The excitement was palpable as I unboxed a massive package that held CMF’s very first phone. Now, if you're wondering, "Who or what is CMF?" let me break it down for you. Nothing, the innovative tech company, has launched a sub-brand called CMF. And this is their debut phone. But wait, wasn’t the last phone from Nothing supposed to be the affordable version? And didn’t Nothing’s co-founder tweet about this phone a while back?
This CMF phone features the same depth camera as previous models. CMF boldly claimed it would have the best processor in its segment. However, it comes with the Dimensity 7300 processor, which might seem like an upgrade at first glance. But if you dive into the scores, it actually ranks lower than the previous version. So, what exactly is this CMF phone 1? Who is it for? What’s the price? And is it the best phone around ₹20,000? Let’s find out together.
Unboxing and First Impressions
CMF has launched not just the phone but a whole bunch of other gadgets. Inside the box, you get the phone, a USB-C cable, and a fancy SIM ejector tool with the CMF logo. In case you’re wondering, CMF stands for Color, Material, and Finish. Though personally, I wish it stood for Compact Multi-Device Charger because, unfortunately, there’s no charger in the box. They’ve also launched the CMF Watch Pro 2 and CMF Buds Pro 2, which we’ll discuss later.
The unboxing experience is quite unique. The phone comes with extra cases, each with a separate set of screws, a small screwdriver, and even a different SIM ejector tray. You can unscrew and remove the back panel, revealing an internal view of the phone. This cool feature allows you to personalize your phone’s look with blue, green, and orange cases. Each case includes a camera island and buttons, giving a complete makeover to your device. Additionally, there’s a knob to attach accessories like a magnet wallet for your cards or a carabiner clip to hang the phone around your neck. I found the stand clip especially useful; it made holding the phone easier, much like a pop socket, and it also acted as a stand, perfect for watching videos while enjoying a cup of tea.
Design and
Build QualityI must say, the design of this phone is quite impressive. The in-hand feel is great, and it definitely stands out from the crowd. However, all these accessories and cases are sold separately, and the pricing is not yet confirmed. The box suggests the accessories cost ₹1,000 and the cases ₹2,000. When buying a budget smartphone under ₹20,000, would you spend extra money on accessories? If I had an extra ₹2,000 to ₹3,000, I might just go for a slightly more expensive phone.
Display and Audio
Moving to the front, the phone has a large display. Compared to the Nothing Phone 2A, the chin on the CMF Phone 1 is slightly thicker, and the top and bottom bezels aren’t symmetrical. However, for its price, it’s pretty good. Nothing claims the display can reach 2,000 nits of peak brightness, but in our tests, it topped out around 1,300 to 1,400 nits. The CMF Phone 1 has a single speaker, which could be a dealbreaker for some, but it is sufficiently loud and supports HDR on YouTube.
Performance
Now, let’s talk about the most interesting aspect—the processor. The CMF Phone 1 comes with the new Dimensity 7300, 8 GB RAM, and 128 GB storage for the base variant. It has a hybrid SIM card slot, so you can expand the storage up to 2 TB with a microSD card. However, the Dimensity 7300 might sound impressive, but it scores lower than the previous 7200 in benchmarks. Despite this, what truly matters is real-world performance.
I played BGMI on this phone, enjoying smooth graphics at 60 FPS. After 30 minutes of gameplay, there were a few stutters, averaging around 55 FPS. Overall, the performance is one of the best in this price range. The battery life is impressive too. With a 5,000 mAh battery, it easily lasted a day of normal usage with 40% to 50% battery left by the end.
Charging
Interestingly, the CMF Phone 1 supports 33W fast charging. However, there’s a catch. Just like previous Nothing phones, it doesn’t always hit the claimed charging wattage. Using a device that measures charging speed, we found it often charges around 12W to 15W, rarely reaching 25W to 26W. This discrepancy in charging speed has been a
recurring issue with Nothing phones. If you have a Nothing phone, share your charging experiences with us. We’d love to hear from you.
Software Experience
The Nothing OS software experience is smooth and enjoyable. Scrolling through pages feels seamless, and I appreciate the customized home screen. The ideology behind Nothing OS is to make all apps look uniform, minimizing distractions from unnecessary social media apps. It’s also equipped with useful features. For instance, when you take a screenshot, you can instantly share it with ChatGPT to get additional information, such as links or prices. It’s somewhat similar to Samsung’s Circle to Search, but with a couple more steps.
Occasionally, there are jitters and frame drops, but that’s expected with a budget phone. The CMF Phone 1 promises two years of software updates and three years of security updates, which is standard for this price range.
Camera
The camera setup includes a 50 MP Sony sensor and a depth sensor. We tested the depth sensor by taping it over and taking portrait photos. The results showed that the depth sensor is indeed functional, as photos taken with the tape lacked background blur. However, the edge detection in portrait mode needs improvement, as seen in some of our test photos.
Low-light photography is another area where the phone struggles. Without Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), photos tend to be soft or shaky. The phone can record videos at 4K 30 FPS, while the front 16 MP selfie camera supports 1080P 60 FPS. The selfie quality is decent but not extraordinary. If camera performance is your top priority, I’d recommend the Moto H50 Fusion, which offers a superior camera at this price point.
Accessories: CMF Buds Pro 2 and CMF Watch Pro 2
Before we conclude, let’s talk about the CMF Buds Pro 2 and CMF Watch Pro 2. The CMF Buds Pro 2 comes with a unique case featuring a functional knob that adjusts volume and controls playback. With 50 dB Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), they offer a good listening experience. The CMF Watch Pro 2 has a swappable bezel and a rotatable crown for menu navigation. However, it’s still in the beta phase, with issues like non-functional auto-brightness and difficulties in installing watch faces. We’ll need more time to test these accessories thoroughly.
Conclusion
The CMF Phone 1 leaves me with mixed feelings. Priced under ₹20,000 (likely around ₹18,000), it faces tough competition from its own family. Nothing just launched the Nothing Phone 2A, an affordable version with similar specs. So, where does the CMF Phone 1 fit in? If you factor in the cost of accessories, the total price approaches that of the Nothing Phone 2A. Why wouldn’t you just buy the Nothing Phone 2A instead?
Nothing is still a relatively new brand, and their
online backup service center experience hasn’t been stellar. A new brand should establish itself before launching a sub-brand. The CMF Phone 1 is a commendable effort, but if it’s priced around ₹20,000, I’d suggest considering the Moto H50 Fusion for its camera or the Nothing Phone 2A for its design and overall better experience.