Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Fresh And Noteworthy
High notes: Great performance, excellent battery life, novel design. Low notes: Slow charging speed, lack of stereo speakers, IP52 rating only.
In a market saturated with options, the Nothing CMF Phone 1 emerges as a standout contender, redefining what is possible in the budget smartphone segment. This smartphone, priced at a surprising Rs 15,999 for the 6GB/128GB model, is the brainchild of CMF, a sub-brand of Nothing, founded by former OnePlus co-creator Carl Pei. The CMF Phone 1 marks the sub-brand's first venture into Android smartphones, following successful entry into affordable smartwatches and earbuds. True to its name, which stands for Colour, Material, Finish, the CMF Phone 1 prioritises design without compromising functionality. The device's design language is unique, and it immediately grabs attention, proving that style need not be sacrificed for budget smartphones.
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Quick Pointers
High notes
- Great performance
- Excellent battery life
- Novel design
Low notes
- Slow charging speed
- Lack of stereo speakers
- IP52 rating only
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Design, Display, Looks And Build
The CMF Phone 1 features a removable plastic back, accessible by unscrewing four screws, which hardly takes a few minutes. This is also the biggest standout feature of the phone that no handset maker is offering right now. It brings back nostalgia, and reminds me of simpler phones and simpler life. Apart from this, the CMF Phone 1 is also very charming. Black coloured variant sports a smooth matte finish while the orange and blue models have a vegan leather back. The orange variant easily catches attention and looks better than the rest. Nothing did not reveal the glass type used for the display. The device comes with only IP52 rating, which falls short of expectations.
The CMF Phone 1 boasts a 6.67-inch Full HD+ rigid OLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, and around 395 PPI pixel density. The panel offers impressive brightness levels, with 700 nits typical and 2000 nits peak for HDR content consumption. The adaptive 120Hz refresh rate toggles between 60Hz and 120Hz, complemented by a 240Hz touch sampling rate for smooth scrolling. HDR10+ support enhances consuming compatible content, particularly on YouTube. Users can customise colour settings and activate night light to cut down blue light emission and therefore, reduce eye strain. The device includes a dark mode and always-on display functionality, though customisation options are limited.
While the device lacks MEMC and DC Dimming, the phone incorporates 960Hz PWM Dimming for eye comfort. The CMF Phone 1 introduces a unique accessory point, a removable thumbscrew in the phone's corner. This addition allows you to attach various accessories like lanyards, kickstands, or wallets. The kickstand, in particular, stands out for its dual functionality as both a phone prop and a fidget toy.
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Camera
The CMF Phone 1 comes with a dual rear camera setup, dominated by a 50MP primary sensor and a portrait sensor. The budget CMF Phone 1's camera app offers standard modes like Slow-motion, Video, Photo, and Portrait, along with additional options such as Time-lapse, Panorama, and an Expert mode. This Expert mode allows manual adjustment of white balance, focus, shutter speed and ISO, but RAW capture is not supported. Daytime images exhibited good dynamic range and natural colour reproduction. HDR processing further enhances dynamic range. However, the device lacks an ultra-wide lens.
The main camera uses pixel binning technology, and produces 12.5MP images. The 16MP front-facing camera was average in good lighting conditions. In dimly-lit environments, the primary camera's performance was average for its price range. An automatic night mode helps reduce noise, but expectations should be tempered.
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Performance, Software And Battery
The CMF Phone 1 is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 7300, a mid-range chipset built on a 4nm process with octa-cores reaching speeds up to 2.5GHz. It comes in two configurations: 6GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/128GB storage, both offering UFS 2.2. The device supports virtual RAM expansion up to 16GB and allows storage expansion via microSD up to 2TB. Equipped with a hefty 5000mAh battery, the CMF Phone 1 showed impressive endurance during my review. Under heavy usage with 5G enabled, it comfortably lasted over a day and lasted almost two days on low to average use, with Wi-Fi on. The device supports 33W fast charging, allowing it to reach 50 per cent capacity in about 20 minutes and full charge in over an hour using the proprietary charger, which has to be purchased separately.
The phone also lacks stereo speakers, which made browing Netflix and YouTube a lacklustre experience. Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the CMF Phone 1 delivers surprisingly smooth performance. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and 8GB of RAM, the device exhibits minimal lag.
The CMF Phone 1 allows users to switch between Android's standard Material UI and its own NothingOS. The NothingOS option transforms the interface into a monochromatic black and white palette, offering a unique visual experience compared to traditional colourful themes. However, the Nothing Icon Pack isn't pre-installed on the device. The Carl Pei-owned brand has pledged to providing two years of major Android updates and an additional year of security patches.
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Verdict
To sum it up, the CMF Phone 1's design elements are noteworthy and fresh, its true value lies in its robust performance and impressive battery life, challenging assumptions about budget smartphones. With the CMF Phone 1, Nothing's sub-brand has made its debut in the competitive Indian smartphone landscape, and it seems to be targetting cost-conscious consumers who refuse to settle for sub-par performance. This device promises to deliver a great overall experience without the premium price tag.
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