There are products you try because you have to review them, and then there are products that genuinely surprise you. The CMF Buds Neo belongs to the second category.
Positioned as an entry-level TWS for the Nothing ecosystem, these earbuds are priced aggressively enough to compete in the sub-₹2,000 segment. The box carries an MRP of ₹1,999, although launch offers can bring the actual buying price down significantly.
But here’s what caught me off guard: the CMF Buds Neo doesn’t really sound like an entry-level pair of earbuds.
I say that as someone who regularly uses significantly more expensive audio products, including the Nothing Headphone (1) and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Obviously, those belong to a completely different category, and I would never pretend the Buds Neo can replace them. But considering what the Buds Neo costs, the experience is genuinely impressive.
Design: Simple, Clean and Very CMF
The Buds Neo immediately carries that familiar CMF design language. You get White, Black and Dark Blue, and all three use a dual-tone treatment that gives the earbuds more character than the usual completely-black-or-white TWS.
I have the White version with orange accents, and personally, I think it looks fantastic. It’s minimal without looking boring, and playful without becoming flashy.
More importantly, these earbuds are extremely lightweight. Both the buds and the charging case feel surprisingly light, and once they’re in your ears, they almost disappear.
Which, honestly, is probably the best compliment I can give them:
They feel like you’re wearing nothing.
CMF Buds Neo. Nothing… quite literally.
Comfort: One of Its Biggest Strengths
The earbuds sit comfortably inside the ears without constantly making you aware that you’re wearing them. I didn’t experience irritation or discomfort during extended usage, which matters far more than how good earbuds look on a product page.
For a TWS at this price, that lightweight construction is a huge advantage. You don’t get that heavy, stuffed-in-the-ear feeling that some budget earbuds can have, and for everyday listening—commuting, working, walking or simply relaxing—the Buds Neo are very easy to live with.
Sound Quality: This Is Where Things Get Interesting
Let’s address the biggest surprise first.
The CMF Buds Neo sound really, really good for their price.
The first thing you’ll notice is the bass. There is plenty of it. The low-end has a strong presence and gives music that punchy, energetic character that most people actually want from a budget TWS.
And surprisingly, I found the sweet spot at around 50% volume.
For my personal usage, 50% on the Buds Neo feels almost like 100% on many other earbuds.
They’re loud. Very loud.
In fact, I’d strongly recommend not blindly pushing these to maximum volume. Once you go beyond roughly 60%, the experience becomes less pleasant for my ears. The sound starts becoming unnecessarily aggressive, and at higher levels I noticed distortion creeping in.
So ironically, one of my biggest criticisms is also a compliment:
These things have more volume than you really need.
For everyday listening, I would happily stay around the 40–50% range.
What About Sound Quality?
The tuning is clearly designed to be fun rather than audiophile-neutral. The bass gives tracks a lot of energy, while vocals and other frequencies remain reasonably enjoyable for everyday listening.
No, this isn’t the kind of tuning I’d compare directly against something like the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.
But that’s also not the point.
The question is whether the Buds Neo delivers an enjoyable listening experience for someone spending under ₹2,000.
My answer is absolutely.
For casual music listening, YouTube, reels, podcasts, travel and everyday use, the audio experience punches considerably above its price.
Nothing X App: More Control Than You’d Expect
One of the things I genuinely appreciate about the Buds Neo is that CMF doesn’t treat them like a basic pair of budget earbuds when it comes to software.
The Buds Neo work with the Nothing X app, which gives you considerably more control over the listening experience.
You can customise the sound output using the built-in EQ, tweak the audio profile to match your preference, and use features like the Bass Enhancer to give the low-end even more punch.
And this is where the experience gets interesting.
The hardware already sounds impressive out of the box, but being able to fine-tune the sound according to what you listen to makes the Buds Neo much more versatile. Whether you prefer heavier bass, a more balanced signature or want to experiment with the EQ, you aren’t stuck with just the factory tuning.
For me, this is another example of how the Buds Neo punches above its segment.
You’re not just buying inexpensive earbuds; you’re getting a surprisingly complete ecosystem experience.
Noise Cancellation: Surprisingly Good for the Price
Another feature that caught my attention is the noise cancellation.
At this price point, I wasn’t expecting miracles. And to be clear, this isn’t competing with premium ANC systems from much more expensive earbuds.
But within its price category, the implementation is genuinely impressive.
It takes the edge off external noise and makes listening considerably more immersive, especially when you’re outdoors or around consistent background noise.
For a sub-₹2K TWS, this is one of those features that makes the product feel more premium than the price suggests.
Spatial Audio: I’m Not Fully Convinced
The Buds Neo also comes with Spatial Audio, and this is probably the feature I’m least excited about.
It sounds great on paper, but in real-world usage, I found it a little gimmicky. The effect isn’t as convincing or natural as what I’ve experienced on my more premium audio devices.
And that’s completely understandable.
The Samsung Buds2 Pro and Nothing Headphone (1) are fundamentally operating in a different league.
So while I appreciate CMF including Spatial Audio here, I wouldn’t consider this a reason to buy the Buds Neo.
Microphone: Decent, But Not the Star of the Show
The microphone performance is decent. For calls and normal conversations, it gets the job done.
It’s not something I’d specifically praise as exceptional, but I also don’t think it represents a major weakness for the product.
For an everyday budget TWS, it’s perfectly serviceable.
The Bigger Question: Can It Replace Expensive Earbuds?
No.
And I don’t think it should be expected to.
When I compare the Buds Neo directly with something like the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro or Nothing Headphone (1), the difference is obvious.
Those products offer better overall refinement, better separation, more sophisticated tuning, stronger spatial presentation and a more premium listening experience.
But here’s where the Buds Neo wins:
Value.
The moment I stop comparing it to premium products and start comparing it to other earbuds in its actual price bracket, the Buds Neo becomes incredibly compelling.
And that’s exactly where CMF has played this product smartly.
Final Verdict
The CMF Buds Neo is one of those products that makes you question how much you actually need to spend on a TWS.
It looks good. It’s incredibly lightweight. It’s comfortable. It’s loud. It has strong bass. The noise cancellation is surprisingly capable. The microphone is decent. The Nothing X app gives you meaningful control over the sound. And most importantly, the overall audio experience is far better than I expected from something positioned at this price.
Yes, Spatial Audio feels more like a checkbox feature than something I’d actively use. Yes, pushing the volume too high can introduce distortion. And no, this isn’t going to replace premium earbuds like my Galaxy Buds2 Pro or something like the Nothing Headphone (1).
But that’s not what CMF is trying to do.
The real question is:
Would I recommend the CMF Buds Neo to someone looking for a TWS under ₹2,000?
Without hesitation.
At this price, I’d genuinely recommend buying the Buds Neo with your eyes closed.
Because despite being positioned as an entry-level product,
the experience doesn’t feel entry-level at all.
Rating: 8.5/10 for the price.
The CMF Buds Neo doesn’t try to be the best TWS out there. It tries to be the best TWS you can get for this money and that’s exactly why it works.
