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Quirky, just how Nothing likes it | Image by PhoneArena
Nothing recently came out with a new audio product in a new category, too. The CMF Clip Pro are the first clip-on open earbuds by Nothing. Previously we did have the hoop-design Nothing Ear (open), which are still great and still sell at $99.
The CMF Clip Pros also launch at $99 and are just an alternative for those that prefer that type of open bud... for some reason.
So, how do they sound, how do they feel, are they an inspiring product, or just a "skip it"? Here's my 2-week experience with the CMF Clip Pro:
CMF Clip Pro in a nutshell:
10.8 mm dynamic driver
Actual button controls
Fully "open ear" design
Ultra-light
Clip design doesn't conflict with glasses
Case has a fun rotating button
IP54 resistance on buds
IPX2 on case
Cute case | Image by PhoneArena
CMF Clip Pro specs
Color options
Light Gray, Dark Gray, Coral
Audio
LDAC, AAC & SBC
Noise cancelation
No ANC
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4, BT multipoint (dual device)
Battery life
10 hours from buds, +22.5 hours from case
Wireless charging case
No
Ingress resistance
IP54 buds; IPX2 case
CMF Clip Pro Design and Comfort
Not going to lie, putting them back in the case has a learning curve to it | Image by PhoneArena
Clip-on earbuds have become a sort of a trend recently in the open bud space. Here's the idea behind the concept — the earbuds sit outside your ear, therefore you can still hear the sounds of the real world unobstructed. Better for environmental awareness or if you simply hate the feeling of in-ear buds.
However, this design also presents a couple of challenges — on the sound front and on the comfort front.
Some clip-ons have soft silicone covers where they clamp on to your ears for a more non-slip experience and comfort for prolonged wear. The CMF Clip Pros do not.
Now, they are very light and barely weigh my ears down. However, I found that after about an hour of the plastic clamping on to my earlobes, I really start feeling that pressure. Not exactly pain, but definitely fatigue — and it feels good to take them off.
Some are fine with the pinch, others will find it fatiguing | Image by PhoneArena
This experience will be highly personal, as everyone's ears are unique and different. But, for what it's worth, know that these may not be appropriate for full-day use. If you already have experience with clip-ons from the past, you probably know where your tolerance lies.
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Hoop earbuds like the Nothing Ear (open) may be more comfortable for all-day use, but they do conflict with glasses if you happen to wear them. And, for some reason, they don't seem to be as trendy as clip-ons are in 2026.
The design of the buds is pretty cool. In the quirky, deliberate shape style of Nothing. And I like the tha multimedia controls are not done via a touch pad but I actually have buttons on each of the buds to physically press.
Volume and playback control on the case | Image by PhoneArena
The case also continues the trend of CMF earbud cases having a huge fidget spinner on them. Well, it's actually a volume control when you turn it, and a play/pause button when you press it in. But you can disable its functions and literally use it to fidget with.
The earbuds are rated IP54 — capable to withstand splashes and keep dust away. The case itself is IPX2 rated, meaning it has limited protection against water drops.
CMF Clip Pro Sound Quality
These have bass! | Image by PhoneArena
Nothing has come a long, long way from its very first product. The original Ear (1) earbuds... did not sound good. Nowadays, it seems like every Nothing or CMF audio product that comes out is just on point.
Such is the case with the CMF Clip Pro. Mind you, these are earbuds where the driver sits outside your ear, so I wasn't expecting deep bass or sweet highs. However, these manage to deliver a pretty balanced, satisfying sound. And, in fact, I get a big, comfy, soft bed of bass to lay my thoughts over, as the earbuds softly play the soundtrack to my life.
I tried pushing them to crackle or become unpleasant — out-of-ear buds usually start being nasty beyond 80% volume. The CMF Clip Pros held it together quite well.
Since they are a non-flagship audio product from Nothing, you do get access to the basic EQ controls, but not the Advanced one. I still managed to fine-tune them to be pleasant for me. Again, expectations for open earbuds are to be able to maintain a "moderate volume" soundtrack and let you hear the outside world. These pulled it off beautifully.
They do bleed sound, especially if you overdo it on the volume. The app has an anti-leakage mode which severely limits the frequencies and the quality of the audio. But if you are taking a call that must remain private, you should use this. Or, I don't know, bring that phone in your pocket up to your ear or something.
Mic quality is as OK as it gets with Bluetooth earbuds. I still felt more comfortable just reaching for my phone, as some callers were complaining about bad or muffled audio.
CMF Clip Pro connectivity
Quick to connect out of the case | Image by PhoneArena
We've got support for Android's Fast Pair and Windows' Swift Pair, making it pretty easy to hook these up out of the box. They do support Dual connection (Bluetooth Multipoint) but you have to enable it from the Nothing X app first. In any case, do download the app as it opens up a lot of useful personalization for the earbuds anyway.
They connect via Bluetooth 5.4, which is a brag-worthy upgrade for $99 buds really. Technically, we haven't seen actual audio improvements since Bluetooth 5.2, but BT 5.4 does improve stability and reconnection speeds. Plus, chips that support 5.4 are, theoretically, ready for potential new features down the line.
Conclusion
No wireless charging, not much of a problem | Image by PhoneArena
Overall, these are good. If I, personally, could wear clip-on buds for prolonged periods, they would stay in my tech bag daily. They sound better than they have the right to, they are a fun design, I like fiddling with the case, and I like the buttons on the buds.
For $99, they are a solid audio product and competitor to all the other clip-ons out there.
Preslav, a member of the PhoneArena team since 2014, is a mobile technology enthusiast with a penchant for integrating tech into his hobbies and work. Whether it's writing articles on an iPad Pro, recording band rehearsals with multiple phones, or exploring the potential of mobile gaming through services like GeForce Now and Steam Link, Preslav's approach is hands-on and innovative. His balanced perspective allows him to appreciate both Android and iOS ecosystems, focusing on performance, camera quality, and user experience over brand loyalty.
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