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Congratulations to all the Nothing smartphone lovers as the company is coming up with its new CMF Phone 1 which brings a fresh wave of excitement to budget-conscious consumers. Priced at Rs 15,999 for the 6GB + 128GB model and Rs 17,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant, this smartphone comes with full of features that set it apart from the other smartphones in the industry. So without wasting a second, let’s dive into an in-depth review to see if the CMF Phone 1 truly stands out as the best budget smartphone in India or not.
Design & Build
At first look, the Phone may look like any ordinary smartphone but when you look closely it reveals its industrial design. The unique thing about this smartphone is that you may find screws at each corner and the “Accessory Point” at the bottom and a rugged touch. Also, the best part is you can swappable rear panels. You can easily change the look of your phone by choosing from four-panel options: Black and Light Green with a matte finish, and Orange and Blue with a vegan leather finish. These panels allow for a level of customization rarely seen in this price range.
Apart from this, you can find practical add-ons like a lanyard or a kickstand, which comes at Rs 799. There’s even a case that holds up to three cards and enables contactless payments. While the screws might initially seem daunting, the DIY experience is straightforward and enjoyable.
Display
The phone comes with a Super AMOLED display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, which will ensure you a smooth scrolling experience. You can switch the screen between 120Hz to 60Hz easily but some users may find it lacks the 90Hz option. Also if you look at the vibrant and crisp colors which make it ideal for content consumption, while the 2,000 nits peak brightness ensures clear visibility even in bright outdoor settings. The always-on display mode, labeled as Glance display, is quite basic but will work, showing time, date, and weather information.
CMF Phone 1 Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Phone Dimension | 164 x 77 x 8.2 mm |
| Body Weight | 197g or 202g |
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Screen Size & Resolution | 6.67 Inches , 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Storage | 128GB/6GB RAM, 128GB/8GB RAM & 256GB/8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.8 + 2MP, f/2.4 |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP. f/2.0 |
| Battery Type | 5000 mAh, Non-removable |
| Charging Capacity | 33W Wired + 5W reversed Wired |
| Colors | Black, Orange & Light Green |
| Other Features | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity & Compass |
Performance
The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, the phone delivers smooth performance in daily use. Whether you’re switching between apps, or watching movies, or engaging in heavy multitasking, this phone handles it all without lag. In benchmark tests, the CMF Phone 1 performed admirably, on par with competitors like the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro.
Gaming performance is equally impressive. Playing Call of Duty: Mobile on high graphics settings, the phone showed no stuttering and thermal management was effective, keeping the device only slightly warm during extended sessions. The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, though the single speaker, while loud, lacks detail.
Cameras
The CMF Phone 1 comes with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 primary sensor and a 2-megapixel portrait sensor. If we talk about the daylight quality, then the camera produces natural-looking photos with good contrast, though the dynamic range could be better. Sharpness is not as high as seen in some competitors. At 2x zoom, images become a bit soft and blurry, but human subjects are captured well with natural skin tones.
In low light, the camera performs decently, maintaining low noise levels and natural colors. The portrait mode works well, though edge detection can sometimes be inconsistent. Selfies are good, with natural skin tones, but again, the dynamic range is limited. The portrait mode for selfies provides decent output.
Battery
The CMF Phone 1 comes with a 5,000mAh battery that lasts impressively long. Some people have found that it lasts 25 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge. However, the 33W fast charging, though adequate, is slower compared to some other smartphones. The phone charges to 28% in 15 minutes and reaches 50% in 30 minutes, taking about an hour and 15 minutes for a full charge.
Software
Running on Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14, the CMF Phone 1 offers a clean user interface free of bloatware. The monochrome elements give it a distinctive look, and customization options allow users to tailor the UI to their preferences. AI-generated wallpapers add a personal touch, and an experimental feature facilitates easy pairing with Apple AirPods.
Final Talk
In short, the CMF Phone 1 is worth considering as it offers rear panels, a vibrant display, reliable performance, and a clean user interface. While the camera could use some optimization and the charging speed could be faster, these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise well-rounded package.
If we talk about other competitors’ smartphones, like the Moto G85, Redmi Note 13, Infinix Note 40, and the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, the CMF Phone 1 holds its ground well. If you’re looking for a budget smartphone that delivers dependable performance and a touch of customization, the CMF Phone 1 is a worthy choice.
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