Stylish, budget friendly but could be better! – India TV

Nothing, a British tech brand that is known for its unique design, has launched a new smartphone under its sub-brand (CMF by Nothing). The smartphone itself has made waves with its innovative design and unlike previous smartphones launched by the company, the new device certainly does not have a transparent back panel. The company has certainly redefined the look of everyday tech gadgets and the new “CMF Phone 1” continues this trend with a focus on design and personalization.

But does it deliver performance? Here’s our detailed review that will let you know everything about the device before you decide to buy it.

Design

The CMF Phone 1 has a unique design (like other Nothing smartphones), but this time the company has come up with an opaque back panel (a huge change from its previous design) with exposed screws and a rotating, removable dial.

Unlike the existing Nothing phones, the new CMF Phone 1 has a more subtle design but offers extensive customization options. Users can swap back panels, change the screws, and add accessories like a phone stand or a lanyard, which are offered by the company itself.

The model I received for review had a dark blue vegan leather panel, and it comes in four other color options—black, light green, blue, and orange—and they all look great.

You can easily customize the back panel with a miniature screwdriver included with the accessories. However, all accessories are only available in the signature orange color of the CMF brand.

Display

The CMF Phone 1 has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display certainly delivers crisp images, although the colors are a bit warmer on it, reducing their intensity. It also works well for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption.

The phone supports HDR10+ technology, which provides a better visual experience, especially in apps like YouTube and social media – Facebook, Instagram and others.

Camera

The Phone 1 has a 50-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. It does well in daylight, taking clear and detailed photos. However, in low light, the camera struggles with detail, resulting in unimpressive photos.

The 16MP front camera offers decent selfies, but again – it struggles in low-light conditions. Here are some examples to help you understand:

For video recording, the phone supports 4K at 30 fps and 1080p at up to 60 fps. While the video quality is good, the microphone is a bit of a pain as it picks up a lot of background noise.

Performance and software

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G chipset, the CMF Phone 1 delivers solid performance in its sub-Rs 16,000 class. It handles web browsing, social media, and casual gaming without any heating issues. The phone comes with 8GB of RAM with an additional 8GB of RAM Booster for improved multitasking — and it’s seriously fast. The smartphone is equipped with a powerful processor and supports graphics-heavy games.

The CMF Phone 1 runs on NothingOS 2.5, with a bloatware-free user interface. Users can choose between the stock Android experience or the custom Nothing UI, which also offers features like customizable app drawers and quick home screen widget placement.

Battery

The CMF Phone 1 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that can easily get you through the day with moderate use. The device supports 33W fast charging, though the charger is sold separately (like other smartphones offered by Nothing). With the CMF by Nothing charger, the phone can charge to 55 percent in just 15 minutes.

Verdict

Overall, the new CMF Phone 1 is certainly an attractive choice. It is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers extensive customization, great performance, and long battery life.

At a starting price of Rs 15,999, the new CMF Phone 1 is certainly a great choice for those looking for a smartphone with an out-of-the-box look and feel at an affordable price. It has a clean user interface, but we still feel the display could have been better — with more vibrant colors. Also, the Phone 1 has camera issues — low-light shots are not very good, and we have other devices that offer better shots in similar price segments.

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