The Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 is a moderately distinctive sub-$300 smartphone. Its modular design makes it extremely customizable in a market the place all smartphones look alike. Nonetheless, is that this distinctive look simply window-dressing to compensate its restricted technical specs? I am going to let you realize on this full Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 assessment.
Good
- Distinctive design
- Wonderful battery life
- Bloatware-free Nothing OS 2.6
- Easy 120 Hz AMOLED display screen
- Very respectable efficiency
Unhealthy
- Solely 3 years of updates
- Disappointing digicam efficiency
- Gradual wired charging
- No NFC help
Nothing CMF Cellphone 1: All offers
The Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 in a nutshell
The Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 was formally unveiled on July 12, 2024. It’s obtainable through CMF’s beta program on the CMF store*. It is available in two configurations outdoors of the US (8/128 GB and eight/256 GB), though solely the 8GB RAM + 128GB mannequin is accessible Stateside with an asking value of $199. This may be thought of a barely inferior different to the Nothing Phone (2a) (review).
Simply in case you have been questioning, CMF is a sub-brand of Nothing. It primarily targets rising markets reminiscent of India and Southeast Asia. The idea is to promote inexpensive merchandise with a powerful emphasis on design. Nothing would not talk a lot about this CMF vary in Europe or the US. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless decide up CMF merchandise if you wish to. Nothing appears to take extra accountability for its sub-brand, which additionally features a smartwatch and wi-fi headphones.
Design and display screen
Design is the principle promoting level of the CMF Cellphone 1. The again options an interchangeable panel and a small knob to connect quite a lot of equipment.
Execs:
- Distinctive design.
- Cool modular or “interchangeable” idea.
- Flat display screen with pretty skinny bezels.
- 120 Hz refresh fee and satisfactory brightness.
Cons:
- Solely IP52 certification.
- No Gorilla Glass safety for the display screen.
- Costly equipment and again panels contemplating the smartphone’s value.
Cool modular design
Whereas the clear again discovered on different Nothing smartphones is lacking right here, the CMF Cellphone 1’s again panel will be unscrewed so that you can swap it with completely different coloured panels of varied supplies. Nothing affords 4 colours to the discerning buyer: black, inexperienced, blue, and orange. In fact, extra panels will be bought individually.
The tactic to take away the again panel of the CMF Cellphone 1 is way from easy. I used to be typically afraid of breaking the smartphone when attempting to unclip it. I additionally had a little bit of hassle eradicating the screws that secured the plate utilizing the included software. It was far too small for my fats fingers.
The matte plastic coating on the black and inexperienced panels was good to the touch and so was the faux-leather coating on the orange and blue variations. They price $35 a pop which I believe is a bit steep.
The again of the CMF Cellphone 1 additionally sports activities a small round button on the underside proper generally known as the Accent Level. By unscrewing the panel, you may connect specifically designed equipment for the smartphone. Nothing affords a stand, a lanyard, and a card case. Every accent is bought individually and prices $25.
It is intelligent and appeals to my collector’s behavior of snapping up all of the equipment and covers. It additionally appeals to my penchant for Lego as I can “construct” my smartphone in response to my preferences. The equipment themselves are very straightforward to put in. Other than the cardboard case, none of them require any instruments to put in.
Other than that, the CMF Cellphone 1 is IP52-certified for water and mud resistance. That is not loopy however a minimum of this certification continues to be legitimate when the smartphone’s again panel is eliminated.
A plain 120 Hz AMOLED display screen
As for the display screen, it is a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with 1800 x 2400 pixel decision. The refresh fee stands at 120 Hz with a typical brightness of 500 to 700 nits, rising to 2,000 nits peak brightness.
The CMF Cellphone 1’s display screen is flat, and Nothing did not need to spend an excessive amount of on Corning’s Gorilla Glass license. Nonetheless, the CMF Cellphone 1’s display screen is protected by Dragontail Professional Glass, whose energy is claimed to be equal to that of Gorilla Glass 5.
I did not run into any issues when studying content material on the display screen with its respectable brightness stage. Nonetheless, the automated brightness was far too sluggish to react to my environment, leading to me deactivating it throughout my assessment. As for the refresh fee, 120 Hz is not excellent on this value vary though it’s good to have.
I discovered the bezels of the CMF Cellphone 1’s display screen to be moderately skinny. The chin of the display screen is a little bit too outstanding, creating an asymmetrical state of affairs that bothers me visually.
Interface and OS
The CMF Cellphone 1 inaugurates Nothing OS 2.6, a pores and skin primarily based on Android 14. There aren’t any main new options in comparison with Nothing OS 2.5 however Nothing’s pores and skin affords an excellent steadiness between inventory Android with just a few capabilities and customization components. As for the software program replace coverage, it is just about common.
Execs:
- Clear, bloatware-free interface.
- Nothing widgets are visually interesting.
Cons:
- Common software program replace coverage.
- Not a lot that’s new in Nothing OS 2.6.
There’s not a lot to say about Nothing OS 2.6. You may learn my Nothing OS 2.5 review and my information to the best Nothing OS 2.5 features to search out out extra.
The producer merely added two new widgets right here. One for at this time’s date and one other for “group” that I have not discovered. There’s additionally the wonderful digicam widget that permits you to save exact digicam settings which will be activated by default once you launch the digicam software through this widget.
The CMF Cellphone 1 will obtain 2 main Android updates and three years of safety updates. Even for a mid-range smartphone, that is fairly common. Principally, it is the naked minimal a producer ought to present.
The large plus level of Nothing OS is the absence of bloatware. The interface implements all Android capabilities whereas providing just a few customization choices from Nothing.
Efficiency and SoC
The Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC. The smartphone can be outfitted with 8 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of storage, relying on the mannequin and area. I used to be pleasantly shocked by the smartphone’s efficiency.
Execs:
- Good temperature management and stability.
- Adequate efficiency for many video games at 30 FPS.
Cons:
- Much less highly effective than Dimensity 7200-powered Nothing Cellphone (2a).
- No NFC help.
The Dimensity 7300 in CMF Cellphone 1 ought to, in concept, outperform the Dimensity 7200 Professional that powers the Nothing Cellphone (2a). Each chips depend on the 4 nm manufacturing course of. Nonetheless, the Dimensity 7300, or extra exactly its fundamental core, has a decrease clock velocity than the Dimensity 7200 Professional.
Benchmarks confirmed it to be considerably much less highly effective than the Nothing Cellphone (2a). That is logical by itself because the Nothing Cellphone (2a) is $150 costlier at launch and Nothing absolutely needs to take care of a distinction between its fundamental vary and its CMF sub-range.
In any case, the CMF Cellphone 1 proved to be simply as efficient because the Cellphone (2a) by way of temperature management and stability. All of the cellular video games I ran with their graphics high quality set to “medium” by default didn’t expertise any hiccups. At 30 FPS, I did not discover any dropped frames. Nonetheless, that is so far as it goes as cranking issues as much as 60 FPS resulted in a much less secure expertise.
| Â | Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 (Dimensity 7300) |
Nothing Cellphone (2a) (Dimensity 7200 Professional) |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Mark Wild Life | 3,115 | 4,129 |
| 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Take a look at |
Greatest loop: 3,118 Worst loop: 3,099 |
Greatest loop: 4,131 Worst loop: 4,085 |
| 3D Mark Wild Life Excessive Stress Take a look at |
Greatest loop: 853 Worst loop: 848 |
Greatest loop: 1,153 Worst loop: 1,148 |
| Geekbench 6 | Single: 1,041 Multi: 2,915 |
Single: 1,148 Multi: 2,589 |
Photograph high quality
A single digicam lens is all you get with the CMF Cellphone 1. The smartphone contains a 50 MP sensor behind whereas the second lens is only a depth sensor for portraits. The selfie digicam has a 16 MP decision.
Execs:
- Respectable daytime images.
- Common selfie pictures.
- Portrait mode is appropriate.
Cons:
- Just one digicam lens.
- Restricted digital zoom efficiency.
- Disappointing night time images.
Essential lens efficiency
The 50 MP fundamental lens incorporates a Sony IMX882 sensor which is evidently not a high-end picture sensor. The default decision is 12.5 MP, achieved through pixel binning. Additionally it is doable to seize full-resolution 50 MP images.
Throughout the day and beneath the suitable circumstances, picture high quality is respectable. Colours are pure and the dynamic vary is well-managed. Nonetheless, the extent of element is way from top-notch. Some areas on the fringe of the picture stay a pixelated mess.
The CMF Cellphone 1 incorporates a second lens which is a straightforward 2 MP depth sensor for portraits.
Portrait mode pictures are respectable with clear clipping. Topic detection within the foreground is pretty dependable nevertheless it doesn’t blow us out of the water.
Zoom high quality
The CMF Cellphone 1 has no telephoto lens and the digital zoom can obtain as much as 10x magnification.
All pictures taken past the 2x zoom stage will find yourself disappointing. Such images will lose all their sharpness as a result of the smartphone’s algorithm will restrict picture noise by smoothening the picture. Consequently, a substantial amount of element is misplaced.
Selfie high quality
The 16 MP selfie digicam can be moderately bizarre. The pores and skin on my face lacked a little bit texture however my complexion remained pure. Element and dynamic vary left one thing to be desired with out a lot to crow about, however neither is it excellent in any manner.
Night time pictures
It is at all times at night time that you just understand you have acquired an affordable smartphone in your fingers. I did not like all of the images I took at night time with the CMF Cellphone 1.
All the colours are over-emphasized, particularly the sky. Scenes are unrealistic, over-lit, and the lack of element as a result of low mild circumstances develop into much more noticeable. Alternatively, the CMF Cellphone 1 dealt with robust mild sources effectively, successfully limiting the lens flare impact.
Relating to movies, the CMF Cellphone 1 can report as much as 4K at 30 FPS with its fundamental lens.
Battery life and charging
The Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 contains a 5,000 mAh battery and wired charging as much as 33 watts. Wi-fi charging isn’t supported neither is there a charger included together with your buy.
Execs:
- Giant battery capability.
- Wonderful battery life.
Cons:
- Gradual charging velocity.
- No charger included.
A 5,000 mAh battery is fairly customary in a sub-$300Â Android smartphone. Charging at 33 watts can be moderately widespread for a producer with no proprietary fast-charging protocol.
In our battery life benchmark, the CMF Cellphone 1 lasted 14 hours and 45 minutes earlier than hitting lower than 20% battery life. This is a superb rating. In real-life use and with a mean display screen time of three hours, I used to be capable of final two days with none drawback earlier than needing to recharge the smartphone.
Nonetheless, recharging was comparatively glacial. This turns into stark once you examine it to the host of Redmi fashions on this value vary. It took me over 1h 30m to totally recharge. That is sluggish by at this time’s requirements and the CMF Cellphone 1 additionally doesn’t help wi-fi charging. In case you’re on the lookout for a bundled charger upon unboxing, you may overlook about that.
| Charging time | Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 5,000 mAh | Ugreen 140 W charger |
|---|---|
| 5 min. | |
| 10 min | |
| 20 min | |
| 30 min | |
| 1 hour | |
| Full cost |
Technical knowledge
| Â | Technical specs |
|---|---|
| System | Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 |
| Picture |  |
| Display |
|
| SoC | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G |
| Reminiscence |
|
| OS |
|
| Photograph module |
|
| Selfie | 16 MP selfie |
| Battery |
|
| Connectivity | 5G | Wi-Fi 6 | Bluetooth 5.3 | No NFC |
| IP certification | IP52 |
| Dimensions and weight | 164 × 82 × 8 mm, 202 g |
Conclusion
Would I like to recommend the CMF Cellphone 1 for $199? Sure!
The CMF Cellphone 1 does some issues very effectively. The design is exclusive, and no different producer affords such a cultured look. Battery life is superb. Display high quality and efficiency are additionally excellent for this value vary.
Nonetheless, the CMF Cellphone 1 isn’t the most effective smartphone for anybody with a $300 finances. The digicam lacks versatility whereas the IP52 ranking is considerably disappointing. The three-year safety replace interval is not very reassuring and the absence of NFC is difficult to know on this value vary.
We now have extra highly effective fashions from Poco and extra versatile digicam fashions from Samsung. The Nothing Cellphone (2a) may also be discovered for round $349Â for its 8/128 GB mannequin, which boasts a far cooler kind issue with its Glyph interface and superior cameras, higher IP ranking, and a quicker charging velocity.
The CMF Cellphone 1 is mainly relegated to the realm of inexpensive smartphones. These fashions pull out all of the stops on one or two key components. They make heavy compromises on the remainder. Xiaomi/Redmi focuses on quick charging and efficiency. Samsung focuses on its digicam efficiency and software program updates. CMF’s focus is on the design. You may inform from the “Coloration, Materials, End” title, and it can’t be faulted by sticking to its identification.
So no, the CMF Cellphone 1’s design is not simply window-dressing to cover its imperfections however stays its main, best-selling level.
What do you consider the Nothing CMF Cellphone 1 after this complete assessment? Do you propose to purchase Nothing’s inexpensive smartphone?
