I’m privileged to be able to test headsets like the $1,699 Audeze MM-500 and $1,999 IEMs like the Thieaudio Valhalla, but there’s a joy in using budget products that I don’t get when testing high-end audio gear. If nothing else, I don’t have to be quite as careful about how I handle the products, and that’s true of the CMF Headphone Pro.
CMF started out as a Nothing sub-brand that’s focused on affordability, but it’s now its own entity, and that clear focus on value hasn’t changed — thankfully. The Headphone Pro is its latest product, and just like it did with the Buds Pro 2 and the CMF phone, the headset has an eye-catching design, and a slate of features that belie its asking price. The Headphone Pro costs just $79 on Amazon U.S., and it’s just as affordable in India, where it’s available for ₹6,999 ($76).
As with everything else CMF makes, the Headphone Pro just doesn’t look like a budget product. The design is meant to stand out, and it does that quite definitively — the Light Green model I’m using is great to look at, and if you need something with added flair, you can easily get orange interchangeable ear cushions.
That’s the second part of what makes the Headphone Pro so distinctive: its modularity. You can switch out the ear cushions with just a twist, and CMF has plenty of styles that let you accessorize the headset with ease. I used several headsets in the past where it was possible to change the cushions, but it wasn’t quite as easy as it was here.
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The ear cushions and headband have good padding, and while the design isn’t vented, I didn’t feel uncomfortable even with extended use. The headset is on the lighter side at 283g, and that weight is distributed well along the headband. It’s all made out of plastic, but the build quality is good, and I didn’t see any problems in the week I used the headset. If anything, the Headphone Pro looks better than most high-end headsets I used.
My favorite feature is the physical controls; this is why I use the Nothing Headphone 1 over costlier models, and it’s exciting to see CMF continue that trend. You get the usual power button and dedicated control to invoke Google Gemini, and there’s also a volume knob, and a bass slider on the left. Look, I prefer a balanced sound, but I’ll admit that it’s just fun to be able to boost the bass on a particular track just by using a physical slider.
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There are other niceties included: you get actual ANC, and while it doesn’t quite hold up as well as my Bose headset, it does an effective job in most situations. You get spatial audio as well, along with Google’s Fast Pair, and even a low-latency mode. Basically, there isn’t much missing on the Headphone Pro.
The headset charges via USB-C, and it gets fast charging as standard — a five-minute charge gives you four hours of music playback. CMF touts a 100-hour battery, but that’s with most features disabled; realistically, you’ll see around 35 to 40 hours based on your usage.
There’s also a 3.5mm port on the left, and you can connect the headset this way if you just want to plug in (there’s a 3.5mm cable included). CMF bundles a cloth carrying bag, and the headset folds flat, so taking it around in a bag didn’t prove to be much of a hassle.
Elsewhere, the Headphone Pro comes with the LDAC codec, so you should get high-res audio on most devices; if not, it switches over to AAC or SBC. I tested the headset with my Find X9 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro, and I didn’t have any issues with connectivity or range whatsoever.
Coming to the sound, the headset has custom 40mm drivers, and it has similar tuning as other CMF and Nothing products. The headset lends itself well to easy listening sessions, and while there’s a slight bass exuberance, it doesn’t bleed into the other frequencies, and on the whole, I really like how it sounds.
There really isn’t a budget headset that sounds anywhere as refined as the Headphone Pro, and when you combine all the extras — the design, physical controls, and battery life — you’re getting a product that’s a downright steal. CMF is proving time and again that it knows how to deliver budget products you actually want to use, and the Headphone Pro is no different. I like it just as much as my Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, and the fun design, great sound, and modularity makes it an easy recommendation.
If you’re in need of a new headset, don’t bother looking at other brands — you should just get the CMF Headphone Pro.
The Headphone Pro looks and sounds better than any other budget headset I used, and the interchangeable ear cushions add a playfulness that you don’t see in this category.
