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British startup Nothing has released an affordable pair of open-ear earbuds under its wallet-friendly sub-brand, CMF.
The all-new CMF Clip Pro — its first open-ear earbuds — are designed for those who want to listen to music, podcasts, or make hands-free calls without completely isolating themselves from the world around them. Open-ear audio products have become popular, especially with those who exercise outdoors, and the category is dominated by brands like Shokz, which recently refreshed its flagship open-ear 'buds.
CMF, which stands for “Colour, Material, and Finish” — a branch of industrial design, says it's cracked one of the biggest challenges facing this type of earbud: delivering proper sound quality while keeping them light enough to remain comfortable enough to wear all day.
The solution? A three-point system that spreads the weight across your ear, rather than concentrating it in one spot. Each 'bud weighs just 5.9 grams, which CMF claims offers "a barely-there wearing experience". Built with an elastic titanium wire core, the C-bridge can flex to fit any ear shape, while CMF is relying on "skin-friendly materials" to offer a soft, comfortable fit that remains after hours of continuous wear.
One common complaint with an open-ear design is that it struggles with bass, since there's no seal around your ear canal like a traditional Bluetooth earbud.
The team at CMF has tried to solve this with something called Ultra Bass Technology, which boosts the lower frequencies while simultaneously reducing treble distortion to create a soundscape more akin to what you'd expect from in-ear buds. Likewise, the new Sound Seal system is designed to remove leakage from the open-ear design by intelligently managing mid- and high-frequencies, making conversations and music less audible to those nearby.
This intelligent feature can be customised via the Nothing X companion app, which is available on iPhone and Android, with a dedicated settings panel to tweak calls and audio playback independently.
Powering all of this audio performance is a 10.8mm dual-magnet dynamic driver, which has been custom-tuned to produce full-bodied audio with detailed vocals and crisp high frequencies, CMF claims.
These new 'buds are certified for Hi-Res Audio and support standards like LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs, which offer higher-quality streaming from compatible devices. Whether listening to music, watching videos or catching up on podcasts, CMF Clip Pro owners should enjoy high-fidelity sound while remaining aware of their surroundings.
Clip Pro keeps the signature Smart Dial introduced with CMF's Buds Pro 2, integrated into the charging case. The tactile rotating control allows users to adjust volume, manage playback, answer calls and pair devices without needing to unlock their phone, making everyday interactions faster and more intuitive.
Each earbud also features responsive physical controls, ensuring reliable operation even while exercising or wearing gloves. Finished in Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Coral, the team at CMF has clearly brought the same playful design language as its Android handsets to the growing open-ear category while remaining instantly recognisable.
Clip Pro delivers up to 10 hours of continuous playback on a single charge and up to 32.5 hours of total playback with the charging case. When time is short, a quick 10-minute fast charge provides up to 4 hours of listening, which should get you through most commutes or gym sessions.
The earbuds are rated IP54, so they'll handle a bit of sweat or light rain without issues. They've got Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity built in, and you can pair them to two devices at once if you're the type who switches between your phone and laptop regularly.
You can order the CMF Clip Pro via nothing.tech and other UK retailers for £79.
