CMF Phone 1 Review: Unique Design Meets Solid Performance

Key Highlights:

• The CMF Phone 1 was released in India.

• The newly introduced CMF phone costs Rs 15,999.

• The CMF Phone 1 is among the top 5G phones under Rs 20,000 in India.

CMF Phone 1 Packs a Punch: Performance Review:

Nothing, a brand known for its bravely diving design choices, has introduced its first handset, the CMF Phone 1, which costs Rs 17,999. This gadget attempts to introduce Nothing's revolutionary design language to a more cost-conscious audience. The CMF Phone 1 stands out in the competitive sub-Rs 20,000 smartphone sector for its "industrial" appearance and intriguing user experience.

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Design: Nothing's signature flair

The CMF Phone 1 has a sleek, minimalist design with a simple black display and modest branding on the rear. Its distinctive design includes a replaceable back panel in a variety of colours as well as matte and vegan leather textures, and it retails for Rs 799. This allows users to customise their devices based on their mood or style. The phone also has an IP52 classification, which means it can survive splashes and water damage during the rainy season. The CMF Phone 1 stands out in the sub-Rs 20,000 sector thanks to its striking appearance, user-friendly functioning, and customisable features.

The "wheel" on the CMF Phone 1 has two purposes: it allows for simple carrying and hands-free content viewing. It may be removed to easily connect a lanyard or a tiny kickstand, although these accessories are supplied separately and need cautious installation owing to their plastic construction. Removing and reattaching might be difficult, particularly during video breaks.

The CMF Phone 1 has a distinctive "wheel" that allows for dual usage, including the connection of a lanyard or a tiny kickstand for hands-free reading. These accessories are priced separately at Rs 799 each and demand a careful touch due to their plastic construction. The wheel is vital to the phone's appearance and may be replaced with a new back cover or a stand/lanyard. A second card case is offered for Rs 799. The phone's distinctive look and build quality make it a standout option for around Rs 20,000.

Display: Broad and brilliant

The CMF Phone 1 has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with vibrant colours and a warm tone, which is great for content consumption. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate but does not dynamically change to 60Hz, thereby reducing battery life. The display is covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and is lightweight, making it easy to grip. Despite its enormous size, the phone's lightweight design makes it ideal for watching films and playing games.

Strong performance

The CMF Phone 1 is a strong device featuring a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G processor that outperforms competitors in the sub-Rs 20,000 range. It delivers smooth real-world performance, running games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty with no frame dips or latency. However, it becomes heated during lengthy gaming sessions, and the camera app may occasionally slow down in hot conditions, potentially owing to software flaws that future updates can fix.

The CMF Phone 1 is a strong phone with a distinctive design and a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G chipset, providing a smooth real-world experience for demanding games such as Genshin Impact and Call of Duty. It operates swiftly with no frame dips or latency, making multitasking and daily activities simple. However, the phone can become warm during lengthy gaming sessions, and the camera app may experience intermittent slowdown in hot weather. The single speaker produces strong, clear music with enough depth for casual listening and multimedia usage.

The phone has two options: Nothing OS and plain Android, with Nothing OS giving a simple experience free of bloatware. Essential features like App Locker and Cloned applications improve usefulness without overwhelming users. The business offers two years of Android OS updates, including Android 15 and 16 stable versions. The CMF Phone 1's performance, software experience, and emphasis on user experience make it an appealing choice in the sub-Rs 20,000 category.

The Phone features a 5,000mAh battery, which is further improved via software optimisation. The basic UI, lightweight design, and lack of spectacular animations help to improve battery life. Most people can use the phone for a whole day on a single charge, although gamers will drain it faster. However, the phone does not equipped with a fast charger, so customers must either buy a separate 33W charger or use an older one. The decision to invest in a fast charger is based on personal demands and charging patterns.

Great Camera Performance

The CMF Phone 1's dual back camera system, which includes a 50MP primary sensor, performs best in daylight, capturing realistic and rich colours with a balanced dynamic range. The camera's edge recognition skills are noticeable in portrait mode, which provides depth of field and successfully blurs the backdrop for both human and non-human subjects.

However, low-light performance is a shortcoming, with the dynamic range straining to manage changing light levels and post-processing taking longer than expected. Despite this, the camera is able to rescue some images in modestly illuminated areas, with little noise, a good amount of detail, and some brightness in colours. The CMF Phone 1's camera performs in daylight, generating appealing shots that outperform its weight class in the sub-Rs 20,000 market.

Should you purchase it for around Rs 20,000?

The CMF Phone 1 is a one-of-a-kind smartphone priced at Rs 15,999. It features a sleek black panel, detachable back, and a functioning "wheel" for customization. It includes a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G processor for excellent operation and a clean, optimised version of Nothing OS. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz provides a fluid viewing experience. The phone features a 5,000mAh battery and a respectable camera with a 50MP primary sensor. However, it lacks stereo speakers, does not come with a charger, and requires extra purchases to customise. The low-light camera's performance suffers from intermittent noise and processing delays. Despite these flaws, the CMF Phone 1 is a compelling option for those seeking design, performance, and value for money.