CMF Phone (1) — the first smartphone of the budget subbrand Nothing, a young startup whose gadgets stand out in an original design. The main chip — is a bright design and a removable cover. What else is distinguished and why CMF Phone (1) — is not for everyone, read in the Hi-Tech Mail review.
This time, Carl Pei, the head and founder of Nothing, has managed once again to create a device that stands out from the hundreds of others in its segment. The CMF Phone (1) offers a bright, unusual, and customizable design, as well as balanced “hardware” for an affordable price.
Release Date of the CMF Phone (1)
The smartphone was announced globally on July 8, 2024, and went on sale in European countries, India, and other regions on July 12. The CMF Phone (1) is not officially sold in Russia, but it is still available for purchase.
Technical Specifications
Here is a summary of the key specifications for the CMF Phone (1).
| Display | AMOLED, 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400 (Full HD +), frequency 120 Hz, brightness 2000 nit |
| Processor | Mediatek Dimension 7300 (4 nm) |
| Memory | 6 or 8 GB LPDDR4X, 128, 256 GB UFS 2.2 |
| Main camera | core module 50 MP f / 1.8, EIS depth sensor 2 MP f / 2.4 |
| Front camera | 16 MP f / 2.0 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, wire charge 33 W, wire reverse charge 5 W |
| Communication | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| OS | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.6 |
| Corps | 164 x 77 x 8 or 9 mm, weight 197 or 202 g (depending on body materials), water protection IP52 |
Prices for CMF Phone (1) in 2024
The CMF Phone (1) is available in a number of countries and regions, but it is not officially represented in Russia. The prices for the CMF Phone (1) are as follows:
- Prices in Europe:
- CMF Phone (1) 8/128 GB — €239 (22,000 rubles)
- CMF Phone (1) 8/256 GB — €279 (26,000 rubles)
- Prices in India:
- CMF Phone (1) 6/128 GB — 15,999 INR (16,000 rubles)
- CMF Phone (1) 8/128 GB — 17,999 INR (18,000 rubles)
Where to Buy CMF Phone (1)
The CMF Phone (1) is not officially represented in Russia. At the time of writing, local stores have not yet received the new device, but it is already appearing on marketplaces, mostly with international shipping. Prices are:
- AliExpress — from 21,724 rubles
- Wildberries — from 21,265 rubles
- SDEK Shopping — from 30,873 rubles
Note that when ordering from abroad, you will need to pay customs duties and fees if the cost of the item exceeds €200. If you prefer to avoid international shipping and customs fees, you might want to wait for the CMF Phone (1) to become available in Russian stores. A reliable option is the Big Geek store.
Review of the CMF Phone (1)
I tested the CMF Phone (1): camera, performance, battery, and other parameters of the smartphone.
Design
Nothing has surprised us again — when you hold their gadget, you don’t want to put it down. From the very first seconds, the design of the CMF Phone (1) is impressive. The review unit was green with a plastic back, but there are also versions with eco-leather finishes.
Despite being a fully plastic smartphone, it doesn’t feel “cheap.” It really looks stylish, especially compared to hundreds of bland competitors.
It’s a budget device, so it would be odd to be surprised by the use of plastic. And if the plastic cover wears out or breaks, you can always replace it with one of three other colors in eco-leather or plastic. The cost of a replacement panel is £29 (3,200 rubles). In the future, third-party panels from other materials might become available on AliExpress and other marketplaces.
Replacing the case is quite simple, but the necessary tool is included with the replacement case, which must be purchased separately. Although removing the back cover is easy, the battery in the smartphone is still non-removable.
In addition to replacement panels, Nothing officially produces other accessories for the CMF Phone (1), including a MagSafe-like wallet, stand, and strap. Other manufacturers are likely to release similar accessories soon.
Given the cost of the CMF Phone (1), its high level of customization, and its unusual design, it can be confidently said that this is one of the most memorable smartphones in recent years.
Display
The CMF Phone (1) has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with a Full HD+ resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of up to 2000 nits, though in manual mode it does not exceed 700 nits. During summer, this brightness can sometimes be insufficient, and the screen itself looks budget due to the thick bezels, especially the “chin.” However, considering the device’s price, it’s forgivable, as higher-priced competitors like the Pixel 8a and Samsung Galaxy A55 have similar issues.
Additionally, the budget nature of the CMF Phone (1) is indicated by its front camera, which has a silver border. This was last seen in the Poco F3 from 2021. Because of this and the thick bezels, the screen’s “borderless” effect is lost, as it’s hard to ignore during use.
If these two drawbacks and the not-so-high brightness don’t bother you, the CMF Phone (1) will likely impress you in terms of the display.
Performance
The budget CMF Phone (1) features appropriate hardware — it has a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and UFS 2.2 storage of 128 or 256 GB. In synthetic tests:
- In AnTuTu 10, the CMF Phone (1) scores 680,000 points, which is more than acceptable for the official price of the device.
- In Geekbench 6, the smartphone scores 1042 and 2901 points in single-core and multi-core tests, respectively.
- In throttling tests, the device showed excellent performance, maintaining 91% performance across 100 threads for 30 minutes.
In games, the CMF Phone (1) unfortunately doesn’t offer groundbreaking performance. For instance, with Genshin Impact, the new device only performs well with minimal graphics settings. In Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG: Mobile, the situation is better but still offers the same graphics settings as mid-range competitors. Therefore, the CMF Phone (1) is not recommended for mobile gamers. However, it deserves praise for not overheating at all. Otherwise, it is a very basic smartphone with performance sufficient for all other tasks. Additionally, the device is officially stated to receive two Android updates and three years of security patches. Therefore, it is a reasonable choice for a couple of years if you’re not a mobile gamer; otherwise, it’s not.
Camera
The camera is not particularly noteworthy; there are only two cameras — a 50 MP rear camera and a 16 MP front camera. The main module also includes a depth sensor, although an ultra-wide lens would have been more appropriate. The CMF Phone (1) does not excel in photography. In the camera interface, there are two filters: “Natural Colors” and “Vibrant Colors.” Using the first filter, the device produces quality photos during the day and in good lighting, maintaining high detail and accurate colors. With the “Vibrant Colors” filter, images will be more saturated and contrasty, like many other competitors. The absence of optical stabilization does not hinder clear photo creation. Video recording is somewhat surprising. Firstly, despite the lack of optical stabilization, videos are quite smooth from both the front and rear cameras. Secondly, the selfie camera records video in Full HD at 60 fps. The main sensor can record in 4K at 30 fps, but for smoother video at 60 fps, you will need to lower the resolution to Full HD. Nevertheless, the camera’s capabilities seem insufficient even considering this is a budget device. It’s unreasonable to expect a telephoto lens in a smartphone costing less than 25,000 rubles, but an ultra-wide lens would have been nice.
Battery
The CMF Phone (1) has a 5000 mAh battery, providing 6-7 hours of screen-on time, which is enough for a full day of active use. For example, watching YouTube for an hour at 50% brightness consumes only 4% of the battery, and Genshin Impact under the same conditions uses 13%. The CMF Phone (1) charges slowly despite supporting 33 W fast charging. With a GaN charger with PD, it charges in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Note that the charging block is not included in the package.
Package Contents
The CMF Phone (1) package is modest — besides the smartphone, the box contains:
- A USB-C to USB-C charging cable
- A SIM card tray ejector
- Documentation
Additionally, the smartphone comes with a protective film pre-applied, so you don’t need to worry about its safety.
Official Video Presentation
The CMF Phone (1) was announced on July 8, 2024.
Comparison of CMF Phone (1) and Nothing Phone (2a)
The smartphones are similar in many ways but have differences. All specifications are compiled into one table to help you make a decision before buying. You can read the review of the Nothing Phone (2a) here.
Conclusion: Should You Buy the CMF Phone (1)?
The CMF Phone (1) is not for everyone. It has an original, attention-grabbing design, but it’s hard to imagine such a gadget in the hands of a serious man or woman. However, I can say that this device is an ideal choice for a child! Children often break smartphones. The screen can always be protected with a good shockproof glass, and the case can be replaced if necessary.
However, if your child loves to play games, giving them the CMF Phone (1) is probably not a good idea. If you are considering this new device for yourself, you should be prepared for the modest camera capabilities and mediocre gaming performance. Otherwise, this smartphone is no worse than any other in its segment, and in some aspects, even better. We thank BigGeek for providing the CMF Phone (1) for review.