The CMF Phone 1 by Nothing: Redefining Value in the Budget Smartphone Arena

Written by Anushka Verma
Published: 5, December, 2025

In the ever-evolving and fiercely competitive landscape of smartphones, the quest for the perfect device often feels like a compromise. Consumers are routinely forced to choose between cutting-edge features with a staggering price tag or affordable handsets that sacrifice performance, design, and overall experience. This pervasive gap in the market has long been the bane of the discerning, budget-conscious buyer. Enter Nothing, the relatively young brand that has consistently challenged industry norms with its transparent design language and community-focused approach. With the launch of the CMF Phone 1, Nothing’s sub-brand CMF (Color, Material, Finish) has undertaken its most ambitious project yet: to dismantle the notion that “budget” must equate to “bland” or “underpowered.” This device is not merely another entry in the crowded mid-range segment; it is a deliberate statement, a powerhouse engineered to deliver a premium feel, robust performance, and unparalleled customization at a price point that seems almost audacious. For anyone who believes that style and substance need not be mutually exclusive, the CMF Phone 1 demands a thorough examination.

A Design Philosophy: Where Customization Meets Distinction

From the moment you lay eyes on the CMF Phone 1, it becomes abundantly clear that this is not a device designed by committee to blend in. It boldly carries forward Nothing’s ethos of unique, discussion-sparking design, but with a pragmatic and user-centric twist that defines the CMF philosophy. The device cleverly offers a choice between materials, catering to different tactile preferences. You can opt for a sleek, modern finish with its glass front and polycarbonate back, or choose a variant with an eco-leather rear panel that provides a warm, grippy, and distinctly premium feel. This choice immediately sets it apart in a sea of generic glass and plastic slabs.

However, the true pièce de résistance in its design narrative is the user-replaceable back cover. This is a feature virtually extinct in modern smartphones, and its revival here is nothing short of revolutionary for the price bracket. It transcends mere repairability, opening the door to genuine personalization. Users can effortlessly swap covers—available in bold shades like Black, Orange, and Light Green—to match their mood, outfit, or style, effectively owning a new phone whenever they desire. This modular approach is a masterstroke, fostering a deeper connection between the user and the device. Ergonomically, the phone is thoughtfully crafted. At 8.2mm thick and weighing between 197g to 202g depending on the variant, it feels substantial yet manageable in hand. Furthermore, the inclusion of an IP52 rating for dust and splash resistance adds a crucial layer of durability for peace of mind during daily adventures, a feature often omitted in budget devices.

Display: A Visual Feast That Challenges Expectations

The front of the CMF Phone 1 is dominated by a stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display, a feature that alone catapults it ahead of many competitors who still resort to LCD panels at this price. AMOLED technology brings with it the quintessential advantages of perfect, inky blacks, exceptional contrast ratios, and vibrant, punchy colors. Whether you’re streaming high-definition content, scrolling through social media, or gaming, the visual experience is immersive and rich. The resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+) ensures sharp detail and clarity, making text crisp and images pop.

Where the display truly comes alive is in its motion handling. The 120Hz refresh rate is a game-changer, transforming every interaction with the interface into a buttery-smooth experience. Scrolling through web pages, navigating menus, and even casual gaming feel fluid and instantaneous, eradicating the laggy, jarring motion typical of standard 60Hz screens. Perhaps most impressively, this display boasts a remarkable peak brightness of 2000 nits. This spec isn’t just a number on a sheet; it translates to flawless visibility even under harsh, direct sunlight, a common pain point for cheaper phones. Complementing this is the Always-On Display functionality, allowing you to glance at the time, date, and notifications without waking the device, all while being energy-efficient thanks to the AMOLED technology.

Performance: The Reliable Engine Powering Your Day

Beneath its stylish exterior, the CMF Phone 1 houses a meticulously chosen engine built for efficiency and reliable power. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, fabricated on a power-efficient 4nm process. This octa-core processor, configured with four performance Cortex-A78 cores (2.5GHz) and four efficiency Cortex-A55 cores (2.0GHz), strikes an intelligent balance. It delivers more than enough muscle for demanding tasks like photography processing, multitasking across social media apps, and casual gaming, while the efficient cores ensure battery life isn’t sacrificed during lighter use. The Mali-G615 MC2 GPU handles graphics duties competently, ensuring popular titles run smoothly at respectable settings.

The device offers flexible memory configurations: 6GB or 8GB of RAM paired with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage (UFS 2.2). This provides ample room for apps, media, and documents. In a move that will be celebrated by power users and media hoarders alike, the CMF Phone 1 resurrects a beloved feature: expandable storage via a microSDXC card slot. This commitment to user flexibility is a stark contrast to the industry trend of locking users into fixed storage, further solidifying the phone’s value proposition.

Camera System: Competent and Capable for Daily Moments

The camera system on the CMF Phone 1 adopts a pragmatic, no-nonsense approach focused on delivering consistent results rather than winning spec-sheet wars. The dual-camera array on the back is led by a 50MP primary sensor. In well-lit conditions, this camera captures photos with commendable detail, accurate color reproduction, and good dynamic range. The secondary 2MP depth sensor assists in creating portrait shots with a natural-looking bokeh effect, effectively separating the subject from the background. While it may not compete with flagship portrait modes, it performs admirably for social media and personal albums.

On the video front, the phone supports 4K recording at 30fps, allowing for high-resolution capture. More importantly, 1080p recording at 60fps benefits from gyro-Electronic Image Stabilization (gyro-EIS), which significantly smoothens out shakes and jitters, making handheld footage surprisingly stable. The 16MP front-facing camera is more than adequate for clear selfies and, crucially, sharp, reliable video calls. It also supports 1080p video, making it a viable tool for content creators on a budget.

Battery Life and Charging: Endurance Meets Practicality

A powerful smartphone is nothing without the endurance to last through a user’s day. The CMF Phone 1 is equipped with a robust 5000mAh battery, a capacity that has become the gold standard for all-day, and often multi-day, use. With moderate to heavy usage encompassing calls, messaging, browsing, media consumption, and photography, the phone reliably delivers a full day of power without anxious glances at the battery percentage. When the time comes to recharge, the included 33W fast charging solution provides a swift top-up, minimizing downtime. A particularly ingenious and practical addition is 5W reverse wired charging. This turns the phone into a portable power bank, capable of juicing up other devices like TWS earbuds or smartwatches in a pinch—a feature that epitomizes the phone’s user-focused design.

Software: A Clean, Cohesive, and Future-Proof Experience

The software experience is where the Nothing ecosystem truly shines. The CMF Phone 1 ships with Android 14, overlaid with Nothing OS 3.0. This interface is a breath of fresh air, characterized by its minimalist aesthetic, logical customization options, and a notable absence of intrusive bloatware. The signature dot-matrix fonts and widget system create a cohesive and visually distinct environment. Critically, Nothing has committed to a strong software support policy. The phone is upgradable to Android 15 and is promised two major Android OS updates, ensuring it remains secure, feature-rich, and relevant for years to come—a commitment that is still rare in the budget segment.

Specifications at a Glance

Verdict: A Paradigm Shift in Budget Smartphone Value

The Nothing CMF Phone 1 is not just a good budget phone; it is a category redefiner. It masterfully executes a strategy that others have often attempted but rarely accomplished: delivering a holistic, premium-adjacent experience without the associated premium cost. It makes no major compromises where it counts—the stunning 120Hz AMOLED display, the efficient and capable Dimensity 7300 chipset, the massive battery, and the clean, future-proof software are all features one would expect in a device costing significantly more.

What truly sets it apart, however, are its unique character-defining traits: the customizable, replaceable back covers and the practical reverse charging. These are not mere gimmicks but thoughtful innovations that enhance the user experience in tangible ways. For the student, the young professional, the value-seeking tech enthusiast, or anyone who desires a smartphone that reflects personality without sacrificing performance, the CMF Phone 1 presents an overwhelmingly compelling argument. It proves conclusively that style, innovation, and power can indeed be accessible. In a market saturated with monotony, the CMF Phone 1 stands out as a budget-friendly powerhouse with undeniable style and substance.

Disclaimer: The specifications, features, and pricing mentioned are based on information available as of the publishing date and may vary depending on region, retailer, and ongoing offers. Readers are advised to verify details with official Nothing channels or authorized retailers before making a purchase decision.