CMF Phone 1 is the most unusual mobile phone I have ever tried

Nothing, the company founded by Carl Pei, one of the creators of OnePlus, has a brand aimed at producing budget products called CMF, which until a few months ago was focused on emerging markets such as India. In November, it arrived in Spain with a small product catalog focused only on headphones and smartwatches. Now, finally, they have released their first mobile phone. Telephone CMF 1.

The brand’s new and first smartphone preserves the essence of Nothing in many sections, such as software or design. Also the essence of CMF itself, since it is a terminal, has a reduced price.

These are the three advantages of the first CMF mobile phone. In fact, its design It’s more than just a bright orange back panel, the shape and component layout are similar to the Nothing (2) phone, and the company doesn’t hold back on anything software. All this is for price less than 240 euros for features like a 120Hz AMOLED display, MediaTek processor, 5,000mAh battery and a 50MP main camera.

We focus on design

After several days of testing, I can assure you that the CMF Phone 1 This is one of the most different phones I’ve ever tried.and the main reason is its appearance.

The Nothing brand mobile phone does not stand out for its finish or the quality of its materials. Indeed, a priori The CMF Phone 1 looks just like any other entry-level mobile phone.with a polycarbonate back panel with frames made of the same material and an apparently “plastic” screen. Its appearance is different from what the company has allowed to do with this mobile phone: the back is interchangeable.

The CMF Phone 1 has visible screws that can be removed to install another case in a different color. CMF He sells them for 35 euros.and some even come in different finishes, like vegan leather. To replace it, you simply need to remove the screws with the tool that came with the case, remove the SIM tray, remove the case, insert the new one, and reinsert the screws.

In addition to the interchangeable back panel, the CMF Phone 1 also has a small circular element located at the bottom. allows you to attach various accessories, which are also sold separatelyc. In particular, CMF sells a stand, wallet and neck strap for 25 euros each, and attaching them to the terminal is somewhat simpler. You just need to remove the component underneath and place the accessory.

It’s certainly an interesting concept, This has its pros and cons.On the positive side, it is possible to replace the case or install various accessories that can significantly improve the usability, as some of them, such as support, can be particularly useful.

Additionally, the easy removal of the back panel allows for easier access to the battery, although it is not removable. In fact, when removing the case, you can read a warning about the inability to remove the battery.

The main disadvantage is the price of these accessories; for example, 25 euros for a cord is perhaps a bit exaggerated. On the other hand, depending on the accessory, holding the terminal becomes somewhat uncomfortable.

He Hardware from phone CMF 1

The user experience is also greatly improved by the software. The CMF 1 phone has NothingOS 2.6the interface that the company includes in its mobile phones and which stands out above all for its customization options. On this mobile phone, you can activate the Nothing icon design, as well as the characteristic widgets, and access some additional settings and functions.

In terms of hardware, the CMF Phone 1 comes with a processor. MediaTek Dimension 7300, the same one we see on mobile phones such as the Oppo Reno 12 Pro (available for over 500 euros). It is accompanied by 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory, although a version with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of memory is also available. All this, in addition, with a 5000 mAh battery and a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

With this set of features, the CMF Phone 1 runs very smoothly, and the 5000 mAh capacity does its job very well. The screen is also very bright and has more than decent clarity for its price.

So what did Nothing have to sacrifice to include these features at that price? That’s right, in camera.

Of course, not in the quality of the sensor, but in the number of lenses that are included in this device. In particular, the CMF 1 phone has Main sensor 50 megapixelsas well as a second depth-of-field lens that serves as a portrait mode. It’s a decent camera in most situations, especially in good lighting.

CMF Phone 1 could become the new king of the entry-level segment.

Phone CMF 1, available for 239 euros in the version with 8 GB RAM and 128 GBand the 269 in its 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant is without a doubt one of the most promising entry-level phones out there right now. It offers a great balance of features that are similar to what we see in entry-level Xiaomi phones, but with those little extras that, while not essential, make a huge difference to the user experience.

Now we have to keep in mind that the CMF even has a competitor in its own house: the Nothing (2a) phone. Although this one is a bit more expensive (selling for €300 in stores like PcComponentes), it has everything that this device has to offer, plus some important improvements, like a higher quality screen, a slightly more premium design (though perhaps not as flashy), and a slightly more versatile camera setup.