In a market saturated with options, the Nothing CMF Phone 1 stands out as a standout candidate and redefines what is possible in the budget smartphone segment. Priced at a surprising Rs 15,999 for the 6GB/128GB model, this smartphone is the brainchild of CMF, a sub-brand of Nothing founded by former OnePlus co-developer Carl Pei. The CMF Phone 1 is the sub-brand’s first foray into the Android smartphone space, after successfully entering the affordable smartwatch and earphone space. True to its name, which stands for color, material and build, the CMF Phone 1 emphasizes design without compromising on functionality. The design language of the device is unique and instantly catches the eye. It proves that style doesn’t have to be sacrificed for budget smartphones.

Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Quick Tips

High tones

• Great performance
• Excellent battery life
• Novel design

Deep tones

• Slow loading speed
• Missing stereo speakers
• Only protection class IP52

Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Design, display, appearance and structure

The CMF Phone 1 features a removable plastic back panel that is accessible by unscrewing four screws, which hardly takes a couple of minutes. This is also the biggest standout feature of the phone, which no mobile phone manufacturer currently offers. It evokes nostalgia and reminds me of simpler phones and simpler lives. Apart from that, the CMF Phone 1 is also quite charming. The black variant has a smooth matte finish, while the orange and blue models have a vegan leather back panel. The orange variant easily stands out and looks better than the rest. The type of glass used for the display has not been revealed. The device only has an IP52 rating, which falls short of expectations.

The CMF Phone 1 features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ OLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, an aspect ratio of 20:9, and a pixel density of around 395 PPI. The panel offers impressive brightness levels with 700 nits typical and 2000 nits peak for HDR content. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate alternates between 60Hz and 120Hz, complemented by a 240Hz touch sampling rate for smooth scrolling. HDR10+ support improves the use of compatible content, especially on YouTube. Users can adjust the color settings and enable the night light to reduce blue light emission, thus reducing eye strain. The device has a dark mode and always-on display functionality, but customization options are limited.

While the device does not feature MEMC or DC dimming, the phone does come with 960Hz PWM dimming for eye comfort. The CMF Phone 1 features a unique accessory point, a removable thumbscrew in the corner of the phone. This addition allows you to attach various accessories such as lanyards, stands or wallets. The stand in particular stands out for its dual function as a phone stand and fidget toy.

Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: camera

The CMF Phone 1 features a dual rear camera 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 like time-lapse, panorama, and an expert mode. This expert mode allows manual adjustment of white balance, focus, shutter speed, and ISO, but RAW shooting is not supported. Daylight shots showed good dynamic range and natural color reproduction. HDR processing improves the dynamic range even further. However, the device lacks an ultra-wide-angle lens.

The main camera uses pixel binning technology and produces 12.5MP images. The 16MP front camera was average in good lighting conditions. In dimly lit environments, the main 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 manufactured on a 4nm process and features octa-cores with speeds of 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 powerful 5000mAh battery, the CMF Phone 1 showed impressive endurance during my testing. It comfortably lasted over a day with heavy usage with 5G enabled, and almost two days with light to average usage and Wi-Fi turned on. The device supports 33W fast charging, allowing it to reach 50 percent of its capacity in about 20 minutes and fully charge in over an hour with the proprietary charger, which must be purchased separately.

The phone also lacks stereo speakers, which makes browsing Netflix and YouTube a boring experience. Despite its budget price, the CMF Phone 1 delivers a surprisingly smooth performance. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and 8GB of RAM, the device experiences minimal lag.

The CMF Phone 1 allows users to switch between Android’s standard Material UI and its own NothingOS. The NothingOS option turns the interface into a monochromatic black and white palette, offering a unique visual experience compared to traditional colorful themes. However, the Nothing Icon Pack is not pre-installed on the device. The Carl Pei-owned brand has committed to providing major Android updates for two years and security patches for another year.

Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review: Verdict

To sum up, the design elements of the CMF Phone 1 are notable and fresh, but its real 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 seems to be targeting cost-conscious consumers who don’t want to settle for subpar performance. This device promises a great overall experience without the premium price tag.