We want to tell you about the CMF Phone 1. It is the first smartphone from the low-cost sub-brand Nothing which, after launching headphones and a smartwatch, has finally taken the leap and done so with a device.
At the end of 2023, Nothing welcomed a sub-brand to the family: CMF (Consumer Mobile Freedom). Its main key points? A lower price, but without sacrificing the groundbreaking essence of the main company.
Since its launch, two smartwatches have been released, of which I have had the opportunity to test the CMF Watch Pro, as well as two headphones, of which I have tested the Buds Pro.
What was missing from this equation? A smartphone.
Something that since July 8th is no longer a dream, thanks to the materialization of the CMF Phone 1, which I have had the pleasure of testing for a few weeks.
Design: the jewel in the crown thanks to a very original and modular construction
Bearing in mind that Nothing devices stand out for their originality and for setting themselves apart from the competition in every way, I was expecting something similar in this sense, but to tell you the truth, I wasn’t expecting anything so groundbreaking.
They are not the transparencies of the main brand, but rather a modular design that allows you to remove the casing and replace it with another of any colour, or even add accessories to the set such as a cord to hang around your neck, a folding stand or a card holder.
What I didn’t like so much is that the box doesn’t come with a tool kit for handling the device, something that can be easily solved by using a flat 5 mm screwdriver, or the accessories, so you have to go to the checkout if you’re interested in any of them.
For the latter, installing them on the device is as simple as unscrewing the circle on the bottom right, which is quite a nice touch, by the way, and attaching that accessory that caught your eye.
At the moment, as I have already mentioned, there are 3 accessories, but the company has already made it clear that they are working on new add-ons so that you can personalize the device even more.
To conclude this point, it is important to bear in mind that there are certain limits if you don’t want to lose the warranty, as explained on the CMF website: only the 4 external slot screws of the casing, the decorative screw, the SIM tray and the casing itself can be removed.
Getting down to business, the design of the CMF Phone 1 is absolutely distinctive. Just look at the back and you know what kind of device it is. Of course, whether it suits your tastes is a personal matter, but the fact is that it’s not afraid to be different.
Personally, I love its retro look, both because of its unique construction and personality, and because of the choice of materials.
Firstly, because of the non-slip and anti-fingerprint back cover, which is a delight and fits perfectly in the hand.
Secondly, because of the aluminium button panel that makes pressing the buttons solid and reminiscent of much more premium mobiles.
And thirdly, because of the camera module, also made of aluminium, which gives the whole even more personality.
Screen and sound: for this price, you can’t ask for more
The screen of this CMF Phone 1 is also a pleasant surprise. It has its little problems, but the truth is that for this price you can’t ask for anything else either.
Starting with the good, its 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED panel has a refresh rate of 120 Hz to ensure the maximum possible fluidity, is compatible with HDR+ and also has a very balanced and well-defined color balance.
Continuing with the not-so-good, it has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits which, on paper, looks very good, but the truth is that it stays at a maximum of 700 nits, so in bright conditions, it needs a little more brightness to enjoy it to the full. It is true that it reaches those 2,000 nits from time to time, but it is very sporadic.
And finally, what I wasn’t convinced about, it has an automatic brightness setting that I didn’t like at all. The device tends to look for the lowest possible brightness and I have found myself on many occasions having to turn it up myself. Luckily it’s something that can be solved with a software update, so it’s not a big deal either.
As for the sound, the truth is that it falls short, as it has only one speaker, so it leaves the sound department somewhat poor for both gaming and multimedia consumption.
However, for this price, the truth is that the screen more than meets the requirements and you can’t ask for anything else.
Performance and software: plenty of power and an excellent operating system
Inside, the CMF Phone 1 houses a MediaTek 7300 processor which is the equivalent of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and which, in terms of power, is more or less the equivalent of a high-end processor from a few years ago such as the Snapdragon 855.
What do you get as a result? A frankly good performance. Here are the tests so you can get an idea of how well the device performs.
Now, what I liked most about this processor is not the power, which, as I said, is more than enough for anything you might want, but the thermal dissipation. Thanks to its liquid cooling system, it’s a phone that no matter what you throw at it, it always stays at a fantastic temperature.
To this, I add another extra to the equation: it has a very energy-efficient processor, something that has a direct impact on the battery life, which I will talk about a little later.
And as far as the software is concerned, it uses Nothing OS, the same as its big brother, the Nothing Phone (2) and other devices from the main brand, and here I can only praise it to the skies.
Not only for its visual aesthetics, which are far from the norm with a unique look, but also for offering a very fluid experience, close to that offered by much more expensive equipment and the total absence of bloatware except for Google apps and Nothing’s own.
If we are to find something to criticize, it is that it only has 2 years of software updates and 3 of security patches, somewhat below average, which is already up to 4 or 5 years in this respect.
Finally, the real downer of this CMF Phone (1): the absence of NFC for mobile payments. Honestly, I find this absolutely incomprehensible, as it is something that is included in any device that comes onto the market and personally for me it is a decisive factor in purchasing, since I do not have a physical card and I always pay with my mobile phone.
If you are like me, sadly you will have to look for another option on the market.
Cameras: reliable photography in everything it touches
To tell you the truth, I wasn’t expecting much from the camera on this device, but I was pleasantly surprised.
It may be a bit short, as it only has a main 50-megapixel sensor plus an auxiliary sensor for portrait mode, as well as a 16-megapixel selfie camera, but Sony’s IMX882 sensor does a very, very good job in all kinds of situations.
Battery life: lasts up to 2 days of use without problem
The battery is, without a doubt, one of the device’s great strengths, since thanks to its 5,000 mAh it is capable of offering up to 2 days of use without any problem.
As I have already mentioned, I think that the processor plays a fundamental role here in terms of how well it manages energy, and it also gets along very well with the CMF Phone (1).
On top of all this, it has a 33 W fast charge with a charger that does not come in the box, but according to the brand it is capable of going from 0 to 100 in about an hour and a half.
I don’t think you’ll find anything better for 200 euros. What’s more, the battery is one of the best in its price range and although the fast charge is slow and there are devices for this price that take less time to reach 100%, I don’t see it as relevant, as you’re not going to be spending much time at the plug socket.
Verdict: Is the CMF Phone 1 worth it?
The CMF Phone 1 is a fabulous piece of equipment and for the 239 euros it costs it has few rivals that can match it for everything it has to offer.
Its great virtues are a superior design that also allows for a lot of customization, an operating system that I believe is unrivaled today in Android and an absolutely titanic battery.
On the other side of the scale, a camera that may fall short depending on what you are looking for and, above all, the absence of NFC which may put you off completely.
If these negative points don’t bother you, I can only recommend this device, as it is practically flawless, very original and at a fabulous price.
