August 5, 2026 — Nothing's sub-brand CMF has officially entered the open-ear earbuds market with the launch of the Clip Pro, its first clip-style wireless earbuds priced at $99 [citation:2][citation:7].

The Clip Pro arrives in a category that is growing rapidly. According to IDC data, the global open-ear earbuds market grew 39.9% year-over-year in Q1 2026, with clip-style earbuds now accounting for 54.3% of all open-ear shipments — their highest share yet [citation:5][citation:10].

What makes the Clip Pro interesting is not just the price — it's the feature set CMF has managed to include at that price point. In a market where many sub-$100 clip earbuds cut corners on audio quality and connectivity, the Clip Pro offers Hi-Res Audio, LDAC support, and a unique physical interface through the charging case [citation:1][citation:7].

Specs & Performance: What $99 Gets You

CMF has packed the Clip Pro with specifications that would have been considered premium just two years ago.

Audio Hardware

The Clip Pro features 10.8mm dual-magnet dynamic drivers with TPU and LCP diaphragms, a combination designed to deliver balanced sound across the frequency range [citation:7][citation:12]. The drivers support a frequency response of 20Hz to 40,000Hz and are Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified [citation:7].

The earbuds support LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs, making them one of the few sub-$100 open-ear models to offer high-resolution wireless audio [citation:1][citation:2].

A reviewer at 雷科技 noted that the Clip Pro sounds noticeably better than expected for an open-ear design, with the bass holding up better than most clip-style earbuds [citation:1]. The design — an asymmetric C-shaped bridge — positions the driver closer to the ear canal, which improves sound delivery and reduces the thin, distant sound common in this category [citation:1].

Smart Dial: A Physical Interface for Control

One of the Clip Pro's most distinctive features is the Smart Dial on the charging case [citation:1][citation:7]. The metal, knurled dial rotates for volume control and can be pressed for playback control and call management [citation:1][citation:11].

A reviewer described it as "satisfying to fidget with" and noted that it solves a real problem for runners: adjusting volume or skipping tracks without stopping to tap tiny earbud buttons [citation:1].

Battery and Connectivity

Call Quality and AI Features

The Clip Pro uses four microphones with a VPU-powered processing system and Elephant Sound AI for voice enhancement [citation:7][citation:12]. A Sound Seal feature in the Nothing X app aims to reduce audio leakage [citation:7].

Competition: How the Clip Pro Stacks Up

The $99 price point puts the Clip Pro in direct competition with several well-established clip-style open-ear earbuds.

EarFun Clip 2 ($79-$99)

The EarFun Clip 2 is PCMag's Editors' Choice for open-style earbuds, praised for its "punchy, energetic audio," all-day comfort, and 11-hour battery life [citation:3][citation:13].

Key differences:

• Drivers: EarFun uses a larger 12mm driver compared to CMF's 10.8mm [citation:3]
• Bluetooth: EarFun has Bluetooth 6.0, which is newer than the Clip Pro's 5.4 [citation:3]
• AI Translation: EarFun offers AI translation built into its app, though it's labeled "limited-time free" [citation:3][citation:13]
• Battery: EarFun offers 40 hours total battery vs. CMF's 32.5 hours [citation:3]
• Price: EarFun is listed at $79.99, which is $20 below CMF [citation:3]
• Fit: One reviewer found the EarFun Clip 2 didn't fit their ears as well as the Baseus option [citation:9]

Baseus Bowie MC2 (~$69)

The Baseus Bowie MC2 has been called "one of the best budget clip-on earbuds" by CNET, with a list price of $80 that frequently drops to $60-$70 [citation:4][citation:9].

Key differences:

• IP rating: Baseus has IP67, significantly better than CMF's IP54 [citation:4][citation:9]
• Bluetooth: Baseus also uses Bluetooth 6.0 [citation:9]
• Battery: Baseus offers 55 hours total battery — substantially more than CMF [citation:4]
• Fit: CNET's reviewer found the Baseus fit more secure than the EarFun [citation:9]
• Weight: Baseus is lighter at 5.1g per earbud vs. CMF's 5.9g [citation:4]
• Price: Baseus is typically $20-$30 cheaper [citation:4]

Our Perspective: The Clip Pro's Market Opportunity

CMF enters a category that is both fast-growing and increasingly crowded. IDC data shows that clip-style earbuds now account for over half of all open-ear shipments, up more than 10 percentage points from a year ago [citation:5][citation:10]. The market is large enough to support multiple players — but the competition is fierce.

Where the Clip Pro wins: The Smart Dial is genuinely useful in a way that isn't just a gimmick. The Hi-Res Audio certification and LDAC support at $99 is a legitimate differentiator. And the CMF design language — even without the transparent Nothing look — is distinctive enough to stand out on a shelf.

Where it loses: The Bluetooth 5.4 is a real limitation in a category where competitors have moved to 6.0 [citation:6]. The clip's asymmetric C-bridge design seems to work well for some ears and less well for others [citation:1]. The IP54 rating is fine for daily use but doesn't match the IP67 of the Baseus MC2 [citation:4][citation:9].

The broader question: Is the Smart Dial enough to justify paying $20 more than the EarFun Clip 2 and $30 more than the Baseus Bowie MC2? For users who value physical controls and appreciate CMF's design philosophy, yes — it's a meaningful improvement in daily usability. For users who just want the best specs for the lowest price, the competition offers more.

CMF is betting that the Smart Dial and LDAC support will tip the balance. In a market where feature lists are increasingly similar, that bet is not unreasonable.

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Key Takeaways