Reasons to Buy

• CMF Buds Neo offer a stylish and comfortable design that works well for long listening sessions.
• The 12.4mm drivers deliver a fun, bass-heavy sound that suits casual listening.
• Up to 35dB ANC works surprisingly well for a budget TWS pair.
• Bluetooth 6 and dual connectivity make the earbuds versatile for phone and laptop users.
• At Rs. 1,999, the Buds Neo pack enough features to make them a strong value-for-money option.

CMF has built its reputation around making tech products that look different without making them expensive. The Buds Neo follow that same philosophy.

At Rs. 1,999, these earbuds sit firmly in the budget category. Yet CMF has managed to include features that you normally start looking for at a higher price. There is active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 6, dual connectivity and support for the Nothing X app.

So, the interesting question is not whether the Buds Neo are affordable. They clearly are. The real question is whether they offer enough of an overall experience to make them worth choosing over the many budget TWS options available today.

After spending time with them, I think they make a convincing case.

A design that feels distinctly CMF

The Buds Neo don’t look like generic budget earbuds.

The charging case has the familiar square shape associated with CMF products. Its matte exterior keeps the design understated, while the corner-mounted rotating ring adds some character. It also serves as a convenient place to attach a lanyard.

The earbuds take a slightly different approach. Their stems have a matte texture, while the main housing gets a glossy finish. The combination looks neat and gives the Buds Neo some personality.

Comfort is another positive. The earbuds are very light, so they don’t feel tiring during extended listening. CMF also provides three ear-tip sizes, which helped me get a reasonably secure fit.

The IP54 rating is useful for everyday use as well. It provides some protection from dust and light splashes, although these are not earbuds I would take swimming.

Bass lovers will enjoy the sound

The audio tuning makes the Buds Neo’s target audience fairly obvious.

Their 12.4mm dynamic drivers deliver a warm presentation with a noticeable emphasis on bass. That makes the earbuds particularly enjoyable with tracks where the low end drives the experience.

Bollywood music sounds lively, while game soundtracks get a little more impact. Vocals don’t disappear into the bass either. However, listeners who prefer a flatter or more analytical sound may find the tuning less appealing.

Fortunately, you don’t have to stick with the default sound. The Nothing X app includes six EQ presets, giving you an easy way to experiment with the output.

For everyday listening, though, I found the default tuning enjoyable enough.

ANC is the real value addition

This is probably the feature that makes the Buds Neo stand out most at this price.

CMF claims up to 35dB of active noise cancellation, and the feature does make a noticeable difference. Constant sounds such as office chatter, air conditioning and general indoor noise become less distracting.

It isn’t magic, of course. Traffic and sudden sounds can still make their way through. Still, the ANC does enough to make music and podcasts easier to enjoy in noisy surroundings.

The microphones also perform reasonably well during calls. Voices stayed understandable even when there was traffic around me.

Connectivity is better than expected

The Buds Neo support Bluetooth 6, along with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. That makes initial setup straightforward across compatible devices.

Then there is dual connectivity. This is particularly handy if you frequently switch between a smartphone and computer.

The experience isn’t completely automatic, though. I had to pause playback on one device before switching to the other. Even with that limitation, having the feature at Rs. 1,999 adds genuine convenience.

Battery life won’t be a concern

Battery performance is another area where the Buds Neo score well.

CMF claims up to 52 hours of total playback with the case when ANC is switched off. That gives the earbuds plenty of endurance for regular users.

Quick charging also comes in handy. A 10-minute charge can deliver around five hours of playback. Therefore, even if you forget to charge them overnight, a short charging session can get you through a substantial part of the day.

Verdict

The CMF Buds Neo aren’t trying to reinvent wireless earbuds. Instead, they focus on the features that matter most to people buying a budget pair.

They sound fun, fit comfortably and provide useful ANC. Battery life is strong, while Bluetooth 6 and dual connectivity make them more versatile than their price suggests.

There are compromises. You don’t get wear detection, and the absence of a physical pairing button may occasionally be inconvenient. However, neither issue feels significant enough to change my overall recommendation.

At Rs. 1,999, the CMF Buds Neo are a well-rounded option for anyone who wants affordable TWS earbuds without settling for a bare-bones experience.