For the past decade, portable Bluetooth speakers have been stuck in an uninspired loop of anonymous dark mesh, utilitarian pill shapes, and plain black rectangles. In a consumer tech landscape where personality is often sacrificed on the altar of safe corporate minimalism, London-based smartphone company Nothing keeps charting a refreshingly rebellious course. The company is pushing into audio hardware with its design-focused sub-brand CMF by Nothing, launching two Bluetooth audio companions CMF Speaker M and CMF Speaker S that challenge the idea that audio hardware needs to stay in the shadows. With eye-popping colorways like turquoise, these speakers are immediately inspired by the fun geometry of a classic milk carton, reminding us that personal audio can be functional, tactile, and deliciously weird all at once.”
Rethinking the Black Box: The Milk Carton Philosophy
For years, speaker manufacturers operated under the assumption that living room audio gear should look like serious industrial machinery, while outdoor portable speakers should resemble ruggedized rubber tires. Nothing subverts this convention entirely by embracing an aesthetic that feels part pop-art sculpture and part nostalgic kitchen staple. The angular top ridge, the vertical lines, and the erectness of both Speaker M and Speaker S evoke a familiar shape, that of a tiny milk carton.
I feel this choice may be more than just a visual gimmick. In an era where audio devices often become invisible background objects, the milk carton aesthetic gives the hardware a recognizable personality that invites physical interaction. Instead of relying on flimsy capacitive touch strips that fail in the shower or during sudden rain showers, Nothing integrates substantial, mechanical tactile controls. A multi-purpose dial knobs the volume and controls playback, providing the kind of analog feedback that tech enthusiasts sorely miss. Furthermore, both models feature removable front panels and customizable attachments, bringing the modular DIY spirit of Nothing’s smartphones directly into the portable audio domain.
CMF Speaker M: Desktop Muscle Meets Portable Freedom
CMF Speaker M serves as the heavyweight anchor of the pair, designed for users who want substantial acoustic energy without being tethered to a wall socket. Beneath the Turquoise’s exterior lies an acoustic setup intended to grant you depth and separation. A 70 mm woofer pushing 25 watts RMS paired with a dedicated 16 mm tweeter pushing 10 watts RMS delivers a punchy 35 watts of total acoustic output. Spanning a frequency response range from 60 Hz to 20,000 Hz, the dual-driver architecture prevents low-frequency bass notes from drowning out vocal textures and higher-frequency percussion.
The Speaker M is equipped with a sturdy built-in handle, transforming what could be a static desktop speaker into an easily portable powerhouse. On a desk, it pulls double duty thanks to a USB-C wired connection that delivers lossless audio playback with sub-60 millisecond low latency, eliminating the irritating dialogue lag often experienced when streaming movies or editing video over wireless links. When unhooked, its 4,900 mAh internal cell offers up to 18 hours of continuous playback, while a full IP68 dust and water resistance rating guarantees it can withstand severe weather, spilled drinks, or poolside mishaps without missing a beat.
CMF Speaker S: The Pocket-Sized Daily Companion
For listeners prioritizing ultra-portability, CMF Speaker S distills the exact same milk carton silhouette into a travel-ready package. Driven by a custom 45 mm full-range driver backed by dual passive radiators on either flank, the Speaker S punches well above its weight class with a focused 10-watt RMS output. The dual radiators work in tandem to reinforce low-end acoustic pressure, generating surprisingly rich bass across a 70 Hz to 20,000 Hz spectrum.
Designed to clip onto backpacks or hang from utility gear, the Speaker S features an integrated carabiner hook and matches the larger model’s robust IP68 certification and generous 18-hour battery longevity. It also integrates frictionless NFC tap-to-pair technology alongside modern Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity, letting anyone sync a smartphone against its chassis to launch playlists within seconds.
Modern Connectivity and Software Cohesion
Beyond their visual charm and acoustic chops, both CMF speakers share modern audio engineering standards rarely matched at mainstream price points. Both models harness next-generation Auracast broadcast protocols through dedicated hardware buttons. This allows multiple compatible units to synchronize seamlessly in Party Mode, flooding larger spaces with linked audio without the cumbersome pairing headaches of older standards. Two identical units can also be locked into a true wireless stereo mode to recreate a wide acoustic soundstage with discrete left and right channel separation.
Through the companion Nothing X mobile application, users can dial in tailored four-band custom equalizers or toggle presets such as Voice, More Treble, and Ultra Bass. Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair handle instant handshake connections across Android, Nothing OS, and Windows machines, while dual-device multipoint ensures seamless switching between mobile calls and laptop audio. By daring to imagine speakers as playful, durable, and highly tactile companions rather than mundane black boxes, Nothing has delivered a pair of audio products that sound as lively as they look.
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