I am arising on 10 years of protecting cellphones, and after a while with the CMF Phone 1, I do not suppose I’ve used a extra excellent cellphone for the cash. CMF is a sub-brand by Nothing, based by Carl Pei of OnePlus fame. It has been dabbling in ultralow-cost units, like smartwatches and earbuds, however the CMF Cellphone 1 is its first Android cellphone. And it prices $199.
I make it a degree to evaluate cheap smartphones—I keep in mind the times once I scrounged each penny I earned to purchase my first smartphone, the $200 Samsung Galaxy Captivate in 2010. It is essential to assist steer individuals on a restricted funds to good units. This yr alone, I’ve tried the $150 Moto G Play and the $199 Galaxy A15—the latter of which I discovered to be a disappointing successor to the superb Galaxy A14 from 2023. However none of those telephones maintain a candle to the CMF Cellphone 1, which blows its friends away.
Phenomenal Worth
CMF’s design language for the Cellphone 1 is its first win. This machine is way extra visually fascinating than another $199 handset within the US. The economic look comes alive whenever you embrace the $35 swappable again covers. Use the included screwdriver to pop off the screws and you may change the again to a unique shade. My selection was orange.
The screwdriver is a bit brief, and so it is a bit arduous to take away the screws—I can not think about altering the again typically. This additionally doesn’t suggest you’ll begin repairing stuff your self or swap out the battery—CMF urges clients to not take away the battery with out authorization (there is a warning label on the battery). There’s disappointingly not a lot right here to make repairs simpler, unlike HMD’s new Skyline.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
A part of the enjoyable is the Accent Level, the little wheel on the proper nook of the cellphone. Take away this thumbscrew and you may affix different equipment, like a lanyard, kickstand, or pockets. My favourite of the lot is the kickstand, and I dare say it doubles as a fidget spinner of types. Useful, enjoyable, and nifty! CMF is even encouraging customers to 3D print accessories for it.
However all of those design tips, whereas distinctive, aren’t what makes the CMF Cellphone 1 particular. No, that is the precise {hardware}, construct, and specs. Immediately, my first impression after booting it up was its velocity. Within the time I spent with it, I do not suppose I observed any lag or stutters, which is uncommon on a $199 smartphone. That is due to the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 inside with 8 gigs of RAM, nevertheless it additionally has lots to do with the optimizations between the {hardware} and software program, which is Nothing OS. (It is nonetheless Android, however Nothing’s layer on the highest gives a selected aesthetic with some tweaks, just like the utterly monochromatic theme on the house display.)
OK, so no lag. Subsequent, the battery life impressed. I made this my major machine as I traveled to Paris to cowl Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, and I went to mattress some nights detached about plugging my cellphone in after seeing it had 50 p.c left. That is with navigation, music streaming through Bluetooth, messaging, and snapping pics. I’ve managed to push the 5,000-mAh battery with heavy utilization and produce it right down to 30 p.c on the finish of a day, however with common use, I used to be frequently getting two days out of it. (I can’t say the identical concerning the $1,100 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.)
