The Nothing CMF Phone 1: A Bold Design and Decent Performance, But Is It Enough?
The CMF Phone 1 signifies Nothing’s foray into the smartphone segment, a brand known for its unique designs and software experiences. The CMF Phone 1 arrives with a starting price of Rs 15,999 for the 6GB + 128GB model, aiming to capture the budget-conscious market. The key selling point is its swappable rear panels, giving users a degree of customisation rarely seen at this price point. But beyond the modular design, can the CMF Phone 1 truly stand out in the competitive Indian market? Let’s delve into this in-depth review and find out.
CMF Phone 1 Design: Same Same, But Different
At first glance, the CMF Phone 1 possesses the familiar look and feel of many smartphones. However, upon closer inspection, a more "industrial" aesthetic emerges. Screws at each corner and an "Accessory Point" at the bottom add a unique touch.
This is where things become truly interesting. The swappable rear panels, offered in Black, Orange, Blue, and Light Green, allow users to personalise their device. While the process is straightforward, removing the SIM tray before changing the panel is essential. Each swappable panel comes at an additional cost of Rs 1,499. The Black and Light Green feature a matte finish, while the Orange and Blue sport a vegan leather finish.
The Accessory Point facilitates the easy attachment of a Lanyard or a kickstand, both priced at Rs 799. A case accommodating up to 3 cards and enabling contactless payments is also available. While the DIY experience is good, there’s always a lingering fear of misplaced screws. However, after the initial assembly, the CMF Phone 1 feels solid and high-quality despite its all-plastic construction.
CMF Phone 1 Display: Smooth and Vibrant
The CMF Phone 1 boasts a versatile display for its price category. It features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with an adaptive 120Hz screen refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, resulting in a smooth scrolling experience. While the screen offers a choice between 120Hz and 60Hz, there aren’t any intermediate options like the popular 90Hz.
Performance-wise, the display doesn’t disappoint. The vibrant and crisp colours make it ideal for content consumption. The phone offers two colour modes: Alive and Standard. In my opinion, Alive is preferable, delivering more appealing colour output for gaming and video viewing.
The CMF Phone 1 achieves a peak brightness of 2,000nits, allowing outdoor usage without squinting. An always-on display is available, hidden within the Glance display settings. It’s a basic implementation, displaying only time, date, and weather information.
CMF Phone 1 Software: Clean User Interface
The CMF Phone 1 runs on Nothing OS 2.6, a clean user interface built on Android 14. Nothing has successfully implemented a distinctive look and feel, devoid of bloatware. The customised monochrome elements set it apart from the competition.
The UI is easily customisable to match individual preferences. Moreover, the AI wallpaper feature enables users to generate custom wallpapers – a welcome addition that could be implemented on other devices. A experimental feature simplifies the pairing of Apple AirPods with the device.
CMF Phone 1 Performance: Perfect for Daily Usage
The CMF Phone 1 distinguishes itself by employing the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, also used in the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro, albeit with a customised version. This chipset is an upgrade of the Dimensity 7050.
Benchmark results, compared to competitors, are presented in the table below:
| Benchmark | CMF Phone 1 | iQoo Z9x | Realme P1 5G | Infinix Note 40 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single Core | 1037 | 940 | 956 | 909 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi Core | 2932 | 2838 | 2369 | 2025 |
| AnTuTu v10 | 639,355 | 559,900 | 570,926 | 488,954 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 12398 | 9,904 | 13,319 | 13,309 |
| 3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL | 5177 | FTR | 5,766 | NA |
| 3DM Slingshot | 6690 | FTR | 6654 | NA |
| 3DM Wild Life | 3122 | 2373 | 4126 | NA |
| 3DM Wild Life Unlimited | 3131 | 2396 | 4205 | NA |
| GFXBench T-Rex | 60 | 92 | 60 | 66 |
| GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 | 50 | 39 | 39 | 29 |
| GFXBench Car Chase | 29 | 20 | 21 | 16 |
The CMF Phone 1 delivers a smooth user experience in everyday usage. Switching between apps, watching movies, or engaging in heavy multitasking proves seamless.
The CMF Phone 1 excels in gaming performance. During testing with Call of Duty: Mobile, the game ran smoothly at default graphics (Very High, High frame rate). Even with settings maxed out to Very High graphics and Max frame rates, the phone maintained stability. The thermal management is quite good, with the phone becoming only slightly warm after an hour of gaming.
The phone incorporates an in-display fingerprint sensor that is fast and reliable. However, the single speaker is a disappointment. While loud enough, it lacks detail, impacting the overall video watching experience.
CMF Phone 1 Cameras: Needs Optimisation
The CMF Phone 1 features a modest camera setup, though not outstanding. The rear camera system comprises a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2-megapixel portrait sensor that assists in bokeh photo creation.
Photos captured in broad daylight exhibit natural colours and good contrast. However, dynamic range could be improved. While the sharpness is decent, it falls short of some competitors within the same price range.
At 2x zoom, photos tend to be soft and blurry. Nonetheless, the primary camera captures human subjects effectively with natural skin tones.
In low-light conditions, the CMF Phone 1 delivers decent results. Noise levels are low, colours remain natural, and light sources are not blown out.
The portrait mode performs adequately during testing. However, edge detection could be better in some instances. Portraits in low light also come out well, showcasing ample detail and low noise levels.
The selfie camera delivers decent results. Skin tones are close to reality and look natural. However, dynamic range remains limited. The portrait mode on the selfie camera delivers satisfactory results.
CMF Phone 1 Battery: Fast Charging Could Be Better
The CMF Phone 1 packs a 5,000mAh battery. Battery loop tests show it can last for 25 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge. However, the charging speed is relatively slow compared to competitors.
During testing, the phone achieved 28 per cent charge in 15 minutes, around 50 per cent in 30 minutes, and full charge in one hour and 15 minutes using the provided 33W charger.
In real-world usage, the phone sustained a full day of use with some battery remaining. This included reading emails, listening to music, browsing social media, gaming, and taking photos.
CMF Phone 1 Verdict
The CMF Phone 1 offers a great value-for-money proposition for consumers. The swappable rear panels provide a distinctive design feature, adding a customised touch to the device. The hope is that both the company and third parties will create more accessories to take advantage of this feature. The display is impressive, and the performance is on par with other phones in this price range. The camera, while decent, could be better for its price point.
The CMF Phone 1 faces considerable competition from devices like the Moto G85, Redmi Note 13, Infinix Note 40, OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, and more. For those seeking a dependable smartphone with a unique design element and customisation options, the CMF Phone 1 is worth considering.
