CMF’s first headphones prove that simplicity in design still works

Among the new players in tech, Nothing is undoubtedly the one that has leveraged design in the smartest and most recognizable way. In just a few years it has created a language you may love or hate, but that rarely leaves you indifferent. Its peak expression comes with smartphones, whose aesthetic codes are inspired by a new Space Age, complete with luminous functions that turn the back into a parallel display. The same identity extends to its earbuds and the recent Headphone (1): redundant, baroque, excessive, Kubrickian — and yet unique.

But Nothing is also CMF, its more affordable sub-brand that takes the opposite path. Even in the name — Color, Material, Finish — the focus is on simplicity and modularity, with a clear nod to design. The new Headphone Pro embody this philosophy: soft, pop forms; three base colors (pastel green, light gray, dark gray); and interchangeable ear pads that let you play with combinations — reminiscent of Dyson’s OnTrac (unsurprising, given that Adam Bates, head of design at Nothing, comes from Dyson, after an early collaboration with Teenage Engineering).

The Headphone Pro are, both visually and in daily use, a perfect expression of Gen Z aesthetics. Bold without being aggressive, colorful without being tiring, they embody a kind of perpetual coziness — as if they belonged in a Gustaf Westman × Ikea collection. Pleasant and cheerful without the anxiety of being performative.

Worn for several days, what stands out first is their lightness: they don’t weigh on the head, and around the neck they don’t feel bulky. The cushions are soft, the headband well padded, giving an almost “welcoming” impression. They’re comfortable both during long listening sessions and when simply resting on the neck.

The design is essential: while the modularity of colors recalls Dyson’s headphones, everything else is far from the heaviness of the OnTrac. The lines are rounded and smooth, never segmented, almost fading into the everyday. An object that doesn’t aim to impress, but to accompany. The headphones don’t fold, but they are flat enough to slip easily into a backpack alongside a laptop, tablet, or book.

Another distinctive trait is control management. Where most competitors opt for touch, here — as with the Headphone (1) — Nothing sticks to physical controls. CMF’s headphones feature the Roller (a wheel for volume, play/pause, ANC), plus the new Energy Slider: moving it adjusts bass or treble weight in real time. There’s also a customizable button for extra functions such as Spatial Audio.

At first the controls may feel “too many,” but after a couple of days they become natural. The physicality of the gesture is comfortable and intuitive, especially if you don’t want to keep touching your phone. That said, some hands may find the buttons a little small.

The design simplicity of the Headphone Pro doesn’t stop at the object. With the Nothing X app you unlock another layer of customization: from assigning functions to each button to equalization and Personal Sound, which adapts frequencies to your hearing. This is where CMF’s philosophy — simplicity on the outside, modularity inside — finds one of its strongest expressions: a clear interface that makes features normally reserved for more expensive headphones accessible.

The Headphone Pro carry three HD microphones, paired with an Environmental Noise Cancellation system designed to isolate the voice even in complex environments. As Stuff notes: “The onboard mics do a decent enough job for voice calls, even if wind noise is more noticeable here than on more expensive pairs of headphones.”

Despite their light build and soft materials, the headphones are designed to last: CMF subjected them to more than 60 reliability tests, from drop and twist resistance to extreme environmental conditions. A detail that completes the narrative of a design that is not only about looks, but also robustness and durability.

Cmf Headphone Pro. Video courtesy Nothing

The price is entry-level — €99 — but the specs are closer to the upper tier. Custom 40 mm nickel-plated drivers deliver Hi-Res audio with LDAC up to 990 kbps, with clarity and reduced distortion. Personal Sound calibrates playback to your hearing, while Spatial Audio offers Cinema and Concert modes for movies and music.

As CreativeBloq points out: “The result is audio that’s robust, punchy, and clear … the personalised Audiodo sound profile … adds a premium touch, adapting playback to your ears.”

The sound is balanced, with good treble detail and a low end that can be tuned with the slider — never excessive (forget the Beats of a few years ago). The result is solid, especially for the price.

Active Noise Cancellation reaches up to 40 dB, adapting automatically to the environment: on the subway or in a crowded café it isolates well, even if not with the precision of premium models.

Battery life is the true strong point: about 100 hours of listening, or 50 with ANC on. In practice, you forget the cable for days. And with just five minutes of charging you get four hours of music — during testing, one of the most appreciated features. The Headphone Pro don’t aim to impress. They’re simple, pop, accessible objects that bring high-end features down to €99. Soft, colorful, modular, with physical controls that restore tactile pleasure, they represent a different approach: not born as “statement” headphones, but as headphones to be used lightly — so much so that they become a statement in reverse.