CMF Buds, Neckband Pro review: Budget bangers with quirky design

(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)

Beyond the punchy colours, the build quality is impressively premium for the price point – especially the Buds’ plastic charging case. It has the same sleek design as the pricier Nothing Ear 2 earbuds, but with a much more solid, reassuring hinge action. I also dig the rotatable grey circle element on the case for attaching the lanyard, although I would’ve loved it even more if it doubled up as a fidget spinner-like accessory.

The Neckband Pro has some slick hardware touches too, like the matte finish contrasted with glossy accents on the earbuds. And let’s talk about that rotatable dial on the Neckband Pro – it’s a game-changer for adjusting volume levels on the fly. It’s such a simple yet brilliant idea that I’m surprised no one else has done it before. Nothing/CMF is known for their hardware innovation, and they’ve truly outdid themselves here.

(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)

Beyond design, both products feel solidly constructed from premium materials that should easily withstand years of use and abuse.

Setup and customisation

Getting these two paired to my Android phone was a total breeze thanks to Google’s handy Fast Pair. I just opened the lid, tapped the pair buttons, and my phone recognised them instantly. The Nothing X companion app streamlined the rest of the setup process smoothly.

(Express image)

The companion app packs a wild amount of features and customisation options for budget audio gear. You get full equalisers, audio control remapping, noise cancellation configuration, and an “Ultra Bass” boosting mode on both models. But the Neckband Pro takes it even further with ANC levels you can tweak between high/mid/low/adaptive settings, plus a spatial audio mode to try out.

Audio experience

While the two share similar overall audio quality, there are some key differences in their respective sound signatures. The Neckband Pro definitely brings more powerful, punchier bass presence thanks to its larger drivers. It gives music a bit more oomph and thump, though vocals can get slightly overshadowed in the low-end emphasis.

(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)

In contrast, the CMF Buds go for a more balanced, cleaner sound profile. The bass hits aren’t as forceful, but instrumentation and vocals come through with a bit more clarity and detail. There’s even support for Dirac spatial processing, though I didn’t notice a huge impact from it.

Where the Neckband Pro really outguns the Buds is active noise cancellation strength. The ANC on these budget neckbands is shockingly potent at hushing exterior sounds.

Verdict: buds or band?

For their respective prices of Rs 2,499 and Rs 1,999, the CMF Buds and Neckband Pro deliver exceptional value with their slick designs, durable builds, generous features, and solid sound. The funky orange colourways also help them stand out.

(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)

So which one is the right pick for you? It comes down to your preferences and use case scenarios. The neckband design is a lot more freeing and convenient when you need to quickly hop on calls or jam tunes hands-free since, well, they’re always around your neck. You’ll never have to dig for a case in your pockets or worry about immediately losing an earbud either. The 23-hour battery with ANC on is super robust too.

But if you prefer the true wireless earbud lifestyle without any dangly wires, the CMF Buds are the modern move. The 5.6-hour battery life (24 hours with case) is decent as far as TWS earbuds go but the neckband still wins at continuous playback.

Whichever you opt for, you’re getting a seriously slick and feature-packed audio experience at an affordable price point.