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A CMF Headphone Pro review almost writes its own headline because the battery figure is difficult to ignore. Nothing’s budget-focused CMF brand claims up to 100 hours of playback with active noise cancellation switched off and up to 50 hours with ANC enabled.
At £79 in the UK, that is an unusually aggressive specification. The headphones also support LDAC, adaptive noise cancellation, wired listening and customisable physical controls.
Battery Life Is the Star
Nothing rates the Headphone Pro for up to 100 hours of AAC playback with ANC off at moderate volume. With ANC enabled, the official figure drops to around 50 hours.
LDAC uses more power. Nothing lists up to 70 hours with LDAC and ANC off, or around 38 hours with LDAC and ANC active.
Those are laboratory figures, so volume, signal strength and listening habits will change the result. Even a sizeable reduction still leaves the Headphone Pro with excellent endurance.
Fast charging helps too. A five-minute charge can provide several hours of playback, depending on whether ANC is active.
Sound and LDAC
CMF uses 40mm dynamic drivers and supports SBC, AAC and LDAC over Bluetooth. LDAC is useful for compatible Android devices because it can transmit more audio data than basic Bluetooth codecs.
Codec support should not be confused with automatic sound quality. Driver tuning, fit and recording quality still matter more than a logo.
The Nothing X app provides EQ settings and a personalised hearing profile, giving users more control than many headphones at this price.
Physical Controls Are a Welcome Choice
Instead of relying entirely on touch panels, CMF uses tactile controls. The roller can adjust volume and playback, while a separate button can be customised for selected functions.
Physical controls are easier to operate without looking and are less likely to trigger accidentally when adjusting the headphones.
CMF also uses interchangeable ear cushions, allowing the pads to be replaced or mixed with different colours.
Active Noise Cancellation
The Headphone Pro uses hybrid adaptive ANC. It is designed to reduce steady background noise such as engines and ventilation systems.
Do not expect £79 headphones to outperform the most expensive Bose or Sony models in every situation. The point is that competent ANC is now available in a much cheaper product.
Transparency mode is also useful when you need to hear announcements or talk briefly without removing the headphones.
Wired Listening
A 3.5mm input gives the Headphone Pro another practical advantage. You can connect it to an aircraft entertainment system, older laptop or audio interface without depending on Bluetooth.
Nothing does not support USB-C digital audio on this model, so the USB-C port is primarily for charging.
Comfort and Portability
The soft ear cushions and adjustable headband are designed for long listening sessions. Because the battery lasts so long, comfort becomes particularly important.
The main portability compromise is size. Over-ear headphones take more bag space than earbuds, and this design is less compact than models with aggressively folding hinges.
Pros
- Up to 100 hours claimed battery life
- Around 50 hours with ANC enabled
- LDAC support
- 3.5mm wired input
- Physical controls
- Nothing X app
- Replaceable ear cushions
- Excellent price
Cons
- Bulkier than earbuds
- ANC will not match the best premium models
- No USB-C audio
- LDAC reduces battery life
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Final Verdict
CMF has focused on features people can actually use every day: long battery life, physical controls, wired backup and competent noise cancellation.
That makes the Headphone Pro easy to understand. It does not need to beat £300 headphones at everything. It only needs to deliver a convincing experience at £79.
For travellers, students and anyone tired of charging headphones constantly, it offers unusually strong value.