CMF Buds Neo Review | Stylish, affordable earbuds punch above their price
| Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
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. At ₹1,999, the Buds Neo comes with features such as ANC, dual connectivity and a Nothing X app, making them an interesting option in the budget TWS segment.Design and FitThe buds look Neo the moment you take them out of the box.The CMF Buds Neo continues the brand’s familiar design language with a square charging case, rounded corners and a matte finish. The rotating ring in the corner now doubles as a lanyard attachment, while the USB Type-C port and LED indicator keep things simple.The earbuds themselves combine matte stems with a glossy main body and feel quite well-built for the price. They are also extremely light, and I found them comfortable even during longer listening sessions. The included silicone tips in three sizes make it easier to find a secure fit, while the IP54 rating adds some protection against dust, sweat and light splashes. You can wear them to gym.SoundThe Buds Neo uses 12.4mm dynamic drivers and goes for a warm, bass-forward sound signature. The bass gets plenty of emphasis, while the mids remain reasonably clear and the treble takes a slight back seat.I enjoyed this tuning for casual listening, particularly with bass-heavy Bollywood tracks and game soundtracks. Softer tracks also sounded pleasant, although these earbuds are clearly not aimed at listeners looking for a neutral presentation. The Nothing X app offers six EQ presets, giving you some control over the sound.ANCThe biggest surprise here is the ANC. The Buds Neo offers up to 35dB of noise cancellation, and it works quite well for the price. It does a fine job of reducing constant background sounds in offices, cafeterias and at home, while traffic noise is softened even if it isn’t completely eliminated.Call quality is also dependable, with the microphones handling background noise reasonably well. Even in traffic, voices remained clear enough for conversations.Connectivity and BatteryBluetooth 6, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and dual connectivity make the Buds Neo versatile. Switching between a laptop and a phone does require manually pausing the playback, but the feature remains useful.Battery life is rated at up to 52 hours with the case and ANC off, while a 10-minute charge can provide around five hours of playback. That should be more than enough for most users.VerdictThe CMF Buds Neo gets the important things right. They offer good sound, effective ANC, comfortable design, reliable connectivity and impressive battery life without stretching the budget.The lack of wear detection and a physical pairing button are minor omissions, but at ₹1,999, they are easy to overlook. If you want stylish, affordable earbuds that punch above their price, the CMF Buds Neo is an easy recommendation. Published - August 31, 2026 12:55 pm IST
