CMF has lowered the entry point to its audio lineup with the CMF Buds Neo, its most affordable wireless earbuds yet. Priced under Rs 2,000 during the launch period, the new earbuds combine active noise cancellation, a large 12.4mm driver and app-based customisation in a crowded budget TWS market.
CMF Buds Neo design and features
The Buds Neo follows CMF’s design-first approach, with a square charging case featuring a tactile circular dial and contrasting two-tone finish. A built-in lanyard hole adds another practical and quintessential CMF touch. The earbuds and case are available in Black, White and Dark Blue.
For audio, the Buds Neo uses a 12.4mm dynamic driver with a titanium-coated PET dome and PEEK + PU surround. It supports static spatial audio and six EQ presets, while the Nothing X app adds Custom EQ and two levels of Bass Enhancement. Noise cancellation is rated at up to 35dB, with three ANC levels and an Adaptive ANC mode that adjusts to surroundings. Four HD microphones, two on each earbud, work with Clear Voice Technology for calls.
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, total playback drops to 30 hours. A 10-minute charge can provide up to 5.5 hours of playback, while the case takes about 70 minutes to fully charge over USB-C.
The Nothing X app also provides a 120ms low-latency gaming mode, customisable touch controls and dual-device connectivity. Bluetooth 6.0, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair are supported, with compatibility extending to Android 6.0 and newer and iOS 13 and newer.
Price and availability
The CMF Buds Neo will be available in India from August 26th at an exclusive launch price of Rs 1,999 through Flipkart and retail partners including Croma, Reliance Digital and Vijay Sales. It sits below the CMF Buds 2a, which costs Rs 2,399 and offers 42dB ANC, Transparency Mode, Dirac-tuned 12.4mm bio-fibre drivers, dual-device pairing and up to 35.5 hours of battery life.
The Buds Neo will also face new competition from the iQOO Buds TWS, which just launched at Rs 1,899 and claims up to 50 hours of total playback. CMF’s advantage is its combination of ANC, app-based audio controls and a more distinctive design at Rs 1,999. Buyers choosing between the two should look beyond battery claims and consider whether ANC, sound customisation or low-latency gaming matters more for their use.
