Professional’s Ranking
Professionals
- Distinctive and trendy design
- Bloat-free working system
- Stable efficiency
- Enjoyable equipment
- Glorious worth
Cons
- No NFC
- Solely IP52 rated
- Easy digital camera setup
Our Verdict
The CMF Telephone 1 is essentially the most fashionable and attention-grabbing design to hit the price range market in years. It’s not excellent, however if you would like one thing completely different, and don’t wish to spend the massive bucks, it’s actually the best way to go.
After I first obtained phrase that Nothing was going to launch a price range telephone below its CMF sub-brand, I used to be a bit of confused. In any case, we simply noticed the Nothing Telephone (2a), which solely prices £349, how low cost can a telephone get earlier than it loses that signature Nothing allure?
Now, the CMF Telephone 1 has landed, and it’s each bit as cool and distinctive as its pricier siblings – a powerful feat given the £209/$199 MSRP. This telephone has a modular design with a detachable again and a number of enjoyable equipment that may be screwed into place.
It’s a design not like anything available on the market and is the injection of curiosity that the cookie-cutter price range smartphone market wanted.
It’s not simply model that this telephone brings to the desk, both. The CMF Telephone 1 has a vibrant and speedy OLED show, a big battery, a stable mid-range chip and a 50Mp essential shooter – lots of the identical specs because the pricier Telephone (2a). I used to be excited to search out out what it’s prefer to stay with.
Design & Construct
- Interchangeable plastic again
- Software-free Accent Level
- 197g, IP52 rated
The CMF Telephone 1 has a boxy, iPhone-like design with a very flat show, squared-off edges and a flat rear panel. The quantity rocker and lock button are on reverse sides of the machine (additionally like an iPhone), and as an Android consumer, that took some getting used to.
Luke Baker
I’m testing the black model, which has a plastic rear casing with a uniform matte end. I like the texture of this materials, it jogs my memory of the PBT keycaps that you simply’d discover on a high-end mechanical keyboard. It’s utterly resistant to fingerprint smudges, too, which isn’t typically the case with matte black designs.
The telephone can be out there in orange and light-weight inexperienced choices (darkish blue is unique to India), and each are rather more eye-catching than the delicate black variant. If you happen to select the signature orange colourway, you’ll get a vegan leather-based rear panel, whereas the sunshine inexperienced mannequin has the identical matte plastic end.
With this telephone, although, it doesn’t actually matter which color you select, as a result of the again will be swapped in a matter of minutes. You don’t get the glyph lights of the Nothing telephones, after all.
Luke Baker
For a worth of £29/£35, you will get a brand-new rear casing in both orange, blue or gentle inexperienced. Then, with the assistance of a flathead screwdriver (included), and some minutes of your time, you’ll be able to utterly change the look of your telephone. It’s a singular function nowadays, harking back to the traditional telephones of previous just like the Nokia 3210.
with the assistance of a flathead screwdriver, and some minutes of your time, you’ll be able to utterly change the look of your telephone
The uncovered screws that allow this function give the telephone a kind of industrial, rugged vibe, and it’s not like anything available on the market. I’m used to price range telephones taking part in it secure within the design division, manufacturers sometimes wish to attraction to as many shoppers as attainable, and their telephones find yourself trying nameless and boring. CMF, nonetheless, dives within the precise wrong way.
On the decrease proper of the rear panel, there’s a big knurled knob that protrudes from the rear panel by a millimetre or so. When the design of this telephone was first teased, I anticipated it to behave as quantity management or one thing alongside these traces, however it’s not fairly that refined.
Luke Baker
This knob is definitely what CMF calls an Accent Level, and that’s a flowery method of describing a screw with a tool-free design. This knob will be eliminated and changed with both a lanyard, a kickstand or a card pockets – all of that are non-obligatory purchases that retail for £19/$25 every.
By way of precise utility, I don’t really feel just like the Accent Level provides a lot. You could possibly all the time purchase an everyday telephone case with a kickstand, card holder or lanyard, in any case. However it’s enjoyable and distinctive, and that’s precisely what the price range market has been lacking.
A small word is that the equipment at present solely are available orange. That will change going ahead and naturally, CMF could launch further equipment, plus we might additionally see third-party ones too.
The rear cameras are surrounded by a flat aluminium panel with a matte end and barely glossier sides. This protrudes by the identical quantity because the Accent Level, and signifies that the telephone doesn’t rock about an excessive amount of when it’s positioned screen-up on a desk. It’s one other considerate contact.
Luke Baker
The CMF Telephone 1 has an IP52 score for mud and water resistance. It’s higher than nothing, however that detachable rear panel clearly isn’t doing the telephone any favours in relation to water resistance. There’s no point out of the kind of glass that’s used on the entrance, and the rear panel looks as if it’d scratch fairly simply. On the plus facet, you’ll be able to simply swap it out if it begins trying tatty.
The haptic motors are fairly weak, they usually’re not going to impress if you happen to’ve used any latest flagship telephones. Given this telephone’s worth level, although, I believe they’re acceptable sufficient.
Display screen & Audio system
- 120Hz 6.67-inch OLED show
- 2000 nits, 1080 x 2400 decision
- Mono speaker
The CMF Telephone 1 has a big 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED show with a speedy 120Hz refresh fee. This refresh fee is adaptive, too, and it’ll swap all the way down to 60Hz to preserve battery life relying on what you’re viewing.
The highlights are dazzlingly vibrant and the darkish areas are deep and detailed
Luke Baker
It’s additionally a really vibrant panel, and it will possibly increase as much as 2000 nits at peak brightness. I had no bother seeing it, even when the British summer time sunshine often poked its head by way of the clouds. No matter glass has been used right here is certainly a bit extra smudge-prone than a typical flagship, however it’s par for the course on this worth vary.
It’s a totally flat display with pretty chunky bezels on either side. The chin is barely bigger than the opposite sides of the bezel, however it’s minimal, and you actually must be trying to discover it. Usually, I really feel like chunky bezels make a telephone look low cost, however oddly sufficient, it form of suits with the utilitarian design of the CMF Telephone 1, and it didn’t trouble me as a lot as typical.
One factor I didn’t like as a lot is that there’s a really slight raised lip on the fringe of the show. It’s tiny, and you may barely see it with the bare eye, however you’re feeling it each time you swipe from the sting of the show, and also you do this quite a bit with gesture controls. Switching to the CMF Telephone 1 from a curved-edge show was particularly jarring.
Luke Baker
This show doesn’t have any of the favored HDR certifications, however it will possibly show HDR content material, and it really works effectively with YouTube HDR, on the very least. It seems to be nice doing so, too. The highlights are dazzlingly vibrant and the darkish areas are deep and detailed.
There’s an optical under-display fingerprint reader in direction of the underside of the panel, and I discovered that it really works simply as reliably as optical readers from competing manufacturers. It’s barely decrease than I’d like, however it’s not to date down that it turns into uncomfortable to achieve.
There’s solely a single speaker on the CMF Telephone 1, which implies it will possibly’t create any form of stereo impact. It produces a superb stage of element and vocals come by way of clear and clear, however it’s a bit of tinny sounding, and will positively use a lift within the decrease frequencies.
On the plus facet, it will possibly get very loud, and it’s well-positioned, so that you’ll very hardly ever muffle it along with your palm.
Luke Baker
Specs & Efficiency
- MediaTek Dimensity 7300
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB / 256GB storage
The CMF Telephone 1 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, and it’s paired with 8GB of RAM and both 128- or 256GB of storage. There’s additionally a model with 6GB of RAM, however that’s solely out there in India.
That is successfully the identical chip that we examined within the Oppo Reno 12 Professional not too long ago, and provided that this telephone retails for lower than half the worth, it’s spectacular to see it getting used right here.
Regular day-to-day duties are clean and lag-free, however there are few giveaways that it is a lower-end chip. For instance, utilizing the search within the settings menu leaves me ready longer than I’m used to. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to stay with and positively doesn’t really feel underpowered.
Luke Baker
On the subject of gaming, it will get the job finished, however you’ll want to stay to decrease settings to get the very best expertise. With my typical check title, Genshin Impression, it ran very easily on the bottom preset at 30fps, and it might nearly deal with 60fps mode on the identical preset. Going any greater launched a number of stutter and slowdowns.
It’s a good exhibiting at this worth level, and the truth that the telephone remained cool below stress is one other plus level. Even after half an hour of Genshin, the telephone was barely heat to the contact.
Luke Baker
There’s a sport overlay constructed into Nothing OS, however it’s essentially the most fundamental that I’ve come throughout to date.
It means that you can toggle on Efficiency Mode, block calls and notifications, lock your brightness or begin a display recording. It’s a really restricted choice, however they’re all helpful, and it’s good you could entry every part with a fast swipe.
CMF Telephone 1 benchmarks
Cameras
- 50Mp essential sensor
- 16Mp selfie digital camera
- As much as 4K 30fps video recording
The CMF Telephone 1 would possibly seem like it has two rear cameras, however it really solely has one usable lens. The opposite lens is a 2Mp depth sensor, designed to enhance the accuracy of portrait mode cutouts.
You may need observed that almost all trendy flagships lack a depth sensor, and that’s since you don’t actually need one. My suspicion is that it’s primarily right here to extend the digital camera rely and the look, and certainly, the telephone seems extra trendy than it could with a single lens on the again.
this essential digital camera can produce some very nice-looking pictures, particularly within the daylight
Luke Baker
The one rear digital camera has a 50Mp decision and a comparatively small 1/1.95-inch sensor. The lens is a 26mm equal with an f/1.8 aperture and it lacks OIS (optical picture stabilisation), relying completely on digital picture stabilisation as an alternative.
On paper, these specs aren’t too spectacular, however this essential digital camera can produce some very nice-looking pictures, particularly within the daylight. The publicity is well-balanced, the sharpening and distinction aren’t overbearing, and the HDR results are fairly good. The minimal focus distance is impressively small, too.
The telephone means that you can choose between Vivid and Pure color profiles just like the Xiaomi 14 collection, so you’ll be able to resolve if you happen to’d desire a vibrant poppy picture, or one thing extra life like.
There’s additionally a 2x toggle that crops in to the principle sensor for nearer framing. Sadly, doing so leads to a noticeable drop in sharpness and definition, so that you’ll get higher outcomes if you happen to bodily transfer nearer.
The CMF Telephone 1 is able to taking some first rate nighttime pictures, however that lack of OIS means it’s very liable to movement blur. Some photographs come out trying a bit of grainy as a result of comparatively small sensor, too. Aided by night time mode, although, you will get some usable snaps at midnight.
The selfie digital camera has a 16Mp decision, an f/2.0 aperture and a 24mm equal focal size. You can even punch in barely to a 29mm equal subject of view if you happen to desire tighter framing.
It takes first rate snaps, however don’t anticipate it to wow you an excessive amount of. In fact, daylight pictures look the very best however it’s not too dangerous when the sunshine will get low. The picture will get a bit of noisy in such circumstances, however movement blur isn’t too prevalent.
Regardless of having a devoted depth sensor, the topic detection isn’t essentially the most dependable in portrait mode. It’s not terrible, however I observed errors in fairly a couple of of my pictures, it was particularly dangerous with pictures of animals. On the plus facet, the bokeh results look fairly genuine, and you will get some nice outcomes when the detection hits good.
Battery Life & Charging
- 5000mAh battery
- 33W wired charging
- No charger included
The CMF Telephone 1 has a large 5000mAh battery pack, similar to you’ll discover in most 2024 telephones. With this telephone, it’s paired with a lower-end energy-efficient chip, and meaning it’ll last more than most.
It doesn’t matter what I used to be doing, the telephone by no means didn’t see me by way of the day. Most of the time I’d go to mattress with 40% or extra battery left within the tank. If you happen to’re a light-weight consumer, two days on a cost is certainly attainable, however a day and a half is a extra life like prospect for most individuals.
If you happen to’re a light-weight consumer, two days on a cost is certainly attainable
As with all different Nothing telephones, there’s no charger included within the field, however the telephone helps as much as 33W wired charging with a appropriate wall adapter. If you happen to like your gear to match, then CMF’s 65W GaN charger is likely to be a pleasant pairing.
Luke Baker
Utilizing my Ugreen Nexode multi-charger, the CMF Telephone 1 was in a position to cost as much as 30% in quarter-hour. It’s nothing too spectacular, however it’s not too sluggish, both. You’ll be able to anticipate a full cost from flat to take round an hour.
You would possibly assume with a detachable rear cowl that the battery can be simply detachable. It’s not however it ought to at the very least be quite a bit simpler to exchange than most telephones.
There’s no wi-fi charging assist, however that’s not stunning on a price range handset like this. You’ll be able to, at the very least, use the telephone to cost different units with a wire, and it’ll output 5W from its USB-C port if you happen to select to take action.
Software program & Apps
- Nothing OS 2.6, primarily based on Android 14
- Closely stylised interface
- No bloatware
The CMF Telephone 1 runs the identical software program as the opposite telephones in Nothing’s lineup, Nothing OS 2.6, and it’s my first time utilizing it for an prolonged interval.
it’s the closest factor to a Google Pixel that I’ve discovered in relation to a clear set up
Luke Baker
The very first thing that struck me was the styling. Nothing has a really robust model identification with a minimalist, edgy, low-fi aptitude, and also you’ll discover that woven all through the working system.
By default, Nothing’s icon pack is utilized, and your apps will show as monochrome round bubbles. It’s very completely different to every other pores and skin, and personally, I believe it seems to be sensible.
The styling extends to Nothing’s widgets, too, all of which show within the model’s signature dot matrix styling. You’ll be able to have panels displaying the climate, world clock, digital camera shortcuts, step rely and extra.
I used to be additionally happy to see that there’s basically no bloatware in any way. The one extras you’ll discover are a few Nothing apps, it’s the closest factor to a Google Pixel that I’ve discovered in relation to a clear set up.
Luke Baker
Other than the styling and some widgets, Nothing OS doesn’t stray too removed from the inventory Android expertise, and for essentially the most half, I believe that’s a superb factor. Nevertheless, in comparison with different manufacturers, there are a couple of creature comforts lacking.
The one which pissed off me essentially the most was the dearth of an possibility transfer or organise apps in bulk. Importing my knowledge from one other telephone dumped all my apps on the house display, and when that occurs, I normally prefer to bulk take away every part and begin contemporary.
With Nothing OS, there’s no such possibility. I’d have to long-press every app individually to maneuver it. With as many apps as I’ve put in, that’d be a mammoth endeavor. So after organising the primary web page, I simply left the cluttered mess on the opposite pages, it’s removed from best.
Worth & Availability
The CMF Telephone 1 is offered to buy now within the UK from Nothing’s web site and Amazon. The 128GB mannequin is at present out there for an introductory worth of simply £179, the conventional MSRP is £209. If you happen to want extra storage, the 256GB mannequin retails for £239.
Within the US, the Telephone 1 is $199 with simply the 128GB mannequin out there.
On the time of writing, we haven’t seen any contract offers, so that you’ll have to buy the telephone outright if you wish to get your arms on one. If you happen to do, you should definitely try our information to the very best SIM-only offers.
The telephone can be out there to buy in most European markets. These areas additionally get an introductory worth of €199.99 and can ultimately enhance to €239.
Must you purchase the CMF Telephone 1?
The CMF Telephone 1 is essentially the most spectacular and distinctive price range telephone that I’ve tried in years. It’s no straightforward feat to make one thing thrilling and interesting at such a low worth level, however Nothing has finished so with finesse.
This telephone seems to be and feels prefer it ought to be twice the worth, and regardless of a couple of niggles, it’s simply the very best software program expertise in its class. The efficiency is nice, as long as you’re not anticipating a top-tier gaming machine and the funky design, pretty show and distinctive modular equipment sweeten the deal, too.
In fact, there are compromises at this worth level. There’s no NFC, which implies no Google Pay, and that might be a dealbreaker for some. The cameras are fantastic, however it’s not onerous to search out comparable high quality and extra lenses, at an analogous worth.
It’s necessary to contemplate the competitors, too. The Redmi Be aware 13 5G will be discovered at an analogous worth and packs a 108Mp essential digital camera and an ultrawide lens, there’s additionally the Poco X6, which is a much better selection for gaming on a price range. Neither are as cool because the CMF providing, although, and Xiaomi’s software program isn’t for everybody.
If you happen to’re in search of a trendy price range telephone with nice software program and clean efficiency, the CMF Telephone 1 is tough to beat. It’s a really thrilling design, and within the price range market, that’s not one thing you discover fairly often.
Specs
- Nothing OS 2.6, primarily based on Android 14
- 6.67-inch, 2400×1080, OLED, 120Hz
- In-display fingerprint sensor
- MediaTek Dimensity 7300
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB / 256GB storage
- Cameras:
- 50Mp essential sensor
- 16Mp selfie digital camera
- As much as 4K @ 30fps rear video
- Mono speaker
- Twin-SIM
- MicroSD card slot
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
- Bluetooth 5.3
- 5000mAh battery
- 33W charging
- 164 x 77 x 8 mm
- IP52 licensed
- 197g
- Colors: Black, Gentle Inexperienced, Orange