Nothing's new CMF Phone 1 looks like the budget phone to beat if you're into customization

Summary

• The CMF Phone 1 features a replaceable back panel and a modular Accessory Point.
• The phone packs an impressive specs sheet along with an IP52 rating.
• You can get the CMF Phone 1 in the US for $199, but there's a catch.

After a few weeks of leaks and building hype, the first phone from Nothing's sub-brand CMF is here. While the company had already teased several details about the Phone 1, it still had a few surprises up its sleeve for the launch. The highlight of the Phone 1 is its replaceable back panel, held in place by stainless steel screws. It is also Nothing's most affordable phone yet, even cheaper than the Nothing Phone 2a.

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The CMF Phone 1 stands out from other budget Android phones with its unique design. While a 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED panel dominates the front, the rear is a lot more interesting with a replaceable backplate. A few stainless steel screws hold it in place, which you can remove to swap the backplate with other accessories from the company.

There's also a big rotating knob on the phone's bottom-right corner, dubbed Accessory Point. You can use it to hook other accessories to the Phone 1, like a lanyard or a kickstand.

Removing the backplate does not allow access to the battery or other internal components of Phone 1. Still, the phone provides more customization options than a typical Android phone. Despite the modular backplate, the Phone 1 also carries an IP52 rating.

Being a budget phone, the CMF Phone 1 packs modest internals. This includes a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. The rear houses a dual-camera setup, though the 50MP f/1.8 primary shooter is the only one worth talking about.

Out of the box, the phone runs on Android 14 with Nothing OS 2.6. CMF promises the Phone 1 will get two major OS updates and three years of security patches.

Alongside the Phone 1, CMF is selling several accessories, like a backplate, kickstand, and card case. It also launched the CMF Watch Pro 2 and the CMF Buds Pro 2, its second smartwatch and wireless earbuds, respectively.

CMF Phone 1

The CMF Phone 1 is the first phone from Nothing's budget brand, CMF. While the phone packs impressive specs for its price, it stands out even further with its unique design, which includes a replaceable backplate. An Accessory point lets you easily attach official accessories like a kickstand or a card case to the phone.

SoC
MediaTek Dimensity 7300
Display type
Super AMOLED
Display dimensions
6.67-inch
Display resolution
FHD+ (1080 x 2400)
RAM
6 or 8GB
Storage
128GB, microSD card slot
Battery
5,000mAh
Charge speed
33W
Charge options
Wired
Ports
USB-C
SIM support
Dual nano-SIM
Operating System
Android 14, Nothing OS 2.6
Front camera
16MP
Rear camera
50MP f/1.8, Portrait sensor
Cellular connectivity
5G NSA, SA
Wi-Fi connectivity
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, BLE
Dimensions
164 x 77 x 8 mm
Weight
197grams
IP Rating
IP52
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CMF Phone 1 price and availability

The CMF Phone 1 will launch in Europe, the UK, and India, with a limited beta release in the US. It's priced at €239 in Europe, while the UK pricing is £209. In India, CMF is launching a cheaper variant of the phone with 6GB RAM for Rs 15,999, while the 8GB model costs Rs 17,999.

The official accessories are priced at €25/£19/$25, while the backplate costs a bit more at €35/£29/$35. They will go on sale later this month.

You can get the CMF Phone 1 for $199 in the US, provided you get into the Nothing US beta program.