CMF Buds Neo are Nothing's next budget earbuds — launching August 20

By: Anton Kratiuk | today, 14:24

Nothing's sub-brand CMF is launching a new pair of budget true wireless earbuds called the Buds Neo on August 20. The announcement comes just weeks after the CMF Clip Pro open-ear earbuds went on sale, and confirms the company's deliberate push into audio over smartphones — a shift confirmed by co-founder Akis Evangelidis, who said phones take a back seat until a planned 2027 lineup expansion.

The dial returns

The teaser video shows a charging case with a physical rotatable dial — the same design trick CMF used on the Clip Pro case. Whether the dial controls playback, volume, or is purely decorative isn't clear yet. Three color variants are visible: grey with an orange accent, black/navy with a teal detail, and an all-black option. No specs have been released — driver size, battery life, ANC support, and codec compatibility are all unknown for now.

The Buds Neo have already cleared regulatory hurdles, picking up certifications in India (May 29) and Indonesia (June 2), per 91mobiles — a reliable sign that a commercial launch is close.


CMF Buds Neo teaser showing the charging case with physical dial and color variants.

The crowded $30–$50 shelf

CMF is targeting the busiest price bracket in wireless audio. Budget TWS earbuds accounted for roughly 25% of the 450 million units sold globally in 2024. In the US and UK, the Buds Neo will likely square up against the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE (around £49 / $62) and sub-£40 options like the Soundcore Space A40 and Edifier TWS2NB.

CMF's track record helps. The Buds 2 and Buds 2a (April 2025) earned praise for delivering solid value at their price points. The Clip Pro undercut rivals like the Sony LinkBuds at £79 for open-ear audio, reports T3. If the Buds Neo land at a similar relative price, the dial case could be a genuine differentiator — assuming it does something useful.

Availability

An August 20 presentation is confirmed. Pricing and on-sale dates for the US and UK haven't been announced. Based on the Clip Pro rollout — UK pre-order from August 15, wider availability after — expect a similar phased release, with Europe likely following in September.