Experience Innovation With The CMF Phone 1: A Review Of Features And Performance

Nothing is a fashion-oriented technology brand that strives to do something new with the design of its products. These genes were later passed on to their sub-brand, which had something going on when they released their first set of devices. So when the news broke that CMF by Nothing was working on its first-ever smartphone, teasing an image of a dial, fans knew they were in for a surprise. I had the opportunity to use the CMF Phone 1 early and after spending a week with this customizable gizmo, I share my thoughts in this CMF Phone 1 review.

CMF Phone 1: Specs At a Glance

Before we begin, let us take a quick look at the specifications of the CMF Phone 1:

CMF Phone 1: Box Contents

Now here are all the things that you will get with the mobile phone. Take a look at the list of all the box contents of the CMF Phone 1:

• CMF Phone 1
• USB Type C to C cable
• An orange SIM card ejector pin
• User manual and other paperwork

CMF Phone 1: Build and Design

Coming to the design, the phone has an unorthodox look to the back featuring exposed screws and a dial at the bottom. This gives the black variant that we had, an industrial look and feel, which I like quite a lot.

This back will make people’s heads turn when you take it outside, especially with the bright orange back panel. Yes, you can swap the back cover! More on this below. The matte textured plastic back and the grooves in the dial make the CMF Phone 1 grippy and gives it a premium feel compared to other devices in its category.

However, due to its large footprint, the sharp edges, and the screw slots, it does feel like the edges are digging into your palms after a while. And it can get uncomfortable while scrolling through Instagram Reels in bed. This issue is not helped by the 8 or 9-mm thickness (depending on the cover you use) of the flat sides, which house the volume rocker on the left and the power button on the right.

One-hand usage is possible but not ideal as the phone is too boxy and weighty to use. You will often find yourself using your pinky finger to rest the bottom of the phone where you will find the USB-C port for charging, a single mono speaker, and the physical dial on the right.

Overall, the phone has an industrial, almost prototype look to it that some will love, but non-enthusiasts might not prefer.

Replaceable Back Cover and Accessories

Let’s jump into the most hyped feature of the CMF Phone 1 – the replaceable back covers. CMF tried a mix of nostalgia by allowing you to replace the back and slap on other colored back panels. Trying out a new back cover took me back to the days of the Moto G’s and the Lumia’s. Those were colorful times.

Putting different colored back panels breathes a new personality to the device. Like the orange one feels bold while the mint green feels calming. While the back is removable, the battery is not. So you can’t reload the battery for an instant refill. This might bum out some people but who wants to carry a separate battery? Those things are dangerous.

You need to remove the five screws at the back of the phone to replace the covers. Yes, I’m sorry to break it to you, but the dial at the back is also a screw. The dial also serves a modular purpose as you can use it to attach many different CMF Phone 1 accessories like a stand, lanyard cable, or a magnetic cardholder.

I won’t lie, I had my share of fun removing and switching between different back covers and accessories. But the problem is you will need to remove those screws every time you decide to change the back. After the first few times, it feels tedious.

Plus, there is also the factor of losing said screws and dial, which I, unfortunately, did an hour into getting the phone (I found it after panicking for the next hour). And if you have children and often give them your phone to play games, that dial is a choking hazard.

I love the concept and applaud CMF for bringing customization into this price range. I just wish for a simpler implementation, like on Nothing Phones. The list of accessories and back panel colors is also limited at the time of release, so I hope that CMF will continue to release new accessories and colors later on.

CMF Phone 1: Display Quality

CMF Phone 1 not only catches your eyes from the back but the front too, thanks to its tall 6.7-inch AMOLED panel. Watching content like The Boys or The Bear was such a good experience on this phone. Not once was I distracted by the odd shift in colors or the flickering of the screen.

The 120 Hz refresh rate also feels smooth, and I didn’t face any jitters or slowdowns which happens at times with budget