Open-ear earbuds have quietly become one of audio’s hottest categories, and the pricing has followed suit. Bose wants $299 for its Ultra Open Earbuds, and even Nothing’s own Ear (open) launched at $149 back in 2024.
Now Nothing’s budget-focused CMF sub-brand is entering the fray with its first clip-style earbuds, and it’s doing so at a price that makes the competition look downright greedy. Meet the $99 CMF Clip Pro.
Titanium, But Make It Tiny
Rather than cramming a silicone tip into your ear canal, the Clip Pro hangs onto the outside of your ear using what CMF calls a 3-point Clip Design, spreading pressure across three contact points instead of pinching one spot.
The bridge connecting everything is built around an elastic titanium wire core wrapped in skin-friendly material, flexing to fit whatever ear shape you’re working with. And at 5.9 grams per bud (barely heavier than a quarter), these things should genuinely disappear once they’re on.
Chasing Bass in the Open Air
Now, the eternal problem with open-ear audio is bass. Without a sealed canal, low end tends to evaporate into thin air. CMF’s answer is a custom-tuned 10.8mm dual-magnet dynamic driver paired with its new Ultra Bass Technology, which boosts low frequencies while cutting treble distortion.
The Clip Pro is also Hi-Res Audio Certified with LDAC support, which is pretty rare air at this price. And for anyone worried about broadcasting their playlist to the whole train car, the Sound Seal system tamps down leakage via the Nothing X app.
The Case Has a Knob, and We Love It
CMF’s signature Smart Dial carries over to the charging case, giving you a tactile rotating control for volume, playback, and calls without ever unlocking your phone. The buds themselves get physical controls too, which means they’ll actually work with sweaty fingers or gloves.
Seeing that taking calls on the go is an integral part to how we use our earbuds, Nothing now runs these through four HD mics. The system is paired with a VPU-powered Clear Voice system that helps separate your voice from all the chaos around you. Battery life will get you about 10 hours per charge and 32.5 hours with the case, while a 10-minute top-up buys you four more hours. Bluetooth 5.4, dual-device connection, and an IP54 rating round out the package.
Spec Sheet
Brand: CMF by Nothing
Model: Clip Pro
Weight: 5.9g per earbud
Driver: 10.8mm dual-magnet dynamic
Codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC (Hi-Res Audio Certified)
Battery Life: 10 hours (buds), 32.5 hours (with case)
Fast Charging: 10 minutes = 4 hours of playback
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, Dual Device Connection
Water Resistance: IP54
Colors: Dark Grey, Light Grey, Coral
Pricing & Availability
The CMF Clip Pro lands August 15 in the US, UK, and Japan, priced at $99, though early birds can currently pre-order for $79. Europe and the rest of the world get theirs September 15. Head over to Nothing’s website to claim a pair.
Recap
CMF Clip Pro Open-Ear Earbuds
Nothing’s budget sub-brand jumps into the clip-on earbud craze with a titanium-wired, LDAC-equipped open-ear design that undercuts the big names at just $99.
