CMF Buds Neo in Digit Test Labs: Looks and feels anything but basic

CMF products are known for looking different from the usual budget gadgets. The newly launched CMF Buds Neo follow the same idea. They come at an introductory price of Rs 1999 in India, with a focus on sound, practical features, and everyday use. While I have just started using them today and need more time to test sound quality, ANC performance, call quality, and real-world battery life, I can share my initial thoughts here. And let me tell you, the first few things about the Buds Neo are already clear.

Fun and unique design

Unlike most earbuds with a rounded rectangle or pebble-shaped case, CMF chooses to ship its Buds Neo in a square box. What’s more, this has the CMF-signature large circular rotating dial on the top left corner of the case. It is meant to be used as a fidget toy, and you also get a built-in lanyard hole.

The CMF logo on the front of the case, the corner, and the eartip of the buds share a bright cyan colour, contrasting with the muted grey on the rest of the body.

So, this two-tone design, the dial and lanyard hole, gives it a unique character and could stand out. While I briefly wore the earbuds, they felt fairly comfy. The case is small and easily portable in my jeans pocket. I will spend more time with the fit before commenting on long-term comfort, especially because earbud fit can vary significantly between users.

Promising hardware and a customisable app

The Buds Neo use a 12.4mm dynamic driver. CMF says the driver uses a titanium-coated PET dome and a PEEK + PU surround, with the larger driver designed to move more air and produce fuller bass.

The company also offers a fair amount of control over the sound. The Nothing X app offers six EQ presets, including Pop, Rock, Electronic, Classical, Immersion Boost, and Enhance Vocals, along with a custom EQ. There is also a Bass Enhancement option with two boost levels.

The earbuds also support spatial sound, intended to create a wider sound field for content such as films and concert recordings.

I will reserve my judgement on the actual sound signature and performance until I have spent more time listening to familiar tracks. That will also give me a better idea of how well the Buds Neo handle vocals, bass, and busy mixes.

Besides sound, the earbuds also feature Bluetooth 6.0 and a 120ms low-latency mode.

As for battery life, CMF claims up to 11 hours of playback from the earbuds with ANC off and up to 52 hours including the charging case. With ANC enabled, those figures drop to 8 hours and 30 hours, respectively.

There is also fast charging support. A 10-minute charge is claimed to provide up to 5.5 hours of playback with ANC off.

Also Read: iQOO Buds review: Best TWS earbuds under Rs 2000?

The Buds Neo support up to 35dB of active noise cancellation, with three ANC levels and an Adaptive mode. I wore it and took a stroll around my office campus. The noise cancellation was strong enough for me to hear my heartbeat while walking. I would still test this properly in traffic and other noisy environments before drawing a conclusion.

The earbuds also have four microphones, two on each earbud, along with what CMF calls Clear Voice Technology. The company says this is designed to keep voices clear during outdoor calls and while moving.

So that’s some more things to test. But for now, here’s what I think:

CMF Buds Neo first impressions

CMF Buds Neo’s design, especially the case’s circular dial and dual-tone finish, is what you would first notice. They do not look like a generic budget pair. The case is portable, and the buds seem comfortable. You can see CMF’s approach to bringing its distinctive design and much-sought-after features to the budget segment.

At the launch price of Rs 1999, the company is offering a low latency of up to 120ms, a total battery life of up to 52 hours, up to 35db ANC, a 12.4mm dynamic driver, and a lot of extras and customisation options in the companion app. That’s a feature list more substantial than the price suggests.

But all of those things are yet to be tested, which would answer important questions like: How good is the audio with different types of music? Is the 35dB ANC actually useful on a busy commute? Are calls clear outdoors? And does the battery claim hold up in regular use?

Those are the things I will focus on in the full review.

Until then, keep reading Digit.in for similar stories.

Also Read: A day with the spectacular Hisense 116UX RGB Mini LED TV that costs Rs 30 lakh