CMF by Nothing, the budget sub-brand of consumer electronics maker Nothing, has announced its first pair of open-ear earbuds. The CMF Clip Pro, priced at $99, is scheduled to reach buyers on August 15. The product was unveiled on August 4 (Android Central).

Unlike most earbuds that go inside your ear canal, the Clip Pro clips onto the outside of your ear. CMF uses what it calls a "3-point clip design" to spread pressure evenly, and each earbud weighs just 5.9 grams. The earbuds have 10.8mm speakers with a feature called Ultra Bass Technology, which the company says boosts low sounds while keeping high sounds clear. They are Hi-Res Certified and work with the LDAC, AAC, and SBC Bluetooth formats, meaning they can handle high-quality audio on Android phones as well as basic connections across all kinds of devices (Engadget.

For phone calls, four HD microphones are designed to pick up your voice while filtering out background noise. Battery life is 10 hours of listening on a full charge, with 32.5 hours total when you count the charging case. A 10-minute charge gives you four hours of listening time.

The charging case has a feature Nothing calls Smart Dial, which is a physical knob you turn to control volume, play or pause music, and manage calls, right from the case itself. The earbuds can connect to two devices at the same time, include a low-latency mode for gaming, and support Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair for quick setup. They have an IP54 rating, meaning they resist water splashes and dust. Three colors are available: Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Coral.

Open-ear earbuds serve a particular purpose. Because they sit outside the ear rather than sealing it, they let surrounding sounds through, which is useful for outdoor activities, staying aware of your environment, or simply wearing them comfortably for long stretches. The trade-off has traditionally been weaker bass and less sound blocking compared to earbuds that seal inside the ear. CMF's combination of larger speakers, bass-boosting technology, and high-quality audio support appears aimed at closing that gap.

At $99, the Clip Pro costs well below what most established audio brands charge for open-ear models. Getting LDAC support, dual-device pairing, and a physical dial at this price is uncommon. Nothing has made a habit of adding design touches and physical controls to products in price ranges where competitors usually stick to basic touch controls and fewer features. The Smart Dial continues that approach, giving users a knob they can turn instead of relying on touch-sensitive surfaces, which can be awkward with clip-on earbuds.

For anyone comparing the Clip Pro to traditional in-ear earbuds, the open-ear design does come with built-in compromises. Bass, noise blocking, and maximum volume will not match a snug in-ear pair at a similar price. The appeal here is for people who want to stay aware of their surroundings, need all-day comfort, or find in-ear pressure uncomfortable. The light weight and clip design suggest attention to long-term wear, though comfort will depend on the shape of each person's ears.

The August 15 release gives CMF a mid-August retail window. With three colors and a price under $100, the Clip Pro aims to be an easy way into the open-ear category for consumers who may have been put off by higher prices from other brands.