CMF Phone 1 Review: This Is the Phone to Buy if You Want to Spend Less Than $200

Thank you, Nothing, for launching this phone. I want to be very clear about the following: I’m very tired of overpriced phones. It often feels like the prices are artificially inflated, especially when they  drop by hundreds of dollars after just a few months on official sites. With the Nothing Phone 2a, the company made it clear that price-quality balance was still a top priority. With the CMF Phone 1, we finally got the reassurance we needed.

CMF (Color, Material, Finish) is a sub-brand of Nothing. It was created with the goal of launching unique products at a lower price point. The Phone 1 is an excellente example of this, combining a nostalgic retro look with the best features of the Nothing lineup, particularly in terms of software.

In this review, I’ll analyze the first CMF phone in-depth and determine whether it’s worth considering for those seeking the best mobile device at an affordable price. It’s probably easy to guess what the answer is.

CMF Phone 1 Specs

Design: An Ode to Retro

The CMF Phone 1 stands out for its unique design. Let’s start by examining the materials and feel and discuss its modular features later. The phone is primarily made of plastic, but the cover screws are constructed from stainless steel, while both the camera module and the buttons are made of aluminum.

One noteworthy feature is the anti-slip and anti-fingerprint coating on the back cover. This detail might seem small, but it’s common for phones, even high-end ones, to accumulate fingerprints and be slippery. With the CMF Phone 1, I’ve never felt the need for a glass cover, and although I haven’t dropped it, the plastic seems quite durable. It’s definitely a phone that can be used without a case.

Secondly, the fact that the button panel and camera module are made of aluminum is a standout feature here. You should bear in mind that almost all phones with plastic finishes have plastic buttons. However, the small detail of making them in metal makes them more durable, with a solid touch that reminds us of much more premium phones.

The camera module is also good news. It’s very discreet (it only has two cameras, so it has an advantage over phones with more lenses) and ensures the phone barely move when it’s face down on any surface.

If you flip it over, you’ll find a simple phone. The use of the front could be improved, and the bottom part has a small chin. It’s important to remember that we’re dealing with a mid-range phone here, so you shouldn’t expect miracles from the front camera.

A Modular Design

The CMF Phone 1 is notable not just for its materials but also for its interchangeable covers, which have become a rarity with the current prevalence of unibody designs. The phone allows users to easily remove the cover using just four screws and replace it with one of the different color covers offered by CMF.

I was surprised to find that the box doesn’t include the tool needed to remove the screws. It also doesn't come with a charger, only a USB-C cable. However, there’s a simple solution for those who still want to tinker with the phone: Just use a size 5 flat screwdriver. The phone’s back cover doesn’t conceal as much technology as its Nothing counterparts do. Specifically, it mainly reveals the battery, but no internal components are visible.

In addition to being able to change the phone cover, this phone can be attached to three accessories: a wallet, a kickstand, and a lanyard. You can attach the accessories by simply unscrewing a small spot in the lower right corner. The act of unscrewing is quite simple and pleasant.

However, we need to clarify one crucial point, which is perfectly described on Nothing's website:

“The user-removable parts include only the following: the four external slotted screws on the case, the decorative screw at the bottom right corner of the case, the SIM tray, and the case. All other components should not be disassembled by the user as this may invalidate the warranty.”

Ultimately, CMF has taken a bold design risk with this phone, and in my opinion, it’s been very successful in doing so. There’s little that can go wrong because there are no mechanical components. The only removable part is the cover. Plus, you can also attach some (optional) accessories to the phone.

Display: There Was No Better Option for This Price

The CMF Phone 1 features a Full HD+ AMOLED display that supports HDR+, has a 120 Hz refresh rate, and has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. These aren’t the typical specs you would expect in a phone of this price range.

However, it’s important to note that the typical brightness only goes up to 700 nits (high-brightness mode is not specified, although it measures around 1,200 nits according to measurements we carried out, coinciding with GSMarena’s measurements). This means that the screen may require a bit more brightness in full sunlight, although it can reach peaks of up to 2,000 nits in specific areas.

Here, I have to mention the issue with the automatic brightness feature, which I hope can be fixed in future updates. The phone consistently lowers the brightness to the minimum level. Throughout my week with the phone, I’ve had to manually increase the brightness almost every day because it takes a long time to reach the maximum brightness in automatic mode.

Another thing to note is the rainbow effect on the screen when it’s tilted. The viewing angles clearly show the screen’s limitations, and it’s evident that not all AMOLED panels are equal. Aside from these expected issues at this price point, the screen is a delight to use.

The screen calibration is too vivid for my liking out of the box. To bring it closer to a professional calibration, just switch the phone to natural mode and adjust the white balance to something slightly warmer. This, though, might not be noticeable to the average user.

The refresh rate is 120 Hz, and the PWM dimming has been improved to 960 Hz. While this may not be the highest figure on the market, it’s worth highlighting in this range where this feature isn’t typically prioritized. Improving the panel’s flicker rate makes it more comfortable on the eyes and helps delay the onset of eye fatigue.

Sound: Its Weakest Point

Without mincing words, the only aspect of this phone that I find lacking is its sound. It has a single speaker, which is quite uncommon even in mid-range phones these days. The CMF Phone boasts features found in more expensive phones, and the absence of a dual speaker, albeit not of very high quality, is a noticeable drawback.

The sound quality is subpar, especially at higher volumes, making multimedia consumption and gaming unpleasant.

Performance: All Good, Next

In regard to the phone’s performance, I have to say that the CMF Phone 1 has pleasantly surprised me. This phone is equipped with 8 GB of RAM, which is quite uncommon for phones in this price range. My unit came with 256 GB of internal memory, although the base model starts with 128 GB.

The CMF Phone 1 features a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, which is one of MediaTek’s responses to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3. It’s important not to let any previous biases against MediaTek cloud your judgment: This processor performs very well. In terms of power, it’s comparable to high-end SoCs from a few years ago (around 2018), like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855.

The key is that CMF has taken special care with thermal dissipation. The device features a liquid cooling system comprising a heat pipe and graphite sheets on both the front and rear for better thermal conductivity. This allows for very good sustained performance and benchmark scores noticeably higher than other offerings with this processor.

Although this phone features 5G, it lacks one very important feature: NFC. This is a simply unjustifiable decision, considering that the cost of an NFC chip is negligible. NFC technology has been available at the entry level for years, and users of a phone of this caliber deserve to be able to enjoy it. I hope and pray that the Phone 2 will fix this.

Biometrics

The phone features two types of biometric identification systems: an optical fingerprint sensor located under the screen and 2D facial recognition. The fingerprint reader functions well, although its placement could be more convenient given the phone’s large size, which requires some effort to reach.

On the other hand, 2D facial recognition works reliably and serves as a useful backup when the fingerprint reader isn’t accessible, such as when the user’s finger is wet.

Battery Life: Outstanding With Somewhat Improvable Fast Charging

I’m really impressed with the CMF Phone 1’s battery life. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor is very energy efficient, especially when paired with the 5,000 mAh battery. It easily lasts for two days with about six hours of screen time, and even more than eight hours if used continuously in a single day.

The 33 W fast charging may seem low, but it can fully charge the phone in just an hour and 20 minutes. Considering how long the battery lasts, this isn’t a problem at all.

I really appreciate the settings’ features that help preserve battery life. You can set limits of 70%, 80%, and 90% to avoid the battery draining quickly when it’s above 90%. There’s also the option to enable Nothing’s smart charging, which charges the phone slowly overnight to maintain the battery’s long-term health.

These small details are becoming more common in phones, and they’ll definitely help extend the battery’s lifespan.

Software: Simply a Joy

We finally come to my favorite feature of this phone: the software. It’s rare to find mid-range phones with good software, especially at this price. Nothing OS nails it, providing a smooth experience comparable to phones that cost much more.

Nothing OS is an excellent platform. It takes inspiration from the Pixel ROM and adds retro touches to customization, such as widgets, system sounds, and icon themes. It’s surprising that there are solutions out there that perform even better than the Google Pixel.

For instance, activating Wi-Fi from the status bar in stock Android has become tedious. With Nothing OS, it’s simple: Lower the status bar, click on the Wi-Fi button, open the Wi-Fi networks submenu, and connect. This CMF works the same way phones always have: One click to activate and deactivate the function.

There’s no bloatware of any type on this phone, which is something I’m not used to. The system apps are all from Google (Google Photos, Google Files, Google Contacts). Plus, Nothing has added its own Recorder app, theming in the Weather and Camera apps, and Nothing X, the app for connecting the company’s headphones to the phone. It’s giving off Pixel vibes.

The system supports automatic Material You theming, which is enabled by default. This means the system’s tones and accent colors will change based on the wallpaper. It also supports Play Store icon packs and allows you to create wallpapers using Google’s generative AI (it’s the same interface as the Google Pixel), among other features.

Apart from wallpaper generation, there’s no other AI implemented, but it’s not really necessary. The only downside is that it only receives two years of operating system updates and three years of security patches. This is the minimum requirement for any Android phone, although some manufacturers are already exceeding these standards.

Camera: It Could Do Without One Lens. The Rest Are a Great Surprise

The main camera uses the Sony IMX766 sensor, which is also found in phones such as the POCO F3, the Realme GT, or its own sibling, the OnePlus 9. It’s a very small sensor, measuring 1/1.52 inches and 1.0 µm pixels. In this case, there’s no optical stabilizer.

There’s also a small “depth” sensor, a technology that hasn't been proven to significantly improve portrait mode that software alone can’t achieve. It’s a 2 MP sensor with a size of 1/5 inches and 1.75 µm pixel size.

The camera app has minimal features, including preinstalled filters, integration with Google Lens, and a very simple yet functional interface. I appreciate its unique personality at the user interface level. It retains the best features of Google’s camera while incorporating its own adaptations.

CMF Phone Photography

I didn’t expect a remarkable camera from a $200 smartphone, but I was wrong. The CMF Phone 1 has one of the most impressive cameras I’ve seen in recent years while analyzing mid-range phones. It follows a different philosophy compared to its direct rivals.

This phone doesn’t employ common bad practices such as noise reduction even during the day, oversaturation of colors, or analyzing zones to enhance specific elements of the photograph. The camera reminds me of those from the past, where the sensor operated independently, and the limitations of photography were determined by the sensor itself rather than poor decisions made by the manufacturer.

During the day, you can capture accurate photographs with good HDR (that aren't overdone) and somewhat limited sharpness due to the sensor. However, because there’s no artificial sharpening, you’ll notice an extra naturalness uncommon in phones in this price range.

White balance, color, contrast: Everything is somewhat soft, and that’s the key point with this phone. The photos are unpretentious but excellent for the CMF Phone 1’s price range.

When it gets dark, the performance of the $200 phone is as expected. There’s some image noise, the white balance is off, and the overall image quality suffers. Sharpness is limited by the phone’s sensor, but the image processing is decent. As for the night mode, which can be turned off with a single press, it adds some extra brightness without overdoing it.

Portrait Mode

The phone's portrait mode needs improvement. While the edge detection is decent, the software’s blur is not the best. Additionally, the interpretation of skin tones is not entirely accurate, possibly due to the strong luminosity of sunny summer mornings.

Selfie

Selfies appear a bit tight, lacking sharpness and realistic colors. This seems to be a weak point in CMF’s camera. The selfie’s portrait mode is similar to the rear camera, performing well in segmentation, although the bokeh still looks quite artificial.

Video

Given the sensor it uses, the video recording quality is decent. It’s capable of recording at 4K 30 FPS, but if you want 60 FPS, you need to record in 1080p. The video quality is modest, but the electronic stabilization does a surprisingly good job of stabilizing the videos.

CMF Phone 1, Xataka’s Opinion

The CMF Phone 1 is a great phone with all the features. It doesn’t have NFC or FM radio, and I fully understand that this is a deal-breaker for some users. These two missing features have no justification, especially since NFC costs only a few cents these days.

Setting that issue aside, I haven’t found a phone for around $200 like this in years. Mid-range prices have gone up so much that the only phone with a similar processor on the market is more than double the price of the CMF phone.

We’re talking about a compelling option with an excellent battery life, a camera that performs very well for its price range, and simply spectacular software. Yes, it could receive updates for a few more years, but having almost stock Android ensures good performance for a good long while.

Image | Xataka

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The device has been loaned for testing by CMF. You can check how we test new products at Xataka On and our Corporate Relations Policy.