Le CMF Phone 1, first smartphone from the new CMF brand by Nothing, is positioned as an entry-level 5G device with impressive features and a distinctive design. Let's take a detailed look at what it has to offer.
Design and materials
It is finally here. Teasing after teasing, the Phone 1 is finally showing itself, and it's time to give feedback after a good 2 weeks of use as a main phone. But first, let's take a look at the owner.
The CMF Phone 1 stands out for its elegant design and modular. Unlike the glass used on Nothing's more expensive models, this smartphone uses high-quality plastic, providing a pleasant texture with good grip and grip. The modular design allows you to add various accessories such as a kickstand, a neck strap attachment or other accessories via a “caster” system screwed onto the rear shell. An innovative feature, rare in this price range.
Interchangeable cases allow users to personalize their phone according to their desires and needs.
Screen and audio
The CMF Phone 1 is equipped with a 6,67-inch OLED screen with Full HD+ definition and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The LPTS technology used ensures vibrant colors and deep blacks. With a maximum brightness of 2000 nits, the screen remains readable even in direct sunlight. HDR10+ and P3 support enables a rich and dynamic visual experience. This screen size may not be suitable for everyone, but it provides an immersive viewing experience. I was personally used to it since, for the Phone 1 tests, I replaced my Samsung Galaxy A71 which has a fairly similar screen size and general characteristics. The stereo speakers provide decent sound with a well-contained volume, but do not neglect the bass, which is quite present to my great surprise. However, for better audio quality, the use of an external speaker or headphones is still recommended.
Performance and software
The CMF Phone 1 works with a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor (engraved in 4 nm), 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage (256 GB on the model tested). This configuration ensures adequate fluidity for daily tasks and games. Farming Simulator 23, recognized as greedy, is perfectly fluid on the CMF smartphone. Android 14, combined with the Nothing OS 2.6 overlay, offers a pleasant and visually consistent user interface. The “RAM Booster” (a configurable swap in the options) uses up to 8 GB of existing storage to keep applications running in the background, ensuring instant accessibility.
Nothing OS stands out for its careful aesthetic and minimalist approach, making the user experience pleasant and intuitive. Widgets, themes, fonts and icons are seamlessly integrated, enhancing the visual appeal of the system. However, during this first use for my part, and accustomed for almost 20 years to Samsung interfaces, I had to review my habits. Nothing still relies too much on Google's standard software suite, unlike Samsung which offers its own applications, often more complete. For example, the CMF's “Voice Recorder” tool is not capable of Speech To Text, while Samsung's does it perfectly. And there are many examples like this, so we have to find alternatives, or wait for the Nothing ecosystem to mature to natively integrate this kind of possibility.
Battery and autonomy
With a 5000 mAh battery, the CMF Phone 1 offers autonomy that is standard for entry-level smartphones. It lasts more than 2 days with normal use. Wired charging (33W max) is faster (50% battery in 20 minutes) than my aging Galaxy A71. Note again that the charger is not provided (only a USB-C to USB-C cable). I personally charged the CMF Phone 1 with the Steamdeck charger (45W), which is always near the bed for nighttime charging.
Camera
The CMF Phone 1 is equipped with a 50 MP main camera from Sony, offering an aperture of f/1.8 with a field of view of 79º, and supported by a second sensor for depth. Here, we do not multiply the sensors like on high-end devices. And that’s very good! The sensor does the job, it even manages to surprise despite the absence of optical stabilization. The photos are detailed and contrasty. As always on smartphones, in low light conditions, we lose detail, but the night mode (Nothing's TrueLens Engine 2.0 algorithm, associated with AI Vivid mode) improves the shots a little by smoothing them. Video mode captures video in 4K resolution and includes Action and Slo-mo modes at 120 fps for a variety of capturing options. For everyday use, the CMF Phone 1 holds its head high compared to other entry-level models. And only the wide-angle mode of my Galaxy A71 missed me a little. Here are some photos taken every day:
The CMF Phone 1 is a nice surprise in the entry-level smartphone segment. Its modular design, adequate performance, and robust battery life make it a solid choice for those looking for an affordable device without sacrificing quality. We are talking about a smartphone announced at €239 (and already on sale for its launch). Although it does not revolutionize the market, it stands out for its unique approach and its excellent quality-price ratio. And he doesn't come alone. CMF also stocks up on accessories at low prices (but good quality). This is how the watch CMF Wath Pro 2 (€69), impressive with its autonomy of almost 2 weeks (yes, I received it with 88% battery, and I have not yet charged it as I write these lines) and the headphones Buds Pro 2 (€59), whose sound quality is equivalent to the high-end Nothing Ear models (a), also arrive in the catalog. Enough to make a complete and connected pack for just over €300!
