🚀Introduction
If I were to ask you — what’s the core product both Nothing and CMF by Nothing love to launch in spades — what would your answer be?
If you said earbuds, pat yourself on the back and give yourself a gold star. ⭐
Ever since the first Ear (1) launched, the community has been crying out for something different — a proper pair of headphones. It took Nothing almost four years to answer that call with the Headphone (1).
Nearly three months later, CMF by Nothing joined the party with their own budget-friendly version, aptly named the Headphone Pro.
This time around, CMF has dropped the KEF partnership — no fancy audio tuning here — but they’ve clearly taken inspiration from the controls and, in some ways, even improved on certain aspects.
They’ve essentially taken the £299 Headphone (1) and “CMF-ified” it into a budget pair of cans costing just £79. That’s a whopping £220 saving! But the real questions are: how do they sound? how’s the build quality? and what corners were cut to get there?
Well dear reader, join me in this Community Review — I’ve been using these for the past few weeks, and I’ve got plenty of thoughts to share.
📦Packaging & Contents
Let’s dive into the packaging — which, fittingly, is Nothing special. It comes in a simple square cardboard box that houses an inner tray. The card stock quality is decent enough and features the product name in the classic dot matrix font. What really stands out is the large photo of the Headphone Pro’s right ear cup, set against a clean white background.
I’ve got the Light Green version, and the white-green contrast looks pleasantly fresh. Flip the box over, and you’ll find some of the key highlights proudly listed on the back:
Tailored Audio – Adaptive ANC, Personal Sound & Spatial Audio
Intuitive & Expressive Design – Tactile Controls & Removable Ear Cushions
Crystal-Clear Sound – 40mm Driver, LDAC & Hi-Res Certification
Ultra Battery – 100 hours of playback with fast charging
As soon as you open the box, the Quick Start Guide practically leaps out — it’s tucked right under the flap. The guide is your typical affair: multilingual info about controls and functions, plus a handy QR code to install the Nothing X app.
Grab the pull tab, slide out the inner tray from its cardboard prison, and you’re greeted by the headphones themselves, neatly nestled inside. Under the headband sits a small accessory bundle — and just in case you missed the first QR code, there’s a second one reminding you to install the app (subtle, right?).
Included accessories:
The pouch, though simple, is actually quite nice. It’s grey, soft to the touch, and has a smooth inner lining. The “cmf by nothing” logo is stamped on the side, and the drawstring makes opening and closing effortless. It doesn’t offer any real protection — unlike the hard clamshell case of the Headphone (1) — but I kind of prefer this softer, more casual approach.
Next up, the audio cable. It’s plain white, with rounded plugs carrying the same subtle branding as the pouch. The inclusion is appreciated, but the length leaves something to be desired. On the Headphone (1), the jack is on the right side; on the Headphone Pro, it’s on the left.
In my setup — connecting to a mid-tower desktop on the floor — the shorter cable meant I was practically tethered to my desk. The reverse jack placement also shaved off about a foot of usable reach. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but I do wish the cable were just a bit longer.
And for the observant among you: no, I haven’t mentioned a USB-C cable — because there isn’t one. Bizarrely, CMF decided to omit it entirely, unlike the Headphone (1). It’s a strange choice, and not the first time I’ve seen it from CMF. Could this be a new cost-cutting trend? (And no, I’m not blaming the EU — at least not yet — since Nothing’s other products have shipped with one.)
🎨CMF of CMF – Design & Build
The Headphone Pro currently come in three colours:
Dark Grey
Light Grey
Light Green
For this review, I was supplied with the Light Green version — and the first thing that came to mind when I saw them in the box? 1950s-era sci-fi and hot rods.
You’re immediately hit with that light green hue wrapping around the headband and ear cups, broken up only by the silver band extensions. The ear cup shape has that flying saucer vibe, while the chrome-like silver accents feel straight out of a classic Cadillac. It’s retro-futurism meets minimalist industrial design — a look that feels both playful and premium.
*AI was used for the background of this image - the headphone is a real product photo by me.
Comfort-wise, the Headphone Pro are genuinely impressive. The headband is fully wrapped in a soft, squishy foam padding, and the same plush material is used for the large circular ear cups. Gone is the aluminium of the Headphone (1), replaced by all-plastic construction — but honestly, that’s not a bad thing. They still feel solid, yet noticeably lighter, which helps with long listening sessions.
On my kitchen scale (yes, I checked), they weigh around 280g — lighter than both the Headphone (1) and Apple AirPods Max, though slightly heavier than the Sony XM6s. Still, at £79, that’s quite an achievement.
In daily use, I found them comfortable and well-balanced, even during long sessions that would usually leave me readjusting or taking breaks with the Headphone (1). The only minor downside is that the ear cushions can get a little warm after extended wear — nothing major, but worth noting.
🎛️Controls
The controls on the Headphone Pro are described as tactile, intuitive, and responsive — and for the most part, I’d agree. I had no trouble finding or using them, though they’re definitely a step down from the wonderfully executed setup on the Headphone (1).
Everything is neatly arranged around the circumference of the ear cups. Here’s the lineup, from left to right, top to bottom:
Energy Slider
The so-called “Energy Slider” is exactly that — a smooth slider with no physical stops or feedback points. It allows you to adjust either the bass or treble in real-time while listening. The adjustable tone can be configured within the Nothing X app, but here’s the catch — it only controls one tone type at a time. So yes, you’ll have to pick your poison.
Power / Pairing Button
While it’s not as satisfying as the chunky toggle switch on the Headphone (1), this button does its job. Would I have preferred a proper switch instead of a press-and-hold button with a glowing LED? Absolutely.
What’s new here are voice prompts, something I’ve never encountered on any Nothing or CMF product before. Powering on greets you with a friendly female voice saying “power own” (yes, it really says own), and powering off gets you the more grammatically accurate “power off.”
It’s an odd mix considering Nothing’s usual beeps, boops, and bops — and the Headphone Pro still has those too, making it a quirky blend of both worlds.
Pairing is handled via the same button, though the method is a bit clunky. You’ll need to turn the headphones off, then back on, and hold the button to enter pairing mode.
Multi-Function Roller
Think of this as the Headphone (1) roller — on a budget. Its main purpose is volume control, and it handles that nicely. The roller feels a bit stiff compared to the smoother one on the premium model, but it’s still functional and satisfying.
Scrolling up gives a beep, scrolling down a boop — a small but genuinely helpful touch that makes orientation easy (something the Headphone (1) could actually learn from). The roller also has a subtle “step” mechanism that prevents accidental rolls.
But wait — there’s more! The roller can also be pressed, just like a mouse scroll wheel, to perform a range of actions: toggle ANC, answer or hang up calls, skip tracks, etc. Unfortunately, this means juggling a series of press combos — single, double, triple, and long presses — which feels a bit dated compared to the elegant paddle control on the Headphone (1). Personally, I’d have ditched the gimmicky Energy Slider for a budget-friendly version of that paddle instead.
Action Button
When you’re ready for action, this is your go-to. No, it won’t launch you into an adventure, but it does summon your AI assistant. It’s configurable and supports both press and press-and-hold inputs, which adds some flexibility.
Microphone Placement
One small gripe: the mic placement. The microphones sit close to the controls — especially the roller — and I often found my fingers brushing against them while adjusting the volume. When that happens, it produces a brief static scratch sound in your ears. Not painful, but definitely unpleasant. Proceed with caution.
Removable Ear Cushions
And now for something genuinely amazing: the ear cushions are removable! Yes — fully designed to twist off using a clip system reminiscent of a Dyson vacuum accessory (intentional or not, it’s a nice touch).
Ironically, this budget pair outshines the premium Headphone (1) here. While the design focus seems to be on customization rather than repairability — letting users mix and match ear cushion colours for TikTok-worthy style content— I still appreciate the practicality.
Here’s hoping CMF actually follows through this time by making replacement cushions easy to buy. Their track record with accessories has been… let’s say, spotty.
📱Nothing X App
Credit where it’s due — the Nothing X app is a true one-stop shop for customizing your headphones. Originally built to support the Ear (1), it has evolved nicely over time.
The app handles pairing with your phone and even walks you through a quick tutorial on controls. Once connected, it opens up a broad range of customization options:
Noise cancellation modes
Spatial Audio
EQ adjustments
Control function mapping
Dual connection setup
LDAC toggle
Firmware updates
Help and support
There are also some extra features, like the AI-based Essential News, which provides AI-generated summaries voiced by Nothing’s CFO on topics you select. This works on both Nothing and non-Nothing phones. Some ChatGPT integrations, however, are limited to Nothing devices — a missed opportunity, especially given Nothing’s playful jabs at Apple’s closed ecosystem.
Overall, this is top-notch software. Frequent updates to both the app and hardware show that the team behind Nothing is committed to improving the experience, and it really shows in daily use.
🔊Sound Quality & ANC
Sound
At the end of the day, the purpose of any audio product is simple: how does it sound? I’m not an audiophile, and everyone has their own tastes, but I can confidently say the Headphone Pro are not rubbish.
As mentioned in the intro, there’s no big-name audio collaboration here — and interestingly, there’s no Dirac Opteo either, unlike some of the recent CMF by Nothing earbuds. Perhaps this was to keep the cost under £100? Regardless, I found the sound alright. There’s a touch of extra oomph in the bass, helped along by the Energy Slider. Granted, the slider only offered a subtle tweak rather than a dramatic boost.
I tested the headphones across various music tracks, YouTube videos, and Teams/Slack calls. Everything sounded clear, and my voice came through fine on calls. Dual connection works as expected — no complaints here.
ANC (Active Noise Cancellation)
The ANC is… okay. I stepped outside into my backyard with traffic in the background. With ANC on, some sound was drowned out, but a fair amount of hum and road noise still came through. Compare this to the Headphone (1), which handled the same environment far better. So, if heavy noise-cancellation is your priority, this is a noticeable compromise.
Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio is a mixed bag. There’s no head-tracking or immersive 3D effect as you might expect. Instead, the Nothing X app offers ‘Cinema’ and ‘Concert’ modes.
Cinema mode felt more like listening inside a box than a large theater.
Concert mode was better, but still not life-changing.
The headphone also speaks again — a voiceover announces the selected mode. Similar to the “power own” prompt, the voices feel a bit unpolished. Concert mode sounds posh and English, while Cinema mode feels rougher, almost like two different narrators recorded them. I personally stuck with keeping this feature off.
Equaliser (EQ)
You can tweak the sound with the Equaliser — and no, not Denzel Washington — he’s not coming for you! 😉
The EQ options are basic, since there’s no Dirac Opteo here: Pop, Rock, Electronic, Vocals, Classical, and a custom mode that lets you adjust mids, bass, and treble. I mostly stuck with Pop, and I was happy with how it sounded.
Overall, the Headphone Pro deliver solid audio for the price — enjoyable for everyday listening, calls, and casual media. Just don’t expect audiophile-grade ANC or cinematic spatial audio experiences.
🔌Connections
First and foremost, these are Bluetooth headphones — and in that regard, they perform admirably. Pairing with phones, laptops, and desktops is straightforward, either via Google Fast Pair or the Nothing X app. I never experienced any signal dropouts, and the range seemed solid. I used them for work calls while walking around the house, and everything stayed perfectly connected.
They also support the classic 3.5mm audio jack, with a cable included in the box. This works as expected and is arguably the best way to get maximum sound quality. My only minor gripe: the cable is a bit shorter than I’d like for my setup, and it’s plain white rather than colour-matched to the Light Green headphones — a small missed opportunity, but nothing major. Note that the headphones still need to be powered on for wired use.
Now, USB-C is a little… interesting. Despite having a USB-C port, it doesn’t transmit audio — it’s only for charging. Attempting to connect your phone via USB-C automatically turns the headphones off and begins charging, which CMF even touts as a feature. I also tried a USB-C → 3.5mm adapter, which worked, but the audio had a noticeable “pulse” — not as clean as I would have hoped.
So, in practice, your options are Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack. That’s it — simple, but somewhat limiting compared to other modern headphones.
🔋Battery Life
These headphones are basically the Energizer Bunny — they just keep going, and going, and going! In my usage, I only had to charge them once, which is impressive. They easily lasted more than a full day of continuous use, with ANC on, listening to music, watching videos, and taking calls.
They’re rated for 100 hours of battery, though that drops to around 50 hours with ANC enabled. Even so, I have no complaints — the battery performance is genuinely impressive. My only minor gripe? No USB-C cable included in the box, which would have made charging a little easier.
🟠Style Your Swap
As I mentioned earlier, the ear cushions are replaceable — and available in different colours so you can mix and match. But where’s the fun in just getting the same colour you already have? These are designed for personalized style twists. Fancy day-glow orange cushions on your Light Green headphones? Go for it!
I was lucky enough to get a pair to evaluate for this review. On the nothing.tech website, they’re currently listed as ‘Coming Soon’, with Orange and Light Green options available. They’re priced at £19, which is about 24% of the headphone’s cost — not cheap, but not outrageous either.
It would be nice to see Light Grey and Dark Grey cushions offered as well. CMF has a history of making some accessories hard to get, so here’s hoping availability improves this time. There’s little point in highlighting or marketing these mix-and-match options if customers can’t actually buy them!
💭Closing Thoughts
So, are these the “BEST” budget headphones at £79? I won’t make that claim — I haven’t tested every budget headphone out there, and there are plenty of similarly specced options for half the price or less.
The real question is: for £79, are these a decent pair? My answer: yes. While they’re not the absolute cheapest option, they offer solid value. Compared to the £299 Headphone (1), you’re essentially getting a simplified, lighter version for £220 less. To put it another way, you could buy three pairs of Headphone Pro — in each colour — for the price of a single Headphone (1)!
I’ve been genuinely impressed with these headphones. Despite minor niggles like the controls, they’ve been perfectly fine and enjoyable for everyday listening. Honestly, if these had launched first, and the Headphone (1) later, they would have been an instant buy for me.
So, what are you waiting for? Go on — get some head for £79. That’s a luxury your wallet can actually handle.
Finally, this review wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the fine folks at Nothing! A big thanks to the Communty Team @Deepanshu_Saini_ @Rob ⚡️ for letting me participate in the global community review programme. I hope you found this review useful — feel free to drop any questions in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
🎧 Headphone Pro – Overall: ★★★★☆
Design ★★★★☆ | Comfort ★★★★☆ | Controls ★★★☆☆ | Sound ★★★★☆ | ANC ★★☆☆☆ |
Spatial ★★☆☆☆ | Connectivity ★★★★☆ | Battery ★★★★★ | Accessories ★★★☆☆ | Value ★★★★☆
