CMF Headphones Pro Debut as Nothing’s First Over-the-Ear Release

Nothing has made waves in tech with bold design and smart products. Now, through its sub-brand CMF, it is entering a new field: over-ear headphones. The CMF Headphones Pro is its first offering in this space, and many are already watching closely. We see this debut as a statement: CMF aims to bring premium features at a lower cost. If they deliver, we could see serious competition for big audio names.

Brand Background: Nothing & CMF

Nothing is a London-founded tech company known for clean aesthetics and transparent design cues. In 2025, Nothing decided to spin off CMF as a separate entity headquartered in India. The name “CMF” stands for Color, Material, Finish, a hint at the brand’s design priority.

CMF has built a catalog of earbuds, watches, and budget gadgets. But it lacked an over-ear model until now. This release is significant: it signals CMF’s move beyond small form factors and earbuds.

Design and Build Quality

From teasers, we know some design details are modular and user-friendly. The headphones will feature swappable ear cups. That means users can change colors or styles as they wish. They also tease physical controls: a roller wheel for volume/playback and an “Energy Slider” for quick bass/treble tweaks.

The form is said to lean toward soft curves rather than boxy edges. Cushioned headband and ear pads are expected to be comfortable for longer use. Based on the brand’s ethos, build quality will likely try to punch above its price class.

Color options being teased include dark gray, light gray, and light green. For customization, extra ear cushions in bright orange or light green may be sold separately.

Audio Performance

While full specs are not yet confirmed, leaks and sources suggest the CMF Headphones Pro will use 40 mm drivers with Hi-Res Audio support and the LDAC codec. The LDAC codec allows higher-bitrate audio over Bluetooth, preserving more detail.

We expect a balanced sound signature, good bass without overwhelming mids or highs. The “Energy Slider” will let users push bass or treble on the fly, which is rare in this price tier.

Because this is a debut model, we might see some tradeoffs (for example, underwhelming soundstage or less precise imaging compared to premium rivals). But if tuning is done well, these could be a sleeper hit for casual to mid-level listeners.

Active Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode

CMF claims an adaptive hybrid ANC capable of reducing up to 40 dB of ambient noise. The “hybrid” label often means a mix of internal and external microphones to detect and cancel noise.

Transparency, or ambient mode, will allow outside sound to be heard without removing the headphones, useful for announcements or talking. The company hasn’t revealed full details yet, but given its focus, we expect a natural, non-echoed ambient pass-through.

For voice calls, the mic setup is likely to include multiple mics plus AI noise suppression. That is consistent with how CMF handles its earbuds.

Connectivity & Smart Features

Connectivity is expected to use Bluetooth (latest version likely) with support for multipoint, so you can connect to a phone and a laptop at the same time. The brand teased physical controls like a roller wheel for volume and play/pause, plus a button or switch for toggling modes.

The companion app (Nothing X / CMF’s app) will probably allow EQ adjustments, ANC tuning, firmware updates, and personalization. The “Energy Slider” suggests quick tuning without opening the app, great for on-the-fly changes.

Some teasers hint at foldable or adjustable joints for portability and proper fit.

Battery Life and Charging

One Standout Feature: The CMF Headphones Pro reportedly offers up to 100 hours of playback in low-power mode (with ANC off) and 50 hours with ANC on. That is a very competitive battery life compared to many over-ears.

Also teased was fast charging, with 5 minutes of charge providing 4 hours of playback. The USB-C port will allow universal charging, possibly even from a smartphone or power bank.

Real-World Usage: With moderate volume and occasional ANC, we might expect 30–40 hours of continuous use in practice. Charging from flat to full may take 1.5 to 2 hours, though the brand has not confirmed this yet.

Pricing and Availability

The CMF Headphones Pro are priced around US $99 (or €99) in the EU and UK markets. That is much lower than flagship over-ear models like Sony or Bose.

Launch dates: Available from September 29, 2025, in the EU and the UK. The US release will follow on October 7, 2025. In India, the launch is also set for September 29.

This pricing positions CMF’s over-ear option as a “budget premium” contender. It might entice users who can’t afford flagship models but still want advanced features.

Target Audience and Use Cases

So who are these headphones for?

• Commuters who want ANC and long battery life for daily travel.
• Students and remote workers who need comfort and good audio quality for long hours.
• Casual audio lovers who want good sound without breaking the bank.
• Tech-savvy users who like customizing and swapping components (e.g., ear cushions).

They may not satisfy audiophiles who demand ultra-wide soundstage and studio accuracy, but they could be ideal for many everyday scenarios.

Early Impressions & Market Impact

Initial impressions from tech media are positive. The Verge notes that CMF Headphone Pro brings a unique design and modularity at a low cost. Publications also highlight the “Energy Slider” as a strong differentiator.

Strategically, spinning off CMF as its own brand signals nothing’s ambition to build a lower-cost hardware ecosystem. With this over-ear debut, CMF looks to compete not just in wearables and phones, but in audio hardware too.

If the CMF Headphones Pro delivers on its promise, we may see more affordable audio products that challenge expensive brands. It could also push those brands to innovate features for mid-tier models.

Conclusion

The CMF Headphones Pro marks a bold step for CMF and Nothing. With a modular design, a powerful battery, physical controls, and a low price tag, it aims to close the gap between affordable and premium over-ear audio. We’re watching to see whether real-world performance, sound tuning, ANC quality, and comfort match the hype. If so, this debut could shake up how we think about value in headphones.

Disclaimer:

This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always conduct your research.