Photo: Nothing
Gadget maker Nothing is shaking things up with the CMF Phone 1, a super-budget 5G phone priced at just US$199 (around CA$272). Starting July 12, it aims to be "the best phone everyone can afford" under Nothing's new CMF brand.
The phone's standout feature is its unique design. Inspired by Lamborghini, it boasts a matte finish with exposed screwheads for a removable back cover. This lets you swap colours or potentially even replace the battery (though that detail isn't confirmed or maybe it'll come to a different device).
Another interesting feature is the twistable knob on the back. This can be unscrewed to attach various accessories like a lanyard, a kickstand, or a credit card holder.
The CMF Phone 1 packs a decent punch considering the price. It boasts a large, vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It gets a 50-megapixel dual camera setup on the back paired with a 16-megapixel selfie camera.
The 5,000mAh battery should last most users a full day with moderate use, and 33W fast charging provides quick top-ups. The phone runs on a midrange MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G processor, promising a smooth experience and handling casual gaming. It comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, expandable via a microSD card slot.
A significant downside is the software support. Nothing only guarantees two years of software updates and three years of security updates, limiting the phone's usable life until 2027. This falls short of competitors like Samsung's Galaxy A series offering similar prices but longer support.
The CMF Phone 1 is currently available for pre-order in the US through Nothing's Beta program, implying it's still under development. It runs Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14. It's currently not listed as available in Canada, but the CMF accessories like the Watch Pro 2 and Buds Pro 2 are available.