The $99 CMF Clip Pro are the open-ear earbuds most people can afford

The $99 CMF Clip Pro wireless earbuds offer open-ear comfort and transparency without sacrificing audio quality too much. In fact, the Clip Pro sound pretty good overall for wireless earbuds in this price category.

Besides their open-ear, clip-on style, they also offer the novelty of media controls on the case. There’s a dial that spins 360 degrees for volume. It can also be clicked to skip, play, and pause media.

I’ve been using the CMF Clip Pro for my daily running, and they’ve worked well. I can still hear traffic and people without plugging up my ears. There’s a lot to like about the CMF Clip Pro. But are they better than the $99 Nothing Ear (3a)?

Deciding between Nothing earbuds and CMF earbuds

In a vacuum, the CMF Clip Pro are terrific entry-level or fitness earbuds. They have solid sound and a good, comfortable form factor.

But if you’re looking for general-purpose, everyday earbuds, then Nothing, CMF’s parent company, recently complicated the choice with its other $99 Ear (3a) buds.

There is some overlap between the two, but if you want active noise cancellation and a more closed-off listening experience, then the Ear (3a) buds work well. They have terrific sound that’s more robust than the Clip Pro.

The CMF Clip Pro buds aren’t without value. They’re a better option for fitness activities and general listening. They keep your ears open to your surroundings, so using them in store or in public spaces might help you stay more engaged.

The Clip Pro are secure enough for running, and even fit kids’ ears

There are a lot of good reasons to seek out open earbuds, but the flexible fit and increased comfort might be the best ones. The CMF Clip Pro wrap around the side of your ears easily. 

They fit my ears as well as my daughter’s. This style of earbuds and the Clip Pro specifically will work for kids. They’re probably a good option because they’re more likely to stay in a kid’s ear without falling out.

I used the Clip Pro for running. Even with the quick-paced movement, the buds didn’t come loose or fall off. They’re suitable for all kinds of vigorous activities.

The volume is a concern, but the sound is good

There are two areas that I have concerns about with the Clip Pro. The first presented itself while running. These earbuds don’t get quite as loud as some similar models from other brands. That becomes an issue when you are in a busy area or loud environment.

When I ran next to busy streets, I could still hear my music and podcasts, but I wanted just a few more decibels to hear more clearly during those times. The Nothing Ear (3a) are a different beast, but the volume difference between those and the Clip Pro is stark.

In my direct comparison with the Clip Pro and Ear (3a), the more traditional Ear (3a) buds sound far better. Again, that’s not surprising. The Clip Pro has enough bass to make them sound full, but the Ear (3a) has deep, rich bass that really thumps.

Still, when not comparing the two directly, I thought the Clip Pro had good clarity in my tests. I wouldn’t hesitate to grab these for listening to music or podcasts. They work well while wandering the grocery store aisles or while doing chores around the house.

The charging case is a puzzle

My other minor dispute with the Clip Pro is how they sit in the charging case. Once you figure it out, the origami-like configuration is simple. But the first day I had a confounding time getting each back into its place quickly.

That’s not a significant deterrent to buying these earbuds, just a little annoyance. I like that the case is compact. I also like that it includes volume and media controls.

The case’s 360-degree dial is a potential fidget toy, especially since it doesn’t do anything by default. While you can customize what spinning the dial does, as well as what clicking it does, the most obvious uses are volume and play/pause.

I noticed a slight delay when adjusting the volume and pausing songs, but not enough to stop using it.

Should you buy the CMF Clip Pro (or the Nothing Ear 3a)?

My favorite open earbuds at the moment are the Shokz Open Dots 2. They’re loud, feature excellent audio quality, secure, include a wireless charging case, and have lots of other niceties. They’re also $199, or twice the price as the CMF Clip Pro.

At their retail price, the CMF Clip Pro buds are a solid value. They have nice audio with enough bass to sound full. I really like that they include physical buttons on the buds, too.

While the Clip Pro aren’t perfect, they’re a good all-around option that will keep you more aware of your surroundings than closed buds. If you’ve been tempted by clip-on style earbuds, these are a good option to start with.

If you don't want an open listening experience, then the $99 Nothing Ear (3a) are an equally good, but different, pair of wireless earbuds.