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CMF Phone 1 by Nothing review: a budget marvel or just another phone?
In the smartphone industry, it is rare that a device comes along and captures attention because of how innovative, well-designed, and affordable it is. The CMF Phone 1 by Nothing – a name that may leave you scratching your head at first – does exactly this. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that this is one of the most interesting phones to hit the market in recent memory. On paper, the $200 CMF Phone 1 may not look like much with its specs, but this design and software will definitely turn heads. So without further ado let’s get into why this thing works.
Design: A standout within its price range
Typically when it comes to smartphones — especially budget ones — design is what sticks out first. And with good reason too! It’s basically what you see every time you pick up your phone and use it throughout day to day life; so if something looks nice then more often than not people will enjoy looking at/use said nice-looking thing more frequently because- duh? they’re pretty? Yeah I think we all know where I was going there… Anyways! The CMF Phone 1 knows all of this but embraces it wholeheartedly nonetheless. Black exterior AMOLED display average bezels flat sides dual cameras back panel corners etcetera etcetera blah blah
The Knob & Screws: Boldness Exemplified!
Upon shining for some light after opening said package from Nothing™©®, one shall immediately notice there on the bottom corner an honest-to-goodness KNOB. Yes ladies, gentlemen, boys, girls, monsters aliens cyborgs, vampires whatever else might have stumbled across these words whilst perusing internet articles about technological devices created for mass consumption purposes during the early twenty-first century… It’s actually meant to be used for something too! Also did we mention yet there are screws lining the edges of the phone? Because let me tell you – talk about bold moves indeed! Industrial design at its finest if you ask me.
Removable Back: Accessibility?
Ah, the removable back. Those words may evoke memories of Moto Makers past and personalization options galore – but alas! In today’s market this is a rare breed indeed (especially at $200). Nothing knows their demographic well enough to realize that most people probably don’t care about this feature anymore; however they also know those same individuals wouldn’t mind having it if offered up at such a low cost point as CMF Phone 1. In other words: battery = no can do; back panel = cheap flexible natural reflective; in budget but feels sturdy once clicked into place therefore adding touch more personality!
Accessories: Just Another Gimmick?
The Button: Purpose Meets Style
Now let’s talk about the button. What does it do? The company teased the knob on social media — was it a volume control? A simple fidget spinner? Or maybe a mappable button? It’s actually both simple and clever: the knob is made to attach different accessories. Rather than being free-spinning, it works like a fancy thumb screw with a colorful cap.
Up until now, three accessories have been announced:
Kickstand: A useful add-on for propping your phone up on a flat surface.
Card Holder Wallet: This magnetic attachment can hold up to four cards so you can keep your essentials close.
Lanyard: Not everyone wants to wear their phone around their neck, but hey — options are nice.
Gimmick or Game-Changer?
Is this knob just a gimmick? Far from it. Specifically, the kickstand here is undeniably practical and something that many people would appreciate. It’s an example of how Nothing has managed to introduce something simple yet functional that sets the CMF Phone 1 apart from other $200 devices in terms of design.
Performance
But beyond design, what truly matters for any smartphone is its performance; after all, there’s no point in having a beautiful device if it stutters through every app and action. So how does the CMF Phone 1 hold up?
Nothing OS 2.6: A Familiar Face-Lift
Having used premium Nothing phones before, spending a week with the CMF Phone 1 feels eerily similar — and I mean that as a genuine compliment. The device runs on Nothing OS 2.6 which brings several features typically reserved for higher-end models all the way down the price scale.
These features include:
Cloned Apps: Install multiple instances of certain apps at once.
Game Mode: Optimize performance during gaming sessions.
One-Handed Mode: A handy gesture that pulls down notifications for easier access.
Custom Aesthetics: Icon packs, home screen widgets and dots font all contribute to a more visually appealing interface.
Notification History: View all past notifications in one place — very handy!
Display & Responsiveness: Bright & Quick
The CMF Phone 1 sports a bright AMOLED display with typical brightness levels between 500 and 700 nits, peaking at an impressive 2,000 nits. The screen also adapts between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rates with a 240Hz touch sample rate, making for an overall smooth experience. Whether you’re scrolling through social media, reading emails or browsing the web, the display is great and will have you forgetting you’re using a budget phone.
Under the Hood: Good Power for the Price
Powering the CMF Phone 1 is MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300 5G chipset which holds its own against Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in benchmarking. Coupled with either 6 or 8 GB of RAM (depending on your chosen model), this phone packs enough punch at its price point. Daily tasks are handled with ease but it does start showing signs of struggle under heavier loads as expected.
Trade-Offs & Limitations: Where It Cuts Corners
But of course — no budget phone is without its compromises. The same goes for the CMF Phone 1; while it does offer a lot considering how much money you’re being asked to spend here, there are some areas where certain cost-cutting measures become apparent.
Battery and Charging: Solid but Unremarkable
It has a 5,000mAh battery which is really solid when it comes to battery life. But there’s no wireless charging which is a bummer and the charger isn’t in the box. It supports up to 33W wired charging though which is pretty good.
Lacking NFC and Other Minor Quibbles
NFC is missing once again, something that I think should be included in even budget phones at this point. The vibration motor on this phone feels cheap and lacks precision. And while an optical under-screen fingerprint sensor is nice to have at this price point, it’s slower than I expected it would be and sometimes takes multiple attempts to unlock.
Flimsy Plastic Backs
The removable plastic back panels definitely feel budget when they’re not attached to the phone. They’re flimsy — almost like a car bumper that’s not connected to the car frame itself. The buttons also feel precariously held in place, though they haven’t failed me… yet. It’s got an IP52 rating so it’s splash resistant at best — not something you’d want to take into more challenging environments.
Camera: Serviceable, But Don’t Expect Miracles
One area where budget phones tend to struggle is with cameras, and the CMF Phone 1 falls right in line with expectations here. The primary camera uses a 50 MP Sony IMX882 sensor (used in other budget phones such as POCO F6/Realme 12 Pro) that does its job well enough for what you’re paying, but images lack detail without Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) in low light situations.
And that second sensor you might think is another camera? No, it’s just a depth sensor used primarily for Portrait Mode shots — doesn’t add much to photography overall experience so wouldn’t miss it if wasn’t there.
Target Market: A Phone Made for India
This is primarily targeted at the Indian market where it competes with other budget devices offering similar specs. Competitors may provide longer software and security updates, additional features like microSD card expansion etc., but CMF Phone 1 holds its own with an AMOLED display and smooth software experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What makes the CMF Phone 1 different from other budget phones?
A: It’s got a removable back panel that you can swap out for different colors/designs and even attach accessories to via a custom knob on the phone. And it runs on Nothing OS 2.6 which brings some more premium features down into this price bracket.
Q: Is that knob just a gimmick?
A: No, it’s not! The knob lets you attach accessories to the phone such as a kickstand, card holder or lanyard that adds another level of customization and utility to your device.
Q: How does it perform day-to-day?
A: With its AMOLED display, adaptive refresh rate and MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G chipset under the hood. It’ll handle anything you throw at it in your average day but might start sweating if asked to do too much by more demanding applications.
Q: What are the main downsides?
A: No NFC, subpar vibration motor and single mono speaker are probably my biggest complaints here. Also those removable plastic backs feel super flimsy when they’re not attached to the phone.
Q: The CMF Phone 1 is for whom?
A: Inexpensive design-conscious people in India and elsewhere who value software satisfaction more than the latest specifications would find the CMF Phone 1 suitable.
Conclusion
The Nothing’s CMF Phone 1 is an interesting low-end smartphone option. It does not have to be flawless, what with its originality in design, smoothness of software and available customization that other phones do not offer. This does mean however that there will be some givebacks but considering all those features packed into a $200 device – it’s definitely worth every penny!
