Nothing CMF Phone 1 review
The CMF Phone 1 suits anyone who prioritizes display quality and battery life over raw power or ruggedness—students, backup phone hunters, or buyers in emerging markets where €190 is the realistic ceiling. Skip it if you need sustained gaming performance or a phone that survives rough daily use.
This review is based on Nothing’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Nothing CMF Phone 1, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The CMF Phone 1 is Nothing's stripped-down play for budget-conscious buyers: it keeps the sleek design and bright AMOLED display but cuts corners on processing power and ruggedness. For €190, it's a smooth everyday phone that stumbles under load, and while the battery lasts and the main camera is competent, you're not getting flagship chops or durability at this price.
Design & build
At 197–202 grams and 8.2 mm thick, the CMF Phone 1 is light and flat-edged in the best Nothing house style. The glass front is tempered, but the back is plastic or eco-friendly silicone polymer, which trades premium feel for impact resistance—it won't shatter as easily as an all-glass phone if dropped on tile. You get a user-replaceable back cover, a genuinely useful feature that eases repair and lets you swap colors. Dust and splash resistance is present but basic; it's IPX2 territory, so it'll handle splashes but not a dunk in water. For a phone at this price in 2024, the design is the standout: it looks like Nothing's more expensive models yet costs half as much.
Display
The 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh and 2000 nits peak brightness is where the CMF Phone 1 punches above its weight. At 1080×2400 pixels (395 ppi), text is sharp and images are crisp without the blur of a lower-density LCD. The 120Hz scrolling feels smooth in everyday use, and the brightness is genuinely useful in sunlight—a rarity at this price. PWM dimming at 960Hz keeps flicker imperceptible for most users. This display alone would justify picking this over rival budget phones with 90Hz LCDs or dimmer OLED panels.
Performance
The Dimensity 7300 and Mali-G615 MC2 GPU handle everyday tasks—email, messaging, social media, video playback—without stutter. Gaming is where limits show: medium settings in demanding titles, not high, and performance does dip in sustained load. The chip sits in the upper-midrange tier for its era, but it's not a gaming powerhouse. For most buyers in emerging markets, this is enough; if you stream video or play casual games, it keeps up. Heavy multitasking or demanding apps will feel sluggish compared to a flagship, but again, you're paying a quarter of the flagship price. The AnTuTu 9 score of 536,089 reflects a capable but not exceptional performer.
Software
Nothing OS 4.0 on Android 14 is clean and lightweight, with a promise of upgrades to Android 16. Nothing's custom skin is less heavy than most Samsung or Chinese skins, and it doesn't waterlog the phone with bloatware. Two major Android upgrades take you to mid-2026 at least, which is standard for this class. The interface is responsive on the Dimensity 7300, and customization options are solid. No complaints here for the price tier.
Camera
The 50MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF is the solid heart of the camera system. Daylight shots are sharp and well-exposed, and the tight crop from the high megapixel count holds detail when you zoom digitally. Low light is softer—there's no dedicated night mode—and edges lose definition, a limitation of the smaller sensor and lack of processing magic. The 16MP selfie camera is adequate for video calls and casual snaps. Video is 4K at 30fps with gyro-EIS, which smooths out minor hand shake. This is competent for a budget phone and good enough for social media, but do not expect flagship-class detail in shadows or professional-grade night photography.
Battery & charging
The 5000 mAh battery is the right size for the 6.67-inch screen and Dimensity 7300. You'll get a full day on moderate use (messaging, apps, casual browsing) and push toward 1.5 days if you're light on video. Heavy streaming or gaming eats it faster, down to 6–8 hours of screen-on time. The 33W wired charging takes roughly 50–60 minutes from empty to full, which is decent but not exceptional; rivals now ship 60W or faster in this price band. The 5W reverse charging for wireless earbuds is a gimmick that works but matters little. Nothing has been slack about bundling the 33W charger in the box in some regions, which is a real inconvenience if you don't already own a capable USB-C adapter.
Value & verdict
At €190, the CMF Phone 1 is Nothing's clearest value play: you get a flagship-level display, solid all-day battery, and a clean OS for the price of a one-way flight. The Dimensity 7300 is not a powerhouse, and the plastic back and basic water resistance mean this is not a rugged daily driver for harsh environments. But for a student, a backup phone, or anyone in a market where a €190 device is the realistic budget, the CMF Phone 1 is hard to fault. The bright AMOLED screen alone justifies the price. This is not a flagship killer; it's a capable, thoughtfully designed budget phone that doesn't feel cheap where it counts.
Verdict
The CMF Phone 1 suits anyone who prioritizes display quality and battery life over raw power or ruggedness—students, backup phone hunters, or buyers in emerging markets where €190 is the realistic ceiling. Skip it if you need sustained gaming performance or a phone that survives rough daily use.
- AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh and 2000 nits peak brightness—rare and genuinely useful at this price
- 5000 mAh battery easily stretches to a full day of mixed use
- User-replaceable back cover and clean Nothing OS without bloatware
- Competent 50MP main camera with PDAF and acceptable video
- Dimensity 7300 struggles with demanding apps and gaming—medium settings, not high
- 33W charging is fine but slower than rivals now shipping 60W+ at the same price
- Plastic back and IPX2 splash resistance mean limited durability; not built for harsh environments
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, July 08 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 120Hz, 960Hz PWM, 500 nits (typ), 2000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 33W wired5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 164 x 77 x 8.2 mm (6.46 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 197 g or 202 g (6.95 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back or silicone polymer back (eco leather) |
| Durability | User-replaceable back cover Dust and splash resistant |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C |
Nothing CMF Phone 1 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the CMF Phone 1 support 5G?
Yes. The CMF Phone 1 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the CMF Phone 1 use?
The CMF Phone 1 runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm).
What display does the CMF Phone 1 have?
A 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 120Hz, 960Hz PWM, 500 nits (typ), 2000 nits (peak), 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density).
How big is the CMF Phone 1 battery?
The CMF Phone 1 has a 5000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 33W wired5W reverse wired.
Does the CMF Phone 1 have NFC?
No, the CMF Phone 1 does not list NFC support.
Is the CMF Phone 1 water resistant?
The CMF Phone 1 carries a User-replaceable back cover Dust and splash resistant rating.
Does the CMF Phone 1 support a microSD card?
Yes, the CMF Phone 1 supports expandable storage (microSDXC).
Does the CMF Phone 1 have a headphone jack?
No, the CMF Phone 1 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the CMF Phone 1 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
CMF Phone 2 Pro
Phone (2a) Plus
Phone (2a)
Phone (3a) Pro
Galaxy A56
