Why the Nothing CMF Phone 1 is a Game Changer.

Summary

The cmf phone 1 from Nothing's budget sub-brand offers an impressive ecosystem for just £200/$250. With its unique modular design, users can easily swap back plates and accessories like stands and wallets for a personalized experience. Despite a basic build quality, the phone boasts a 120Hz AMOLED display, 5000mAh battery, and decent cameras. It runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, ensuring smooth performance for most tasks. The cmf phone 1 stands out for its innovative approach and remarkable value in its price range.

Takeaways

• 📱 CMF is a new budget sub-brand of the company, Nothing, offering a phone for £200 or $250.
• 🔍 The phone launch feels like an entire ecosystem, including various accessories designed for the phone.
• 🔄 The phone features interchangeable back plates, making it easy to repair and customize.
• 💡 Despite the budget price, the design feels sophisticated and intentional.
• 🔋 The phone has a 5,000 mAh battery, providing impressive battery life.
• 🖥️ It features a 120Hz adaptive AMOLED full HD+ display with HDR 10+ support.
• 📷 The camera system includes a primary camera and an assist camera for portrait mode, with generally good performance for its price range.
• 🎮 Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip, the phone handles most tasks and games well but isn't the fastest.
• 🔊 Audio is limited to a mono speaker, which is loud but lacks stereo effect.
• 🔧 The ecosystem includes accessories like stands, lanyards, and card wallets, which integrate seamlessly with the phone.

Q & A

What is the CMF Phone One?

The CMF Phone One is a new budget phone from the sub-brand CMF, under the company Nothing, priced at £200 or $250.

What makes the CMF Phone One ecosystem unique?

The CMF Phone One ecosystem includes budget accessories specifically designed to work around the phone, such as a lanyard, multiple cases, a card wallet, a stand, and buds, all tastefully designed despite their budget nature.

What are some of the physical characteristics of the CMF Phone One?

The phone and its accessories have a slightly cheap, thin, plasticky feel, but they are tastefully designed with high-end thought and care put into them.

How is the back plate of the CMF Phone One different from other phones?

The back plate of the CMF Phone One is removable and customizable, making the phone easier to repair and allowing users to mix and match different designs.

What is the significance of the 'circle spinny thing' in the CMF Phone One?

The 'circle spinny thing' is a removable component that allows users to attach various accessories like a phone stand, lanyard, or wallet securely to the phone.

What is the display quality of the CMF Phone One?

The CMF Phone One features a 120Hz adaptive AMOLED full HD+ display with HDR 10+ support, offering smooth, sharp, and punchy visuals.

How does the CMF Phone One perform in terms of battery life?

The CMF Phone One has a 5,000mAh battery and efficient power management, allowing it to last up to 10 hours of screen-on time in typical use.

What are some compromises made in the CMF Phone One to keep it budget-friendly?

Compromises include a slightly thicker bottom bezel, no wireless charging, and basic 33W wired charging. The audio quality is also simpler with a mono speaker.

What software does the CMF Phone One run on?

The CMF Phone One runs on Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14, offering a light and aesthetic user interface with some thoughtful customizations.

How do the cameras on the CMF Phone One perform?

The cameras on the CMF Phone One provide good detail and high dynamic range for their price, with the main limitation being the lack of a dedicated zoom camera and ultra-wide lens.

What is the overall value proposition of the CMF Phone One?

The CMF Phone One offers impressive design, good battery life, a solid display, and a unique accessory ecosystem for a budget price, making it highly recommendable.