The Verge reviews CMF Clip Pro: Budget clip-on earbuds offer comfort at a sound compromise

The Verge has published a review of the CMF Clip Pro, a new clip-on earbud model from Nothing’s budget sub-brand, CMF. Designed for users who prefer open-ear comfort over traditional in-ear designs, the device offers LDAC support and a unique control dial on the charging case. However, the review notes compromises in sound consistency, potential audio leakage, and a control dial that lacks sufficient resistance. The product sits in a competitive market where established brands like Bose, Sony, and Shokz offer similar clip-on designs at significantly higher price points, often exceeding US$200.

The CMF Clip Pro are priced at US$99, though they are frequently discounted to US$79. This places them in a higher bracket than CMF’s typical $40 to $60 range, and at the same price point as Nothing’s recently released Ear 3A. The review identifies comfort as the device’s primary advantage, citing a flexible band design that avoids pinching the helix and a speaker orb that sits comfortably behind the ear. This makes the Clip Pro a viable option for individuals who struggle with in-ear canal fit.

Sound performance is where the open-ear format presents its inherent challenges. The lack of a sealed fit compromises sound consistency, and the reviewer advised against critical listening. The device features a default bass boost to compensate for the open design, along with fixed spatial audio and high-res audio support via LDAC. While the high-res capabilities are present, the reviewer noted that the audible differences are minute in an open-ear context, particularly when ambient noise is present.

Audio leakage is a notable factor, occurring at higher volumes. The review suggests keeping the volume down to prevent sound from leaking to nearby individuals, such as fellow commuters. An anti-leakage mode is available in the Nothing X app, which cuts higher frequencies to reduce leakage but adversely affects overall sound quality. The app also includes a three-band EQ, though the reviewer found the interface tricky to use, as increasing one frequency band can inadvertently lower others.

The charging case includes a dial that functions as a volume control, play/pause, skip, and assistant trigger. However, the reviewer found the dial lacked sufficient resistance, leading to accidental volume adjustments when the case was in a pocket, and ultimately disabled the feature. Call quality was deemed adequate for normal speaking volumes, with an aggressive noise gate that may clip the ends of words. Soft-spoken users may experience muffled audio, but the device did not exhibit the buggy voice compression issues reported with the Nothing Ear 3A.