CMF Phone 1: A Budget-Friendly Device (Review)
CMF Phone 1: A Budget-Friendly Device (Review)
In a market dominated by high-priced smartphones, the CMF Phone 1 stands out as a budget-friendly option offering impressive specs at a fraction of the cost. Priced at just $199, this device, a product of CMF (a sub-brand of the Nothing Company), offers a combination of build quality, performance, and modularity that makes it a strong contender in its price range.
Unboxing and Design
Right out of the box, the CMF Phone 1 gives off a sleek, modern vibe. The phone features a modular design that allows users to customize the back shell. Available in colors like black, orange, and light green, the phone comes with a SIM card slot that matches the color of the shell you choose. The modularity extends to accessories like lanyards and card cases, and the community is expected to develop even more creative add-ons.
Display and Performance
One of the standout features of the CMF Phone 1 is its stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and brightness up to 2,000 nits. It runs on Android 14 and uses the Nothing Company’s signature icon set. The display offers vibrant colors and sharp details, perfect for gaming and media consumption.
Under the hood, the phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor with 8 cores (four A78 cores at 2.5 GHz and four A55 cores at 2 GHz), along with a Mali G615 MC2 GPU and 8GB of RAM. It also features a RAM boost function that extends the total memory to 16GB by adding swap memory. Storage-wise, the phone comes with 128GB of internal storage and a Micro SD card slot for expansion.
Camera and Battery Life
For photography, the CMF Phone 1 sports a 50-megapixel rear camera capable of shooting 4K videos at 30fps, while the front-facing camera is 16 megapixels. The phone is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging, ensuring that users stay powered throughout the day.
Gaming and Emulation Performance
One of the major appeals of the CMF Phone 1 is its ability to handle gaming and emulation. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, paired with its AMOLED display, offers an immersive gaming experience. In tests with games like Minecraft, Asphalt Legends, and Call of Duty Mobile, the phone delivered solid performance, though some higher-end games like Genshin Impact required lowering the graphics settings for smoother gameplay.
The phone also excels at emulation, handling PSP, GameCube, and Wii games impressively well. While not every game runs at the highest resolutions, the CMF Phone 1 holds its own with many demanding titles, making it a viable option for gamers on a budget.
Benchmarks and Real-World Use
In terms of benchmarks, the CMF Phone 1 scored well for its price point. Geekbench 6 results were 1,025 for single-core and 2,912 for multi-core, while 3DMark Wildlife gave a GPU score of 3,135. Although these numbers fall behind flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which boasts significantly higher performance scores, the price-performance ratio of the CMF Phone 1 remains impressive.
Conclusion
For just $199, the CMF Phone 1 delivers a lot of value, offering a beautiful display, decent performance, and even a level of modularity that is rare in smartphones. While it may not compete with top-tier devices in terms of raw power, it more than holds its own for everyday tasks, gaming, and even emulation. If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn’t skimp on features, the CMF Phone 1 is worth considering.
For more information on where to purchase the CMF Phone 1 and its accessories, check the links below. If you have any questions or want to see specific tests on this device, feel free to leave a comment!