- The CMF Phone 1 is launching in India on July 8.
- The device will feature MediaTek 7300 SoC with 128GB UFS 2.2 storage and 8GB LPDDR4X RAM.
- It will have a clean back with a screw mechanism, which many speculate could be to replace and customize the back panel.
Nothing’s quite good at teasing its upcoming products, but the brand’s X handle tweeting about the upcoming CMF-branded phone was pretty confusing. CMF’s first smartphone is almost here, and from the leaks and teases so far, it’s turning out to be an interesting product. So, to keep you updated on all the leaked details, right from the design and specs to the price, we have curated this piece about the CMF Phone 1.
Update: Nothing officially confirmed processor details on June 28, 2024.
CMF Phone 1: Display and Build
Nothing posted on X that the CMF Phone 1 could feature a plastic back, albeit a replaceable one, as there was a tiny screw on the lower side of the device. Some reports also suggest vegan leather back panels on some device variants. The company also posted a 15-second video teaser showcasing the physical dial on the Phone 1 and CMF Buds 2. Weirdly, the lanyard dial design on Phone 1 shown in the video suggests the dial may not sit flush at the back of the device.
Besides that, the CMF by Nothing X account also posted a teaser, confirming the CMF Phone 1 nomenclature and revealing more design elements. The image shows the device in the orange colorway with a circular knob on the right side, believed to be a lanyard dial.
Now, while we are not 100% sure of the complete design of the CMF Phone 1 based on the previous and latest images that are in different colorways. Here’s a fan-made render of how the device could end up looking in different colors.
Moving to the front, we expect the display to be a 6.67-inch 120Hz Full-HD+ AMOLED panel with a punch-hole camera, the same as the Nothing Phone (2a), but so far, that’s all we know.
The bezels might be thicker here, as per some leaks, making it one of the biggest differentiating factors between the CMF Phone and Phone (2a). This makes sense considering the CMF Phone 1 will be a budget offering and priced lower than the Phone (2a).
The back will be clean with no Glyph lights, which is one of the major differentiating factors as compared to all Nothing Phones released to date. The rear panel will host two cameras on the left side.
The CMF Phone 1 will also have a screw at the back and will come bundled with a Screwdriver cum SIM ejector tool. While there’s no official info on why the mechanism is in place, many speculate it’s due to the removable back design of the device.
Phone 1: Leaked Specifications
Nothing has confirmed that the CMF Phone (1) will powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7300. For those unaware, the Dimensity 7300 is an octa-core chipset with 4 x Cortex-A78 cores and 4 x Cortex-A55 cores. It’s manufactured on TSMC’s 4nm process and is said to perform 5% better than the MediaTek Dimensity 7200.
The Dimensity 7300 should give the Phone 1 a great price-to-performance ratio, just like its sibling, the Dimensity 7200. The storage type will likely be UFS 2.2 alongside LPDDR4X RAM. We also know that the base variant will have 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM.
CMF Phone 1: Software and Battery
The leaked images of the Phone 1 indicate that the phone will be running the latest version of Nothing OS, i.e. Nothing OS 2.6.0. The phone will launch with Android 14 out of the box. However, since it’s a mid-range offering, it’s rumored to receive up to two major Android updates and three years of security patches.
The battery from the leaked images is expected to be a 5,000 mAh unit, like the Phone (2a). The rumors suggest the charging speed could be 33W, a significant reduction from its cousin’s 45W fast charging speed.
Phone 1: Potential Camera Setup
The CMF Phone 1 could feature dual cameras in a vertical arrangement on the left side, unlike the Phone (2a)’s central camera unit. The primary camera could be the same 50MP Samsung GN9 wide sensor used in the Phone (2a). The secondary might not be the 50MP ultra-wide camera on the (2a) but a downgraded 2 MP depth snapper.
The primary camera most likely won’t feature OIS but EIS. The punch-hole selfie camera is expected to be a 16 MP camera.
On the connectivity front, we expect things to be similar to the Phone (2a) due to many similarities already. This includes Wi-Fi 6 support, Bluetooth 5.3, Dual-SIM card slots, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port. However, rumors suggest the CMF Phone 1 might not feature NFC, whereas the Phone (2a) does.
CMF Phone 1: Leaked Price
The lack of Glyph lighting, slower charging, and an inferior build compared to other Nothing devices could help Nothing bring the costs of the CMF Phone 1 down significantly.
According to a popular tipster Yogesh Brar, the retail box price of the Phone 1 is supposedly Rs. 19,999 in India, Rs. 4,000 less than the Nothing Phone (2a). While there are no images as proof to back the claim up, Yogesh’s track record makes the leak quite trustworthy.
In conclusion, Nothing is yet to confirm the official specs and pricing besides the SoC and connectivity, so take the leaks and rumors with a grain of salt. Overall, the Phone 1 is shaping up to be a “fierce competitor” in the sub-Rs 20,000 price segment in India. The CMF Phone 1 will launch on July 8 alongside the CMF Buds Pro 2 and CMF Watch Pro 2.
What are your thoughts on the CMF Phone 1? Do you think Nothing’s headed in the right direction with it? Let us know in the comments section.
