The CMF by Nothing brand emerged only last year, initially offering headphones, smartwatches, and other mobile accessories with distinctive designs at quite accessible prices. In its first smartphone — the CMF Phone 1 — the manufacturer stayed true to this concept, also presenting an interesting and somewhat unique device, all without a steep price tag.
In addition to an interesting design, users get quite solid technical specifications — a powerful hardware platform, a high-quality display, and potentially a decent camera. Completing the picture is the almost 'pure' Android experience. Of course, there were compromises, but can they be avoided in a smartphone priced at $230?
Technical Specifications
| Nothing Phone 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.67 inches, LTPO OLED, 2400 × 1080 pixels, 394 ppi, capacitive multitouch, 120 Hz | 6.7 inches, LTPO OLED, 2412 × 1084 pixels, 394 ppi, capacitive multitouch, 120 Hz | 6.67 inches, Super AMOLED, 2400 × 1080 pixels, 395 ppi; 120 Hz | 6.78 inches, AMOLED, 2436 × 1080 pixels, 393 ppi; 120 Hz | 6.7 inches, AMOLED, 2412 × 1080 pixels, 394 ppi; 90 Hz |
| Protective glass | No information | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | No information | No information | No information |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300: eight cores (4 × ARM Cortex-A78, 2.5 GHz and 4 × ARM Cortex-A55, 2.0 GHz) | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro: eight cores (2 × ARM Cortex-A715, 2.8 GHz and 6 × ARM Cortex-A510, 2.0 GHz) | MediaTek Dimensity 7050: eight cores (2 × ARM Cortex-A78, 2.6 GHz + 6 × ARM Cortex-A55, 2.0 GHz) | MediaTek Dimensity 7020: eight cores (2 × ARM Cortex-A78, 2.2 GHz + 6 × ARM Cortex-A55, 2.0 GHz) | MediaTek Dimensity 6080: eight cores (2 × ARM Cortex-A76, 2.4 GHz + 6 × ARM Cortex-A55, 2.0 GHz) |
| Graphics controller | Mali-G615 MC1 | Mali-G610 MC4 | ARM Mali-G68 MC4 | IMG BXM-8-256 | ARM Mali-G57 MC2 |
| Memory | 6/8 GB | 8/12 GB | 6/8/12 GB | 8/12 GB | 8 GB |
| Flash memory | 128/256 GB | 128/256 GB | 128/256/512 GB | 256/512 GB | 256 GB |
| Support for memory cards | Yes (hybrid slot for microSD/nano-SIM) | No | Yes (hybrid slot for microSD/nano-SIM) | Yes (separate slot) | No |
| Ports | USB Type-C | USB Type-C | USB Type-C, mini-jack (3.5 mm) | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| SIM cards | 2 × nano-SIM | 2 × nano-SIM | 2 × nano-SIM | 2 × nano-SIM | 2 × nano-SIM |
| 2G cellular network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz |
| 3G cellular network | HSDPA 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz | WDCMA 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz |
| 4G cellular network | LTE: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 | LTE: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 | LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 | LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G cellular network | SA/NSA: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | SA/NSA: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | SA/NSA: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | SA/NSA: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | SA/NSA: 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; 2.4/5 GHz |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| NFC | No | There is | There is | There is | There is |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo |
| Sensors | Ambient light, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Ambient light, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Light sensor, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), IR port | Light, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, on the screen | Yes, on the screen | Yes, on the screen | Yes, on the screen | Yes, on the side button |
| Main camera | Dual module: 50 + 2 MP, ƒ/1.88 + ƒ/2.4 (main + depth sensor), phase detection autofocus with main module, single LED flash | Dual module: 50 + 50 MP, ƒ/1.88 + ƒ/2.2 (main + ultra-wide), phase detection autofocus and optical stabilization for the main camera, single LED flash | Triple module: 50 + 8 + 2 MP, ƒ/1.8 + ƒ/2.8 + ƒ/2.2 (wide angle + standard angle + macro), phase detection autofocus and optical stabilization in the main module, dual LED flash | Triple module: 50 + 2 + 0.08 MP, ƒ/1.8 (standard angle + two auxiliary cameras), phase detection autofocus, triple LED flash | Triple module, 108 + 5 + 2 MP, ƒ/1.9 + ƒ/2.2 + ƒ/2.4 (wide angle + standard angle + macro), phase detection autofocus with the main module, single LED flash |
| Front camera | 16 MP, ƒ/2.0, fixed focus, no flash | 32 MP, ƒ/2.45, fixed focus, no flash | 16 MP, ƒ/2.5, no autofocus, no flash | 50 MP, ƒ/2.5, with autofocus, with flash | 50 MP, ƒ/2.1, no autofocus, with flash |
| Power | Non-removable battery: 19 Wh (5000 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery: 19 Wh (5000 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery: 19 Wh (5000 mAh, 3.8 V); | Non-removable battery: 19 Wh (5000 mAh, 3.8 V); | Non-removable battery: 17.1 Wh (4500 mAh, 3.8 V); |
| Size | 164 × 77 × 8.2 mm | 161.7 × 76.3 × 8.6 mm | 163 × 75.5 × 7.9 mm | 165.4 × 75.9 × 7.8/8.0 mm | 161.1 × 74.6 × 6.8 mm |
| Weight | 197 grams | 190 grams | 190 grams | 199 grams | 166 grams |
| Body protection | IP52 | IP54 | IP65 | IP54 | No |
| Operating system | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.6 interface | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5 interface | Android 14, realme UI 5.0 shell | Android 14, HiOS 14 shell | Android 14, Magic UI 8 interface |
| Current price | From 25,000 rubles (pre-order) | From 39,999 rubles | From 29,999 rubles | Starting from 27,990 rubles | From 28,990 rubles |
Design and ergonomics
Before we dive into the smartphone itself, a few words about what CMF is. This abbreviation is familiar to industrial designers — it stands for Colour, Material, Finish. These are the design characteristics that directly influence the functionality of the product and how it feels and is perceived by the user. The CMF determines whether the product appears cheap or expensive, durable or fragile. Beyond appearance and feel, the finish and materials are crucial for ergonomics and other functional aspects of the product. Establishing the CMF by Nothing brand, the company aimed to make "magnificent design accessible to all by creating thoughtful devices that are both beautiful and functional."
As can be judged by the specifications, the CMF Phone 1 shares quite a lot with the previously released Nothing Phone (2a). However, the new model offers a completely unique style and its own design language — it’s clear that this is not just Nothing, but a representative of a new family.
Here is the main distinguishing feature of Nothing smartphones — the Glyph lighting. However, this doesn’t mean that the CMF Phone 1 lacks uniqueness in design. The rear cover draws attention with four screws and a round 'knob' that is also a screw. But these are not decorative elements — they secure the removable back cover, which is made of plastic (with a leather-like finish on the orange version). Yes, you read that correctly; this smartphone has a removable cover, almost like the good old days. Even better — thanks to the screws, the cover won’t come off when the smartphone is dropped.
The removable cover serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it allows for easy changes to the device's appearance. Nothing itself offers covers in four colors (black, orange, blue, and mint) priced at $25 each. So if you’re feeling orange today, you can easily make your smartphone match. Moreover, using a 3D printer, you can print your own cover with a unique design — Nothing even provides the necessary documentation. We expect an abundance on the well-known Chinese marketplace.
The replaceable rear cover should also simplify smartphone repairs. But this is only partly true — the first disassembly of the smartphone showed that some components, including the battery, are not as easy to remove due to hidden screws. On the other hand, many smartphones are difficult to disassemble in the first place: you need to heat the back panel to detach the cover. Plus, guides will surely appear online that clearly indicate where to find all the screws for the CMF Phone 1. However, quickly swapping out a drained battery, like in the good old days, was not possible — what a pity.
Finally, the removable cover has one more advantage: it allows you to forgo a protective case. Even if the smartphone gets scratched or the cover breaks upon falling or impact, replacing it will be easy.
Another interesting feature of the CMF Phone 1 is the large screw in the lower right corner of the back, called the Accessory Point. This is not just a decorative element, but also functional. Various brand accessories can be attached to the smartphone instead of this screw. Nothing offers a stand, a strap, or a case for a memory card (which is secured to the back cover with three additional screws). Third-party accessories are sure to emerge.
Otherwise, the CMF Phone 1 appears to be quite an ordinary smartphone. In the upper left corner of the back panel, there is a metal island with a couple of rear camera lenses. Surprisingly, in today's standards, the camera does not protrude above the surface of the back cover. The thickness of the smartphone is 8.2 mm, and it weighs 197 grams. The corners of the back cover are straight, but the smartphone is still comfortable and pleasant to hold; it does not dig into the palm. I should add that, despite the removable cover, the smartphone is protected from dust and splashes according to the standard. — not the highest standard, meaning that there may be certain issues even in the rain. But this is not a complete lack of protection.
The front panel of the CMF Phone 1 is covered with flat protective glass, but the manufacturer does not specify whether it is tempered and who produced it. There is an oleophobic coating, and out of the box, the display is covered with a protective film, which scratches easily. The front camera is located in a small hole in the middle, at the top edge of the screen. The bezels of the screen cannot be called thin — the display occupies 85.1% of the front panel. There is also the traditional 'chin' for budget smartphones — a wider bottom bezel on the screen. However, it does not stand out too much.
The side edges are integral with the back cover. The functional elements are standard: a single physical volume button on the left edge, a power button on the right, a slot for a pair of SIM cards and a microSD card, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker — all located on the bottom. There is no headphone jack in the CMF Phone 1, which is a bit disappointing for a budget smartphone. Apparently, Nothing hopes to boost sales of its headphones, among which there are some very budget-friendly models from the CMF brand.
Software
CMF Phone 1 operates on Android 14 with the latest version of the proprietary Nothing OS — 2.6. The software platform here is no different from what we've seen in other Nothing smartphones. The interface features a minimalist design with distinctive pixelated text, stylized icons, and widgets throughout. There is a custom set of reimagined monochrome icons for most popular applications. 
Source: 3dnews.ru
