{
  "id": 4593720,
  "title": "CMF Buds Neo Review | Stylish, affordable earbuds punch above their price",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/cmf-buds-neo-review-stylish-affordable-earbuds-punch-above-their-price",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-31T07:25:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/gadgets/cmf-buds-neo-review-stylish-affordable-earbuds-punch-above-their-price/article71409990.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The CMF Buds Neo, the third member of the Neo family, aims to deliver a stylish, affordable earbud experience that exceeds expectations given its price. Priced at ₹1,999, these buds come packed with features like active noise cancellation (ANC), dual connectivity, and the Nothing X app, making them a noteworthy choice in the budget true wireless speaker (TWS) segment.\n\nUpon unboxing, the sleek design of the CMF Buds Neo is immediately apparent. The device follows the brand's signature design language with a square charging case, rounded corners, and a matte finish. A notable addition is the rotating ring in the corner, which now doubles as a lanyard attachment. The USB Type-C port and LED indicator keep the design clean and simple, while the earbuds themselves boast a comfortable, well-built construction at a reasonable price point. They are also surprisingly lightweight and comfortable for extended listening sessions.\n\nThe earbuds come with three sizes of included silicone tips, ensuring a secure fit for most users. They have an IP54 rating, providing protection against dust, sweat, and light splashes – making them suitable for workouts and casual outdoor use. The Buds Neo utilize 12.4mm dynamic drivers and deliver a warm, bass-forward sound signature. The emphasis on bass, clear mids, and slightly subdued treble creates a pleasant listening experience, particularly with bass-heavy music like Bollywood tracks and game soundtracks. While softer tracks sound enjoyable, these earbuds are not designed for a neutral sound presentation.\n\nThe Nothing X app provides six EQ presets, allowing users to fine-tune the sound to their liking. The standout feature, however, is the ANC. At up to 35dB of noise cancellation, the Buds Neo effectively reduces background noise in various settings, from offices and cafeterias to streets and airports. While traffic noise is not completely eliminated, it is significantly softened. Call quality is also reliable, with microphones handling background noise well enough for clear conversations, even in noisy environments.\n\nBluetooth 6, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and dual connectivity make the Buds Neo highly versatile, capable of switching between devices seamlessly. However, switching between a laptop and a phone does require manual playback pausing. Battery life is rated at up to 52 hours with the case and ANC turned off, while a mere 10-minute charge grants around five hours of playback – ample for most users.\n\nIn summary, the CMF Buds Neo gets the essentials right. They offer excellent sound quality, effective ANC, comfortable design, dependable connectivity, and impressive battery life, all while remaining well within budget. Though minor omissions like the lack of wear detection and a physical pairing button exist, at ₹1,999, they are easy to overlook. For those seeking stylish, affordable earbuds that exceed their price point, the CMF Buds Neo is a highly recommended choice.",
  "summary": "The third member of the Neo family, the CMF Buds Neo, looks to bring a well-tested combination of style, useful features and good audio at an even more accessible price than its predecessor",
  "key_points": [
    "CMF Buds Neo priced at ₹1,999 with ANC, dual connectivity, and Nothing X app",
    "Sleek design with rotating ring lanyard attachment, IP54 rating for sweat/dust protection",
    "Warm bass-forward sound, 6 EQ presets, effective ANC reducing background noise"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The CMF Buds Neo's blend of style, features, and affordability sets a new benchmark in the budget true wireless earbuds segment, making high-quality sound and effective ANC accessible to more users.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}