cmf Clip Pro – Open-ear Headphones with 3-point Clip Design, Smart Dial and LDAC

Open-ear headphones depend on balance in more than one sense. They must remain comfortable and secure without sealing the ear canal, while delivering music and speech clearly despite the intentionally open construction. As the first product of its kind from cmf, a brand of technology company Nothing Technologies Limited, the cmf Clip Pro address this challenge with a 3-point clip, a 10.8 mm Dual-Magnet Driver and a compact control concept centred on the charging case.

Key Facts cmf Clip Pro

• First open-ear headphones from cmf
• 3-point clip design with a flexible titanium-wire C-Bridge
• Weight of 5.9 g per earpiece
• Dynamic 10.8 mm Dual-Magnet Driver with TPU and LCP diaphragm
• Frequency range from 20 Hz to 40 kHz
• Hi-res Audio Wireless certification and Sony LDAC
• Four microphones with VPU-assisted Clear Voice Technology
• Configurable Smart Dial on the charging case
• Up to ten hours of playback from the earpieces
• Up to 32.5 hours of total playback with the charging case
• Bluetooth 5.4, Dual Device Connection and Low Latency Mode
• IP54 protection for the earpieces
• Available in Dark Grey, Light Grey and Coral

A different approach to everyday listening

The cmf Clip Pro do not use ear tips and are not inserted into the ear canal. Instead, the acoustic capsule sits immediately in front of it and directs the sound towards the ear. Traffic, conversations and other surrounding noises therefore remain perceptible.

This open arrangement can be useful while commuting, working in an office or exercising, but it also creates a specific engineering problem. The earpieces must hold their position reliably without becoming uncomfortable, while the drivers need to compensate for some of the acoustic losses inherent in a design that does not seal the ear.

cmf has responded with a compact construction and a clip mechanism developed specifically for this purpose.

Three contact points instead of an ear tip

The 3-point design is intended to distribute pressure across three areas of the ear. At its centre is a slim C-Bridge containing a core of flexible titanium wire. It adapts to different ear shapes and is designed to keep the earpieces correctly positioned even when the wearer is moving.

The acoustic capsule itself has a deliberately small contact area. Skin-friendly materials and a weight of just 5.9 g per earpiece are intended to make the cmf Clip Pro suitable for extended periods of use rather than short listening sessions alone.

10.8 mm Dual-Magnet Driver with LDAC

A dynamic 10.8 mm Dual-Magnet Driver handles music and speech reproduction. Its diaphragm combines TPU and LCP, while the specified frequency range extends from 20 Hz to 40 kHz.

Alongside SBC and AAC, the cmf Clip Pro support the Sony LDAC codec and carry Hi-res Audio Wireless certification. This allows compatible source devices to transmit audio at a higher data rate than conventional Bluetooth codecs.

Bass reproduction is a particular challenge for an open acoustic design because low frequencies can dissipate more readily than they do with sealed in-ear headphones. cmf Ultra Bass Technology is therefore used to reinforce the lower range while, according to the manufacturer, reducing distortion at higher frequencies. Five EQ presets, a customisable equaliser and Static Spatial Audio provide further options for adapting the presentation.

Four microphones for calls in noisy surroundings

Each earpiece contains two microphones. Working with a VPU, the four-microphone array forms the basis of cmf Clear Voice Technology, which is designed to distinguish speech from wind and ambient noise in real time.

The system is intended for calls made in situations such as busy streets, cafés and offices, where the open construction allows external noise to remain audible by design. Clear Voice Technology is therefore not merely an additional feature but an important part of making the open-ear concept practical for telephone use.

cmf also equips the Clip Pro with its Sound Seal System. By controlling midrange and high-frequency output, the technology is intended to reduce the extent to which people nearby can hear music or conversations. The Nothing X app allows Sound Seal to be activated for calls alone or for audio playback as well.

A Smart Dial on the charging case

One of the more distinctive aspects of the cmf Clip Pro is not located on either earpiece. The charging case carries a physical rotary control called the cmf Smart Dial, which can be configured for volume adjustment, playback control, answering calls and Bluetooth pairing. Frequently used functions can therefore be accessed without taking the smartphone out of a pocket or bag.

Physical buttons are also fitted to the earpieces. Single, double and triple presses, as well as a press-and-hold command, can be assigned to different operations. Compared with touch-sensitive surfaces, this form of control may prove particularly useful during exercise or when wearing gloves.

Up to 32,5 hours with the charging case

The earpieces are rated for up to ten hours of music playback from one charge. With the charging case, the specified total rises to 32.5 hours, while Long Battery Life Mode extends that figure to as much as 36 hours.

For calls, cmf quotes up to 6.5 hours from the earpieces and up to 25 hours in total with the charging case. A ten-minute fast charge is said to provide enough power for a further four hours of music playback. The case is charged via USB-C.

Bluetooth 5.4 and the Nothing X app

Wireless connectivity is based on Bluetooth 5.4. Dual Device Connection allows the headphones to remain connected to two source devices simultaneously, while Low Latency Mode is intended to reduce the delay during games and video playback.

Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair are supported for faster setup with compatible devices. Available for Apple iOS and Google Android, the Nothing X app provides access to button assignments, equaliser settings and the Sound Seal System. It is also used for firmware updates and to locate misplaced earpieces.

The earpieces meet the requirements of protection class IP54 and are therefore protected against dust and splashing water. The charging case is rated to IPX2.

The Most Important Advantages at a Glance

• Awareness of the surroundings: The open construction leaves traffic, conversations and other external sounds perceptible.
• Low weight: Each cmf Clip Pro earpiece weighs only 5,9 g.
• Pressure distributed across three points: The clip system is intended to provide a secure and comfortable fit during extended use.
• Higher-rate Bluetooth transmission: Sony LDAC is available with compatible source devices.
• Clearer calls: Four microphones and VPU-assisted processing are designed to suppress disruptive ambient noise.
• Reduced sound leakage: Sound Seal is intended to improve privacy during calls and music playback.
• Direct control from the case: The configurable Smart Dial provides access to frequently used functions.
• Battery capacity for a full day: Total playback time of up to 32.5 hours reduces the need for frequent charging.

Price & Availability

The cmf Clip Pro are offered in Dark Grey, Light Grey and Coral. They are available immediately on pre-sale from amazon.de, as well as from Digitec and Brack in Switzerland. Regular retail availability is scheduled for 1st September 2026. The recommended retail price is € 79,95 or CHF 69,-.

Getting to the Point

An open-ear design inevitably asks the headphones to maintain a secure fit and credible tonal balance without isolating the listener from the outside world. cmf approaches that task with a thoughtfully designed 3-point clip, low earpiece weight and a feature set that is notably comprehensive for this price category.

The freely configurable Smart Dial is the clearest point of distinction in a rapidly expanding market. Whether cmf Ultra Bass Technology and Sound Seal perform as Nothing Technologies Limited claims under everyday conditions will require a practical test.

Technical Specifications