Add MobilityArena as a preferred source on Google
The CMF Phone 1 by Nothing is a more affordable copy of the Nothing Phone 2a , with a few downgraded specs.
While the CMF Phone 1 has basic IP52 dust and splash protection, it lacks any aptX Bluetooth codecs, lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, lacks wireless charging, and lacks an IR blaster. None of these should count against the phone, considering that this is a sub-$200 budget smartphone.
CMF Phone 1 in brief:
- Price Range: Below $199-$300
- OS: Android 14
- Release Date: 2024
- Network Type: 2G/3G/4G/5G
- eSIM: No
- Display: 6.67-inch, 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution
- Chipset: Dimensity 7200 (5 nm)
- Selfie Camera: 16 MP
- Rear camera: 50 MP
- RAM: 6 GB
- ROM: 128 GB / 256 GB
- Fingerprint Sensor: in-display
- Headphone Jack: Yes
- Infrared/IR Blaster: No.
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Fast Charging: 33W
- Wireless Charging: No.
CMF Phone 1
For more detailed specifications of the CMF Phone 1 by Nothing, have a look below.
- CMF Phone 1 Specs
- Prices in the USA, UK, EU, Australia
CMF Phone 1 Specs
Mobile Wireless Network and Software
- 2G mobile network bands : GSM, GPRS, EDGE 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz.
- 3G mobile network bands : UMTS, WCDMA, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 MHz
- 4G mobile network bands : LTE.
- 5G mobile network bands : NSA/SA
- SIM Type : Nano-SIM, Dual SIM
- Software / OS : Nothing OS based on Android 14
- Software Updates :
Design, Form Factor, Appearance
- Dimensions : 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.6 mm
- Weight : 197g
- Display Size: 6.67 inches,
- Screen Resolution : 1080 x 2400 pixels
- Refresh Rate : 120 Hz refresh rate
- Screen Type : OLED
- Frame : Glass front, plastic frame,
- Back/Rear Cover : plastic, removable back cover
- Ingress Protection/IP Rating : IP52, dust and splash resistance
- Colorways : Black. Orange. Light Green
Internal Hardware Specs
- Central Processor ( CPU ): 64-bit, 2.8 GHz Octa-core
- Chipset : MediaTek Dimensity 7200 (4 nm)
- Graphics Processing Unit ( GPU ): ARM Mali-G610 MC4
- RAM : 6GB
- Extended/Virtual RAM : 2GB
- Internal Storage : 128 GB / 256 GB
- External Storage : microSD
Photography, Video Recording
- Main Camera : 50 MP main sensor + 50MP ultra-wide lens, autofocus, LED flash, 4k video@30fps, 1080p@30fps video recording
- Front Camera : 16 MP, fixed focus, Face Recognition, 1080p@30fps video capture
Audio, Video Playback
- Music Support : PCM, AAC / AAC + / eAAC + / MP3 / AMR – NB / WB / APE
- 3.5 mm audio headphone jack : No.
- Loudspeaker : Stereo speakers
- Video Support : H.264/MP4/MPEG4 player
- FM Radio : Market-dependent.
Phone Sensors
- Digital Compass : Yes.
- Accelerometer : Yes.
- Proximity Sensor : Yes.
- Ambient Light Sensor : Yes.
- Barometer : No.
- Pedometer : No.
- Heart Rate Monitor : No.
- Gyroscope (G-Sensor) : Yes.
- Fingerprint Scanner : Yes; under display, optical.
- Face Unlock : Yes.
- Iris Scanner : No.
- Motion Sensing / Gesture Control : No.
- Voice Control : No.
- Intelligent Digital Assistant : Yes; Google Assistant, Bixby.
- Infra-red/IR Blaster : No.
Connectivity Options
- Bluetooth Version : 5.3
- Bluetooth Profiles : A2DP, LE
- aptX Bluetooth Codecs :
- WiFi : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, hotspot
- GPS : Yes, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
- USB : microUSB v2.0. Type-C.
- NFC : No.
Miscellaneous Specs and Features
- Battery Type : Non-Removable Lithium-Polymer
- Battery Capacity : 5000 mAh
- Battery Charging : 33W fast charging
- Wireless Charging : No.
- Reverse Charging : 5W reverse wired
- Model Version/Number :
Launch/Release Dates and Information
- Announced : July 8, 2024
- Release Date : July 12, 2024
Prices in the USA, UK, EU, Australia
- United States of America (USA) : from $199 (8/128GB)
- United Kingdom (UK) : from £209
- European Union (EU) : from €235
- Australia : from AUD
Author:InfoDesk
Add MobilityArena as a preferred source on Google
The Nothing Phone 2a is a good idea and a solid move by the company behind it. It isn’t a novel love, though. In releasing a budget model, Nothing Technology is only following in the footsteps of Apple and Google. It is a proven model. It works fine.
Personally, I’d be using the Nothing Phone 2a as my current smartphone if only it didn’t fail in a few areas that are important to me. It has a decent processor (though I wish it was a more powerful one – something in the Dimensity 8000 series). But the processor is not a deal breaker for me.
Some are disappointed that the back cover design is not as detailed as those of the more expensive models. The Glyph interface here is dumbed down. I can understand why. This is a budget version, after all. And personally, I am not a huge fan of Glyph. It is cool and all, but it isn’t going to swing the vote either way for me. I love the design as it is.
Let’s look at some of the things that I wish were different about this mid-ranger.
Nothing Phone 2a’s rear cameras.
Too Big
A lot of people will likely disagree, but this is about me and my preferences for a phone that I’d like to use. With a 6.7-inch display, the Nothing Phone 2a is simply too big. A 6.0 to 6.4 inches display would be perfect for me, all other things being equal.
I also do not like how think it is. 8.6mm thickness is a lot. I am most comfortable with smartphones that are 7.6 to 8.0 mm thick. Those feel much better in the hand.
Unimpressive Cameras
Review after review point out the unimpressive performance of the cameras of the Nothing Phone 2a. If you are going to be following the playbooks of Apple and Google, you better make those cameras solid. If I am spending $420 on a smartphone, I am not expecting premium flagship grade photography and video capture, but I am expecting decent, consistent performance that is solid. Impress me with those photos and videos. Unfortunately, that is not the case here. Photography and video recording with the Nothing Phone 2a is nothing close to what exists with the Google Pixel 8a or 7a, or even the iPhone SE 2022. And the SE 2022 costs less and has flagship grade processor and performance.
The size and camera issues are deal breakers for me. Using a big phone everyday is often a painful experience for me. Give me a compact size similar to the Samsung S23 and S24, or even something as diminutive as the iPhone SE 2022 and I am in phone comfort heaven. These phones are compact, slim, and lightweight. Sadly, Google is moving away from slim. At a thickness of 8.9mm, the new Pixel 8a is so chunky it could almost pass for a power bank. And then, there is the periennial problem with optimisation. Oh, well.
Somebody needs to invest in budget smartphones that score well on all of the following: size, weight, thickness, decent performance, good battery life, and camera performance. We have some models that score well in some of them and then drop the ball in others. It cannot be that hard to pull off.
I am hoping that the Apple iPhone SE 4th Generation will tick all points when it is finally officially announced. I don’t see any other brand doing it, to be honest. Only Apple. And that sucks, because I am an Android person and would rather have an Android smartphone in my pocket or in my hand than an iPhone. Too bad the Nothing Phone 2a is unable to change that. It really is a solid product and a breath of fresh air in the crowded marketplace.
PS : Do check out my YouTube channel for informative and fun videos.
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
