The CMF Phone 1 is the first smartphone from CMF, the budget sub-brand of Nothing. It was announced on July 8, 2024, and went on sale on July 12, 2024. In Europe, it started at €239.00 for the 8GB + 128GB model, and the UK price started at £209. In India, the 6GB + 128GB version started at ₹15,999. The phone targets the budget segment and stands out with a rear panel that you can remove and replace.
Design and display
The back cover is held in place by four visible screws. You can swap it for covers in other colors. Accessories such as a lanyard, a kickstand or a card case attach to it. The standard back is plastic, while the Blue and Orange versions use a vegan leather finish. The standard model measures 164 x 77 x 8 mm and weighs 197 grams. The vegan leather version is 9 mm thick and weighs 202 grams.
The 6.67-inch Super AMOLED panel has a 1080 x 2400 resolution and 395 ppi. It runs at up to 120 Hz and reaches a claimed peak brightness of 2,000 nits. Nothing also lists 960 Hz PWM dimming and Dragontrail Pro cover glass. The phone has an IP52 rating, so it only handles light splashes and dust.
Performance
The phone runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300. This 4 nm octa-core chip reaches up to 2.5 GHz and uses a Mali-G615 MC2 GPU. Memory options are 6GB or 8GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB of storage. A hybrid slot accepts a microSD card, which then takes the place of the second SIM.
Cameras
On the back, there is a 50MP Sony main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 1/1.95-inch sensor. It uses electronic stabilization rather than OIS. A second rear sensor only measures depth for portrait shots, so there is no ultrawide or telephoto camera. The main camera records video at up to 4K. On the front, a 16MP selfie camera with an f/2.45 aperture handles video calls.
Battery and charging
A 5,000mAh battery powers the phone. It supports 33W wired charging, and Nothing quotes a full charge in about one hour. The phone can also share power with other devices at 5W over the cable. There is no wireless charging, and no charger comes in the box.
Software and updates
The phone launched with Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14. Nothing promises two major Android updates and three years of security patches. Other features include an in-display optical fingerprint reader, 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. However, there is no NFC, no headphone jack and no stereo speakers.
Should you buy the CMF Phone 1?
It suits buyers who want a 120 Hz AMOLED screen and a big battery for little money. Its replaceable back and accessories also appeal to people who like to personalize their phone. On the other hand, the lack of NFC rules out tap-to-pay, and the update promise is short. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is its successor, and Nothing’s stores now list the original model as sold out.
