Nothing CMF Telephone 1 overview: Enjoyable, daring price range telephone

Ever since options like replaceable batteries disappeared from smartphones, we’ve been begging for somebody to convey them again. Some have tried, just like the LG G5 with its Associates modules or the Fairphone 5 with its ten interchangeable elements, however neither made a long-lasting impression. Now, a brand new machine has entered the modular market: Nothing’s budget-friendly CMF Telephone 1.

On the floor, it looks as if a no brainer — pack a price range Android telephone with some first rate specs and make it stand out with interchangeable again panels and equipment like a kickstand. In follow, the CMF Telephone 1 doesn’t make life really easy, no less than not for somebody like me within the US. It’s a telephone I’d like to suggest to completely anybody searching for a unbelievable price range telephone for lower than $200, however there are some issues you’ll want to know earlier than selecting one up.

Proper out of the field, the CMF Telephone 1 seems and appears like one thing new — particularly within the Gentle Inexperienced or Orange end. It has a sure industrial aptitude to it with 4 screws across the edges and Nothing’s basic dot-based branding on the again panel. In some methods, I feel the CMF Telephone 1 jogs my memory of the ill-fated Rabbit R1, however in a way more sensible, modular sense than that of the aforementioned sq., overcomplicated AI companion.

In contrast to a few of Nothing’s different designs, the place the commercial inspiration is there for aesthetics, the CMF Telephone 1’s screws have a goal. Sure, they unscrew so you’ll be able to take the budget-focused machine aside — properly, partly aside. It’s not fairly as thrilling as a really replaceable battery, however the CMF Telephone 1’s 4 detachable screws help you take away and exchange the again panel to alter the colour of your machine in addition to add an optionally available vegan leather-based case to it. You’ll, in fact, additionally need to take away the button-shaped Accent Level within the backside proper nook and the SIM tray on the underside edge, however these further items help you combine and match colours to make your Telephone 1 much more distinctive.

If nothing else, that is what I really like concerning the Telephone 1 — I could make it totally different on daily basis. Along with these various backs I discussed, you can too choose up sensible attachments like a kickstand, a lanyard, and even a card holder to exchange your pockets. All three of them connect within the backside proper nook of the Telephone 1, which implies you should use them — probably even a couple of of them — along with no matter again plate you’ve chosen for the day. It truly is a neat setup, and it provides Nothing’s most reasonably priced telephone a approach to stand out from most of its budget-minded competitors.

Nevertheless, there’s an issue with the CMF Telephone 1 in case you’re not a world purchaser: It’s virtually inconceivable to get any of the equipment right here within the US. Sure, technically, the telephone is barely accessible stateside as a part of a beta program (which we’ll get again to later), however that doesn’t imply it needs to be accessible in any respect in case you can’t make the most of certainly one of its key promoting factors. Oh, and the telephone comes with out an NFC chip — one thing I by no means thought I’d need to say once more after Motorola lastly added one to its Moto G lineup.

Proper now, the perfect somebody stateside like me can do is take a look at the splash web page for the CMF Telephone 1 over at Nothing.tech, see that it has an interchangeable design, and, properly, that’s it. You’ll be able to’t attain a product web page to seize a distinct case, the cardboard holder, or the rest and not using a very fast 404 error. Customers overseas may need a bit higher luck — I used to be capable of view your entire collection of equipment on Nothing’s UK website — nevertheless it doesn’t give me an ideal feeling concerning the state of the beta program within the US.

If you will get your arms on the equipment, you’ll discover they’re a little bit difficult to swap out and in. I notice that Nothing’s alternative of flat-head screws for its CMF Telephone 1 was most likely executed with sturdiness in thoughts (I assume?), however I’ve but to swap a single screw with out the included screwdriver slipping out of the groove about half a dozen instances. As soon as I received all of the screws out so I may change the black plastic again panel, I needed to spend one other ten minutes or so making an attempt to wrestle the piece itself off the telephone — not preferrred. Additionally, the cardboard holder attachment makes use of totally different screws altogether, buying and selling the flat heads for small orange knobs that you must tighten by hand.

After which, there’s Nothing’s alternative of supplies. Unsurprisingly, given the reasonably priced and replaceable nature of the Telephone 1’s elements, virtually all the pieces about it’s made from plastic. Granted, the body and the interchangeable equipment are pretty stiff plastic, nevertheless it’s plastic nonetheless. Meaning in case you drop it onto a concrete sidewalk whereas cheering on the Philadelphia Marathon — even one lined in leaves — you’ll most likely give you some harm. Ask me how I do know.

Usually, I’d brush off that harm, figuring out that it occurs, nevertheless it has extra of a snowball impact on the CMF Telephone 1. I, sadly, dropped my telephone at such an angle that the plastic defending the show and the body itself pushed into one another a bit, making it more durable to take away the black backing I’ve connected and exchange it with a distinct colour now that it doesn’t sit completely. Fortunately, although, the 6.67-inch Gorilla Glass 5 show escaped unscathed. And no, placing the CMF Telephone 1 in a case most likely wouldn’t have helped, as any case I used would have blocked me from utilizing the equipment.

Whether or not you spring for the CMF Telephone 1’s enjoyable equipment or not, you’re nonetheless getting the sunshine, clear Nothing OS expertise, which is definitely worth the worth of entry by itself. It’s simply as a lot a bit of the design because the equipment themselves, providing the correct mix of dot-based widgets and accents whereas skipping the bloatware that often bogs down reasonably priced telephones. After all, the black and white dots may not be for everybody — they’re sometimes arduous to distinguish at a look — however I can’t assist loving the persona. It’s virtually as a lot enjoyable to swap the widgets and fonts out and in as it’s to deal with the CMF Telephone 1 like a hi-tech Erector set, particularly when so many different flavors of Android really feel very related.

Whereas I’ve come away from my time with the CMF Telephone 1 a bit much less impressed by its equipment (and their lack of availability), its {hardware} underneath the hood considerably gained me over. Like Nothing’s different launches, it packs a mid-level MediaTek Dimensity chipset inside its plastic shell, this time backed by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage on the base configuration — one more function that’s largely disappeared from fashionable flagship telephones.

In case you want a little bit extra punch, you’ll be able to seize the Telephone 1 with as much as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is perhaps sufficient that you simply don’t have to fret about mentioned microSD slot. Both means, you’ll be backing the Dimensity 7300 chipset, which sounds near the Dimensity 7200 Professional that Nothing used for each variations of its Telephone 2a. These telephones, in fact, supply a bit greater than the CMF Telephone 1 by way of clock pace and optionally available RAM — to not point out worth — so I used to be curious to see how Nothing’s new price range providing would sustain.

Extra realistically, although, I used to be curious to see how the Telephone 1 would fare in opposition to equally priced competitors like Motorola’s Moto G 5G (2024) and Samsung’s Galaxy A15 5G, so I set it up for our commonplace gauntlet of CPU and GPU benchmarks. Unsurprisingly, the CMF Telephone 1 had no issues outpacing its price range foes, breezing previous choices from Motorola and Samsung with ease. It stayed forward of the respective Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 and Dimensity 6100 Plus processors in our primary CPU take a look at and put in an excellent shift in opposition to the Nothing Telephone 2a, popping out on prime with increased multi-core efficiency even when it didn’t sustain on the single-core entrance.

The CMF Telephone 1 additionally thumped its reasonably priced Android rivals once I fired up the graphically intensive 3DMark stress exams, almost tripling the output of each the Moto G 5G (2024) and Galaxy A15 5G. Higher but, it stayed rock-solid throughout all 20 runs of the take a look at, suggesting that even when the CMF Telephone 1 doesn’t stack up like a top-end gaming telephone, it ought to nonetheless ship first rate efficiency in lighter titles and may have the ability to preserve its degree for some time slightly than tailing off after a couple of minutes.

In actual life, although, the CMF Telephone 1 feels even higher in opposition to a lot of the budget-focused Android market. Its punchy (for the value tag) chipset is paired with an enormous 6.67-inch, 120Hz AMOLED show that’s brighter and sharper than Motorola’s LCD and Samsung’s personal 90Hz AMOLED possibility. Whereas I couldn’t use the CMF Telephone 1 away from Wi-Fi (for causes I’ll get to), it dealt with my wants as a light-weight gaming telephone for Pokemon TCG Pocket and Royal Match simply fantastic. I additionally used it as my moveable soccer studio over Thanksgiving, organising Paramount Plus to maintain up with the Europa League video games whereas the remainder of my household caught to American soccer, glad to have the Full HD decision whereas selecting out gamers throughout Roma’s last-minute draw in opposition to Tottenham.

For probably the most half, that light-weight reliance on Wi-Fi meant that the CMF Telephone 1’s 5,000mAh battery may final me a number of days between costs. It wasn’t continuously looking for dependable cellular service (as a result of it wasn’t going to get it), so the passive battery drain was minimal. After all, to learn the way the Telephone 1 would deal with sustained utilization, I put it by means of our trusty drain take a look at and located that it may as soon as once more sustain with the Nothing Telephone 2a. Really, the CMF Telephone 1 beat its light-up sibling in fairly a number of of our use circumstances, from the simulated Zoom name to repeated digicam snaps, and each Nothing gadgets lasted hours longer than the Galaxy A15 5G and Moto G 5G throughout most use circumstances.

Now that it’s crushed equally priced choices from Motorola and Samsung in a number of locations, it’s time to see how the CMF Telephone 1 performs on a charger. On paper, the reply needs to be easy — Nothing’s price range possibility claims that it helps as much as 33W wired charging to get you again in your toes. That needs to be sufficient to beat the Moto G 5G by almost 15W and the Galaxy A15 by about 8W at prime speeds.

In follow, although, the efficiency isn’t almost as shut because the numbers recommend. I set the CMF Telephone 1 up on my trusty Ugreen Nexode Professional — one of many greatest chargers I’ve used — and located that despite the fact that it spent most of its time at round 27W, it was capable of end charging a full 20 minutes quicker than the Galaxy A15 5G and thumped the Moto G 5G by about 40 minutes. Based mostly on the graph, it seems just like the CMF Telephone 1 was capable of preserve its peak charging pace for a lot longer than its opponents, holding tempo for about 40 minutes earlier than tailing off.

Sadly, it’s time to speak concerning the interchangeable elephant within the room — Nothing’s poor US band help. Similar to with the Telephone 2a and 2a Plus, Nothing is upfront about the truth that the CMF Telephone 1 is primarily accessible as a part of a beta program. What which means, although, is that it has virtually not one of the bands wanted for patrons on Verizon and AT&T to make use of the telephone successfully. T-Cell prospects are a little bit luckier, because the Telephone 1 covers elements of the 3G, 4G, and 5G spectrum, however as soon as once more doesn’t help your entire set of bands wanted.

As a Verizon buyer, that restricted help turned my CMF Telephone 1 into a flowery, customizable iPod Contact. I may use it whereas related to Wi-Fi and stream downloaded music to a pair of CMF Buds Professional 2 that Nothing additionally despatched over (that are fairly good — take a look at our overview from sister website SoundGuys on the hyperlink), nevertheless it meant that the Telephone 1 couldn’t bail me out if my Pixel 9 Professional died whereas away from a charger. So, until you’re a T-Cell buyer in a well-supported space of the US, you’ll have a tricky time with this one.

In case you’re exterior of the US, although, the CMF Telephone 1 has the efficiency chops (and band help) to compete with Android telephones each at and barely above its worth level.

Shifting on to one more space the place cheaper telephones are inclined to wrestle, it’s time to speak concerning the CMF Telephone 1’s price range cameras — er, digicam. Sure, I do know that there are technically two sensors on the again of this plastic beast, however we solely actually need to dig into one as a result of the opposite is a lowly 2MP depth sensor with a most aperture of f/2.4. It solely offers further knowledge and lightweight for its extra succesful companion, so let’s flip our focus (pun supposed) to that barely extra helpful sensor.

Stated main sensor is a 50MP that comes from Sony and packs the CMF Telephone 1 with a portrait-ready most aperture of f/1.8. Nothing is a little bit gentle on the opposite particulars about its main digicam, no less than concerning sensor measurement and particular branding, although it does tout Extremely XDR help and AI Vivid modes due to its Truelens Engine 2.0. Unsurprisingly, there may be not a lot else to say concerning the Telephone 1’s fundamental digicam setup, so let’s get to some pattern photographs.

Sometimes, once I put collectively a gallery of pattern photographs for a telephone, I’m solely searching for the perfect ones. I often snap away for your entire time I’ve a tool and are available away with loads of pictures I like. This time, although, I missed extra pictures than I hit — particularly in low gentle. As a lot as I’m happy with the take a look at the rainforest part of the Baltimore Aquarium after darkish, I’m completely dissatisfied by the shot of the musician within the backside row, which was taken not more than 5 minutes earlier. I believed I held fairly nonetheless whereas snapping it, but the textual content on the wall behind him is blurred, as is a little bit of his hair.

For probably the most half, although, these misses are balanced out by the neat colours within the wider view of the principle aquarium tank and the view of Independence Corridor. Each present first rate particulars all through, with the shot of Independence Corridor wanting significantly crisp. The portrait mode shot of Ben Franklin isn’t unhealthy both, because it precisely identifies the sides of his colonial swimsuit and hair. After all, the lesson right here is that you may get some fairly good views out of the CMF Telephone 1 so long as you’re prepared to be a little bit bit affected person — one thing that’s true of most price range telephones.

Sadly, the CMF Telephone 1’s bigger digicam struggles come once you attempt to zoom. The shortage of an ultrawide digicam or a telephoto sensor signifies that the standard drops off shortly as soon as you progress away from 1x zoom. Nothing’s lone sensor tops out at 10x zoom, which appears a bit too far, given the best way that the shot of the sailboat and the seagull above turned out. The whole lot concerning the shot of the boat is a bit blurry, making it difficult to inform the place the highest of the ship ends and the dock begins. Granted, the seagull is a little bit higher — you’ll be able to no less than select the bricks within the background —however the fowl itself seems nearer to grey than largely white. In case you’re prepared to stay between about 1x and 4x zoom, although, Nothing’s lone sensor can maintain its personal in good lighting.

Surprisingly, the perfect digicam on the CMF Telephone 1 is perhaps its 16MP selfie shooter. It’s not going to offer the sensors on the Pixel 9 or iPhone 16 a run for his or her cash, nevertheless it dealt with the colours and textures in my sweatshirt properly, with solely slight ghosting across the white lettering. I’m decently impressed by the way it picked out the sides of my hair, too, as some low cost Android telephones have a tendency to chop curls off each side of my head.

For video recording, the CMF Telephone 1 helps high quality as much as 4K decision at 30 frames per second or 1080p at as much as 60fps, each of that are fantastic for this worth tier. Nothing’s digital picture stabilization is first rate, although you’ll have to remain at 1x zoom, as something additional has the identical high quality wrestle because the nonetheless photographs above.

On the finish of the day, I actually, actually like the concept behind the CMF Telephone 1, particularly at its very aggressive worth level. I take pleasure in swapping the equipment out and in and figuring out that the {hardware} screws will hold them locked securely in place. I additionally admire the ability the Dimensity 7300 brings to the desk, particularly in opposition to different price range telephones. Nothing’s 33W wired charging setup is nice, too, getting the CMF Telephone 1 again on its toes shortly in comparison with reasonably priced Android telephones from Samsung and Motorola. Nothing OS can be an extremely fashionable, lean pores and skin, too, which is a breath of recent air when so many cheaper telephones are stacked with bloatware.

There are some price range telephone concessions you must cope with, although. Its lone 50MP digicam has the potential to be actually good, however you must hold it extremely steady in low gentle. When you get snug with among the digicam quirks like that, although, you would possibly discover that one digicam is all you want. I’ve nicked Nothing’s plastic body by dropping the Telephone 1 on a mattress of leaves, and the plastic again is tough sufficient to swap out that I’m having hassle hiding my sad accident. Two years of Android updates and a 3rd yr of safety patches doesn’t fairly match the Galaxy A15 5G by way of long-term help, however it’s acceptable for a telephone at this worth tier within the US.

That, in fact, brings me again to the kicker for the CMF Telephone 1 — it’s merely a non-starter right here within the US. You should buy it as a part of the identical beta program that covers Nothing’s Telephone 2a (£319.99 at Amazon) and Nothing 2a Plus ($417.5 at Amazon), nevertheless it’s arduous to search out correct help. The restricted band setup means you’ll solely have entry to a part of T-Cell’s community, with radio silence coming from each Verizon and AT&T. Oh, and since you’ll be able to’t purchase Nothing’s colourful equipment stateside, you’re basically shopping for a price range telephone with half of its supposed expertise.

The remainder of the world is getting a enjoyable little telephone for a wonderful worth, however as a lot as I like the concept of the CMF Telephone 1, in case you’re within the US like me, I feel I’ll need to steer you in one other path. Fortunately, the present state of the price range Android market stateside signifies that’s fairly simple to do anyway, which hasn’t at all times been the case. Relying in your price range, there are many reasonably priced Samsung Galaxy A gadgets to have a look at or Motorola Moto G choices to think about, you’ll simply need to determine what issues to you.

Personally, although, I feel the Galaxy A15 5G ($174.8 at Amazon) might be the perfect various, each for its longer software program help and much more versatile triple digicam setup. Sure, the CMF Telephone 1 beats it from prime to backside by way of efficiency, battery life, and charging, however typically, the perfect telephone is the one you should use most readily. Samsung’s providing additionally has NFC help, not like the Telephone 1.

Must you determine to go Motorola, the Moto G 5G (2024) ($179.99 at Amazon) is the closest various. It’s arrange someplace between the opposite two, pairing a reasonably good 50MP main digicam with a 2MP macro sensor that continuously leaves me scratching my head. It’s properly dressed up with a vegan leather-based again panel in an attention-grabbing Sage end, although, which is sweet. Motorola’s possibility can be the one one of many three to rock an LCD panel, nevertheless it’s simply probably the most reasonably priced of the bunch in case you’re making an attempt to reside on a decent price range.

At some point, when Nothing lastly provides wider US distribution, I’ll fortunately suggest the CMF Telephone 1 (and the Telephone 2a or 2a Plus) for price range Android followers over right here, however we’re simply not fairly there but. For everybody else, this one is a steal.