is pitching them as its "most accessible earbuds entry point yet" with decent audio features and noise-cancellation. Prices start from ₹1,999, which is the equivalent of £15.29, and rises to a maximum of ₹2,699 (£20, converted) on retailers like Flipkart.

Whether CMF will eventually bring the Buds Neo to the UK remains unclear, though the Indian market is clearly important to Nothing's affordable sub-brand right now.