Nothing CMF Phone 1: Everything we know so far

Nothing has confirmed it is working on a budget smartphone named the CMF Phone 1, which sits under a sub-brand. If you’re curious about what specs and features the CMF Phone 1 might come with, we’ve gathered everything we know about the device.

Nothing itself is a new brand in the consumer tech market, debuting with the Nothing Phone 1 in 2021, but the company already has a sub-brand. CMF by Nothing aims to offer budget-friendly gadgets.

So far it has only delivered cheap earphones and smartwatches. But CMF is finally ready to throw its hat into the smartphone ring. The smartphone from the Nothing spin-off is called the CMF Phone 1. It will debut with a unique design with a unique gimmick.

CMF Phone 1: Release date

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Nothing Phone 2

Nothing’s sub-brand CMF has confirmed the CMF Phone 1 will be announced on July 9, 2024. The smartphone will be accompanied by the CMF Watch Pro (2) and the CMF Buds Pro (2).

These products are set to be introduced during the Nothing Community Update event that will take place on the aforementioned date at 10 am BST (British Summer Time) / 5 am EST (Eastern Standard Time).

CMF Phone 1: Rumored Price

A 91Mobiles report claims the CMF Phone 1 could be priced at around $150. The listing states it is priced at  Rs 12,000 in India, or around $143. This is significantly less than any Nothing smartphone yet. The recent Phone 2a costs $349 while the Phone 2 from last year is $599.

Tipster Yogesh Brar claims that the CMF Phone 1 will start at a discounted price of Rs. 15,999 in India and go up to Rs. 17,999 for the higher storage variant. That’s approximately $191 and $215, respectively.

CMF Phone 1: Design & display

X user @Technerd_9 has leaked images of the CMF Phone 1, though the phone is shown with a protective case on. It appears to have a dual-camera setup. @Technerd_9 claims the smartphone will not include the LED lights (Glyph Interface) on the back.

Nothing previously posted a teaser on X, hinting at a new feature on the device that looks like a big screw. X user @realMlgmXyysd claims the prominent screw is part of a new feature called “Nothing Lock.” It will serve as a lock system for exclusive accessories.

The most recent teaser of the phone shows a circular knob on one of its corners. This is similar to the knob we saw on the CMF Buds. While the knob does nothing except act as a fidget toy on the earbuds, we hope it will have some real functionality on the phone.

91Mobiles claims the CMF Phone 1 could have a plastic back with “some variant of Gorilla Glass protection” on the front. Nothing has confirmed the phone will be available in orange, but it might also be in white and black.

If the rumored price of the CMF Phone 1 is accurate, then it probably won’t look anything like a Nothing phone. CMF’s other products, like their smartwatch and earbuds, suggest Nothing is creating a clear distinction between its main brand and this budget sub-brand.

The smartphone will debut with a 6.7-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, according to developer and leaker MlgmXyysd. It will also bring an under-display fingerprint scanner. The Nothing Phone 2a also features the same display. Tipster Yogesh Brar corroborated these specs in an X post dated June 26.

CMF Phone 1: Specs speculation

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Nothing has started its CMF Phone (1) teaser campaign revealing the phone piece by piece every day until launch last week. It confirmed on July 1 that the smartphone will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 – a 4nm process that provides up to 25% lower power consumption compared to its predecessor.

The Carl Pei-led startup has confirmed that the CMF Phone (1) will pack 8GB RAM. However, we might also see a cheaper version with just 6GB RAM will be available as well. Nothing also revealed that the phone will feature a 16-megapixel selfie snapper and a 5,000 mAh battery.

The CMF Phone 1 was expected to have only one sensor on the back. However, Yogesh Brar claims the smartphone will feature a 50MP main sensor plus a depth sensor.

Is CMF Phone 1 worth waiting for?

No. Get the CMF Phone 1 when and if it launches but waiting for it doesn’t make sense. If you’re looking for a budget phone, grab any Samsung or Motorola you can find. When it comes to budget phones, you’re not aiming for something mind-blowing. You want a phone that works well for everyday tasks, and most budget phones will do just that, without having to wait for more of the same.