Clip Earbuds: Pricey Compromise Under $100

Clip earbuds present a design that balances comfort against inherent compromises. The CMF Clip Pro, from Nothing's budget sub-brand, are priced at $99, though frequently available for $79, positioning them competitively. Their flexible band and speaker orb design offer superior comfort, especially for individuals who struggle with traditional in-ear fitting.

Sound consistency is affected by the open-ear approach, making them unsuitable for critical listening. However, the Clip Pro deliver a balanced audio experience for general playlists, featuring a necessary bass boost that avoids sounding overly resonant. The accompanying Nothing X app provides a three-band EQ, though its adjustment method of lowering other frequencies can be unintuitive.

Call quality is generally good, with effective noise filtering for clearer conversations, though very soft speech may be muffled. Volume control options include earbud buttons and a case dial, which, despite occasional accidental adjustments, adds a fidget-friendly element when disabled. The earbuds support fixed spatial audio and high-res LDAC, though the benefits are minimal in an open-ear setup with ambient noise.