Introduction
Nothing itself is a relatively new brand, but one of their sub-brands – CMF – is even newer and has so far limited itself to offering smartphone accessories with unique designs and at somewhat affordable prices.
It didn’t take long for the company to launch its first CMF-branded phone – the aptly named CMF Phone 1.
Unlike some sub-brands from other manufacturers, Nothing’s current marketing strategy does not see CMF as a completely independent entity, but rather a separate lineup within the broader Nothing ecosystem.
As a product, the CMF Phone 1 and the Nothing Phone (2a) have a lot in common, but it offers a completely unique style and design language of its own while staying true to the CMF brand.
CMF sees design and quality as the main pillars of the Phone 1. The phone is clearly built to perform on both fronts as well as “doubling down on the core user needs”, which is a fancy way of saying it’s pretty modest hardware-wise but is expected to compromise on very few features where it matters.
The CMF Phone 1 really offers solid tech in a few key areas, such as its 6.67-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display or its 50MP main camera, which Nothing describes as a “flagship-grade” Sony sensor. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G chipset is no slouch either, even if it’s not meant to top performance charts, and it’s geared towards power efficiency and long battery life.
The whole experience is tied together by Nothing OS 2.6 – Nothing’s own unique take on Android, packed with character and a surprising number of extra features.
CMF Phone 1 detailed specifications at a glance:
- Body: 164x77x8.2mm, 197g/202g; Plastic shell, glass front; User-replaceable back cover, splash resistant.
- Display: 6.67″ AMOLED, 120Hz, 500 – 700 nits (typical), 2000 nits (max), 1080x2400px resolution, 20.1:9 aspect ratio, 394ppi.
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm): Octa-core (4×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G615 MC2.
- Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC.
- OS/Software: Android 14.
- rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF; depth: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- front camera: 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide).
- Record video: rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps; front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; 33W wired; 5W reverse wired charging.
- Connectivity: 5G; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi; BT.
- various: Fingerprint reader (under the display, optical).
And speaking of additional features, the CMF Phone 1 does a lot better on this front, first and foremost through its unique modular design. The entire back of the phone is removable and interchangeable for user customization. There’s also something called an “Accessory Point” on the back of the phone. Its purpose is to add functional accessories to the CMF Phone 1, such as a fold-out stand, card holder, or lanyard. We’re not going to lie; it looks pleasantly refreshing.
Unboxing
The CMF Phone 1 comes in a two-piece cardboard box. The front has the same design elements as the phone and the back has some key details like removable screws. More details are given in the design section. The phone is well protected in a cradle inside the box.
Just like Nothing, CMF isn’t big on accessories either. With the CMF Phone 1, you only get a single, not too long or thick USB Type-C to Type-C cable. It appears to be a basic passive cable. The only other accessory you get in the box is a SIM ejector tool styled in CMF colours. There is no charger or anything else in the box.