CMF Phone 1: A Comprehensive Review

The CMF Phone 1 is a budget-friendly smartphone from CMF by Nothing, a sub-brand of the well-known tech company Nothing. Launched in 2024, the CMF Phone 1 aims to offer a premium design and solid performance at a more affordable price point compared to its more expensive counterparts. Designed to target consumers who want a stylish yet functional smartphone without the flagship price, the CMF Phone 1 provides an interesting alternative in the budget smartphone segment. In this review, we’ll explore its design, display, performance, camera system, and battery life.

Design and Display

The CMF Phone 1 sports a clean, minimalist design that is heavily influenced by the aesthetic of Nothing’s previous smartphones. The device features a polycarbonate body with an attractive finish, offering a lightweight yet durable feel in hand. The design is sleek, with a central camera module and minimal branding, contributing to a modern, no-frills look. Despite its budget pricing, the phone feels premium in terms of build quality, and the lightweight design makes it comfortable to hold and use.

The phone features a 6.5-inch LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels). While not as vibrant or sharp as OLED displays found in higher-end smartphones, the LCD panel is perfectly adequate for day-to-day use. The screen offers decent brightness levels and good color reproduction, making it suitable for browsing, watching videos, and casual gaming. However, the 60Hz refresh rate may feel a bit limiting compared to the smoother 90Hz or 120Hz panels found in other phones in this price range. Still, it’s a fair trade-off for the price.

Performance and Software

The CMF Phone 1 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, which is a solid mid-range processor designed for efficient performance and low power consumption. Paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, the device handles everyday tasks like social media browsing, light gaming, and media consumption without much lag. It’s not built for demanding apps or heavy multitasking, but for a budget phone, it provides a smooth experience for most users.

Running on Android 13 with a clean, near-stock interface, the CMF Phone 1 offers a straightforward and user-friendly experience. The lack of bloatware is a bonus, and the software is responsive, with a few customization options to make it feel personalized. Software updates are expected to be regular, as Nothing has made a commitment to providing software support for its devices.

Camera System

The CMF Phone 1 features a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor for portraits. The 50MP camera offers decent results, capturing sharp images with natural colors in well-lit conditions. It struggles a bit in low light, where noise can become apparent, but the Night Mode helps improve overall performance in darker environments. The 2MP depth sensor works as expected, providing decent portrait shots with a soft background blur. However, the camera system is far from exceptional, and you can’t expect flagship-level quality here.

The 8MP front camera captures good selfies with decent detail and color accuracy for casual social media sharing, although it can sometimes struggle in low-light situations.

For video, the CMF Phone 1 supports 1080p recording at 30fps. Video quality is average, with stabilization being minimal, but it’s fine for everyday vlogging or casual recording.

Battery Life and Charging

The CMF Phone 1 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which is a generous size for a budget device. The phone offers impressive longevity, easily lasting a full day of use with moderate tasks like browsing, texting, and media consumption. With lighter use, you can expect to stretch the battery life even further.

Charging is supported by 18W fast charging, which can recharge the battery from 0 to 100% in roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. While not as fast as some competitors with 30W or 40W charging, it’s still an acceptable charging speed for the price.

Conclusion

The CMF Phone 1 is a solid budget smartphone that delivers good value for its price. It has a modern design, a functional display, decent performance, and a capable camera system for the price range. While it doesn’t excel in any one area, the CMF Phone 1 offers a balanced experience for users looking for an affordable, everyday device. Its clean software experience, long-lasting battery, and minimal design make it an excellent choice for those who prioritize simplicity and value over flagship features. If you’re in the market for a budget phone that doesn’t feel like a compromise, the CMF Phone 1 is definitely worth considering.