CMF by Nothing launched its first phone- CMF Phone 1 in Nepal on July 08, 2024, on the same day of the device’s global launch. The trendsetting device comes with a cutting-edge customizable design and boasts an aggressive cost. Now, Chaudhary Group (CG) has just decreased its price in Nepal for both the 8/128 GB and 8/256 GB variants which aptly addresses the demands of smartphone consumers. Here, we talk about the phone’s specifications, features, availability, and price as well as the pre-booking offer in Nepal.
Overview
The CMF Phone 1 is an affordable offering from Nothing. It’s an alternative for those who want Nothing’s innovative design commitment but at a budget cost. In Nepal, Chaudhary Group brought the iconic Android phone which is a local partner of Nothing Nothing Technology Ltd.
The first CMF phone comes with an interchangeable back cover, MediaTek Dimensity 7300, and a 50 MP Sony sensor among the key specs. We can see the phone as a toned-down alternative to the Nothing Phone 2a. Amidst all the bus and excitement, the phone has been launched to its expectations. So, without further ado, let’s delve into the device in detail:
Design and Display
As the images show, CMF Phone 1 comes with a striking orange color but there are black, blue, and light green options too. And the thing is its rear panel is customizable. Even the screws are exposed securely which makes it helpful to switch rear panels (more on this below). Noticeably though, the bottom of the phone has a slightly thick chin.
In terms of materials, the front is glass, while the back is made of either silicon polymer (vegan leather) or plastic. If you choose blue or orange back panels, the device will weigh 202 grams as the cases are vegan leather and heavier. The other black and light green color cases are plastic-made so using them makes the device lighter by 9 grams.
Likewise, CMF has chosen matt and other finishes for the phone. Among the hardware, the phone has a vertically aligned dual-camera setup on its rear panel. They are housed inside pill-shaped borders. A CMF by Nothing text that is etched in a way that resembles Nothing’s obsession with futuristic appeals. To sum up, it’s a visually fresh attempt at a device by the Nothing sub-brand.
The CMF Phone 1 features a Super AMOLED LDPS display with a 6.7-inch screen with an FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. It features a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth screen scrolls. Likewise, the screen can reach a stunning 2000 nits of brightness.
Further, the 395 ppi density means it packs a decent number of pixels per inch which translates to crystal-clear visuals. Being an AMOLED screen, the graphics will show vibrant and distinct. The display also features an in-display fingerprint sensor. Further, the phone comes with IP52 certification for water and dust resistance.
Check out: Nothing Phone (1) Receives the Price Drop in Nepal
You can swap the phone’s back cover ‘entirely’
Yes, you heard it. You can swap the back panel of the device with other back covers (case) with screws and screwdriver which comes with the phone. So, you can have different designs and colors for the changeable case. In addition to this, CMF is also offering rotatable dial and screws that unlocks more utilities with the device to the end user.
The phone’s accessories also include a lanyard, a card holder, and a stand that doesn’t ship with the phone. However, it must be known that these extra goodies need to be bought separately by the users. Also, the phone’s package won’t include a charger. But you can buy the charger separately while buying the phone.
The flexibility with customization has less to do with repairability than with the ability to enhance the phone’s looks as the company puts it, an “engineer’s aesthetic.” With this phone, we are looking into the new era of smartphones that gives users ways to enhance their phone’s appearance.
Performance
The pioneering CMF phone is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, a 4 nm build. It features four cores clocking up to 2.5 GHz and the other four cores keeping the device operational at 2.0 GHz. It’s got Mali-G615 for the graphics.
Likewise, the device comes with 8 GB of RAM which can be boosted to 16 GB with CMF RAM Booster Technology. For internal storage, you get options of 128 GB and 256 GB. Solidly enough, the internal storage is expandable all the way up to 2 TB via a microSD card.
Likewise, the device boots to Nothing OS 2.6 based on the latest Android 14 software. So, on this front as well, the device ensures a fresh and up-to-date experience for the users. Nothing promises that the device is eligible for two years of OS upgrades and three years of security updates which means the device will remain fresh in features and securities for quite some years after a purchase.
Cameras
For photography, the first CMF phone carries a dual-camera module on its interchangeable back panel. It’s been confirmed that the 50 MP main wide camera will be supported by a 2 MP depth sensor. The camera features an electronic image stabilization (EIS) support and also boasts a portrait sensor with 2x zoom. The main camera can shoot videos at 4k@30fps.
The front houses a 16 MP selfie camera for photos and videos. It can record videos at 1080p@30fps.
Battery and Other Details
The CMF Phone 1 houses a decent 5,000mAh battery. It’s paired with 33W fast charging and 5W reverse charging support. So, this could start a trend in the industry among the affordable phones lineups. Speaking of the battery’s efficiency, once fully charged, you can sustain for almost two days on basic to moderate use. The company claims that the device only takes 20 minutes to charge 50%.
50 percent within 20 minutes, according to the company. It measures 164x8x77mm and weighs 197g. The vegan leather variant has a 9mm thickness and weighs 202 grams.
The phone supports 5G technology (in 13 bands) with the powerful processor rare in this price range. It supports both NSA and SA 5G technology, together with VoNR technology. Likewise, the phone supports WiFi 6 technology which is the next-generation WiFi connection that enables faster internet speed and lower latency.
Check out: Why do smartphone vendor lock 5G support on their phones?
Technical Specifications
- Build:
- Material: Glass front, plastic back, or silicone polymer back (vegan leather)
- Dimension: 164x8x77mm
- Customizable back panel
- SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
- Network: 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G, VoLTE
- Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/, WiFi 6, dual-band WiFi
- Display:
- Size: 6.7-inch
- Technology: Super AMOLED, LTPS
- Resolution: FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels)
- Pixels per inch: 395
- Touch Sampling Rate: 240 Hz
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
- Brightness: Up to 2000 nits
- Processor:
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 (4nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (4x 2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
- GPU: Mali-G615 MC2
- Memory & Storage: 8/128 GB, 8/256 GB RAM
- MicroSD Card Slot: Yes, storage is expandable to 2 TB
- Software: Android 14, Nothing OS 2.6
- 5G Bands: NSA and SA in 13 bands (n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n77, n78)
- Rear Camera:
- Main camera: 50MP, f/1.8, PDAF
- Depth Sensor: 2MP, f/2.4, (depth)
- Video Recording: Up to 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
- Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.0, (wide)
- Video Recording: 1080p@30fps
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack: No
- NFC: No
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Fast-Charging: 33W
- Reverse-Charging: 5W
- Sensors: Under display scanner, accelerometer, proximity, compass
- Positioning: GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
- Colors: black, blue, orange, light green
- Weight: 197 gm or 202 gm (vegan leather)
- CMF Phone 1 price in Nepal: Rs 31,699 (8/128 GB) | Rs 36,299 (8/256GB)
CMF Phone 1 Price in Nepal and Availability
The price for CMF Phone 1 is Rs 31,699 for the 8/128 GB variant, reduced from Rs 36,999. The other model with 8/256 GB is now set at Rs 36,299 from the earlier cost of Rs 41,999. The latest price revision is welcome news for anticipating buyers who were not happy with the original pricing. CG has slashed the cost by Rs 5,300 and Rs 5,200 on 8/128 GB and 8/256 GB models, respectively.
If you were also one of those who thought that the original prices for the device were a bit too high, CG might have just done proper justice to the expectant buyers. Similarly, the phone is on our list of the best phones under Rs 40,000 in Nepal.
| CMF Phone 1 variants | Price in Nepal (Official) |
| 8/128GB | Rs 31,699 |
| 8/256GB | Rs 36,299 |
In Nepal, the device is available on Daraz, other eCommerce platforms, Khalti, CG-authorized stores, etc.
CMF also launched Buds Pro 2 And Watch Pro 2 alongside the CMF Phone 1.
Our verdict
The CMF Phone 1 seeks to attract buyers who are fans of Nothing for its visual aesthetics and stylistic approach to smartphones. The latest phone retains the signature attributes of Nothing from a commitment to a refreshing design, particularly the customizable back panel to its evolving mantra of the affordable phone.
The Nothing Phone 2a is an affordable pick but the CMF Phone 1 is a next-level treat from the company. The only quibble though is there’s no glyph interface. Perhaps that’s what makes it affordable. And for its new price of up to Rs 36,299, it should be a decent choice for you.
Do you think CMF Phone 1 is a stunner by design and price? And does the latest pricing make it a more appealing choice now for buyers? Share your opinion with others in the comment section below.
