Nothing’s CMF Devices Prove Yet Again Cheap Doesn't Have to Mean Boring
Nothing launches CMF Phone 1 in India, Watch Pro 2 and Buds Pro 2 tag along
Priced at Rs 15,999 onwards, the CMF Phone 1 will be available from July 12 on its official India website, e-commerce platform Flipkart, and at select retail stores.
Budget devices typically have dull designs and unimpressive specifications, but Nothing's sub-brand CMF has chosen to overcome this problem. Up until now, the comparatively recent division of Nothing has marketed chargers, wireless earphones, and smartwatches, with a concentration on the very low end of the market. Its first smartphone, the CMF Phone 1, went on beta today and is now accessible in the US. It comes with special accessories in addition to the new Watch Pro 2 and Buds Pro 2.
The CMF Phone 1
CMF Phone 1 and accessories: Price
CMF Phone 1: Availability and offers
The CMF Phone 1 will be available during the open sale period on July 12 from 12 pm onwards on cmf.tech website, e-commerce platform Flipkart, and at select retail stores. Additionally, the CMF Phone 1 along with CMF Buds Pro 2 will be available at a pop-up drop at Lulu Mall in Bengaluru from 7 pm onwards on July 9. Nothing said that the first 100 customers to buy the CMF Phone 1 will get CMF Buds for no additional cost.
As soon as I opened the CMF Phone 1, I felt a little bit of childish wonder. I like the industrial style, but it nearly appears like a reference device—a prototype that isn't quite finished. When I opened the phone during unboxing, I had no idea what the strange circular nub on the bottom right corner meant (more on this later). I was even more perplexed to see a flathead screwdriver-style SIM eject tool on the opposite end.
Can you make out the four black screws on the rear of the phone case? After removing them with the point of a screwdriver, you can remove the phone's back and replace it with a different back cover (which costs Rs 1,499 each and comes in a few hues, including blue, orange, and light green). Because the tool is so short, removing the screws is a little difficult. I also almost lost a screw during the process. Fortunately, CMF announces that it would provide screws as replacement components for post-purchase assistance.
CMF Phone 1: Details
The CMF Phone 1 sports a 6.67-inch super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1080 x 2400 resolution. The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 system-on-chip (SoC), paired with up to 8GB RAM. The CMF Phone 1 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that supports fast charging – up to 33W. The smartphone also supports 5W reverse wired charging. Important to note, that the CMF Phone 1 does not ship with a charger in the box. The supported 33W charger is sold separately at Rs 799 when purchased together with the smartphone.
CMF Phone 1: Specifications
Similar to the early days of smartphones, I was enthusiastic about the idea of swappable batteries while I was switching the back. Unfortunately, when I asked about this, a Nothing representative responded as follows: "We do not encourage users to remove the battery, nor do we provide battery parts to users." On the PET film, we have placed caution advising users not to remove the battery. It's unfortunate because businesses are coming under more and more fire for their products' unrepairability; providing a changeable battery would have brought praise to CMF.
I believe that a portion of this issue may be related to the water resistance of the gadget, as this is typically affected when the internal components are made more accessible. Although better than I anticipated, the CMF Phone 1's IP52 rating does not provide total protection from rain. Exercise caution!
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Now that you've had some fun switching out the black rear cover for the pleasantly vibrant orange one (I did the same), it's time to focus on the circular module at the bottom right. The Accessory Point is what CMF refers to as this. This circle does nothing by default. You don't need a screwdriver to unscrew it to reveal a tiny universe of accessories that you can screw in with your fingers.
CMF Watch Pro 2
Generally speaking, cheap smartwatches are unsightly. Unlike the original CMF Watch Pro, the new Watch 2 Pro has a rounded design and is delightfully simple. You can even swap out the default silicone strap for CMF's leather strap or any other 22-mm strap that you choose. I changed the default bezel design for one that is more rounded. The 1.32-inch AMOLED screen is just the right size, and the metal body feels both light and strong. Since it is IP68-rated, rain won't affect it.
As opposed to other smartwatches, this one does not run Google's Wear OS platform, so you won't have access to as many apps. Although CMF hasn't disclosed any information about the operating system, it is incredibly fast and functions similarly to Wear OS smartwatches. Anyone can use it because it supports both Android and iPhone. Through the CMF Watch app, you pair it with your phone. The CMF boasts a remarkable 11 days of battery life with average use, and that seems plausible. I was left with ninety percent after a day.
The CMF Watch Pro 2 sports a 1.32-inch AMOLED display and comes with an interchangeable bezel design for customization. Additionally, the company said that the smartwatch comes with over 100 watch faces for further personalization.
As for the features, the Watch Pro 2 supports more than 120 sports modes and automatic recognition of 5 sports. It also provides heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO?), and stress level monitoring functionality. Other notable features include Bluetooth calling, music, and camera control. The watch comes with an IP68 rating for resistance against dust and water ingress. Nothing said that the smartwatch will offer a battery life of up to 11 days.
Notifications can be received, and you can swipe through tiles to view information like the step count and weather. In addition to having built-in GPS, the watch can measure sleep, heart rate, cycle tracking, blood oxygen saturation, and over 100 workouts (including auto-workout identification). Though I'll need to conduct additional testing, based on my very limited experience with the device, its results appear to be very accurate. This may all be synchronized with Strava, Apple Health, or Google Health Connect.
CMF Buds Pro 2
The CMF Buds Pro 2, a set of wireless earbuds that resemble AirPods and have an amusing case design, is the last option. The Smart Dial is the circular portion on the outside of the case that you can cleverly swivel to change the volume without fumbling with your headphones or taking out your phone. This button can also be used to muffle the microphone, adjust the noise cancellation, and summon a voice assistant—all of which can be adjusted via the Nothing X app. If you would rather use the touch controls on the earphones, they are still present.
Three microphones are used to power the earbuds' twin drivers, transparency mode, active noise reduction, and other features. Six hours of battery life is what CMF promises, and twenty-five hours if you use the 460-mAh battery that comes with the case. The case does not support wireless charging, although USB-C charging is an option.
CMF Watch Pro 2 and Buds Pro 2: Price, availability and offers
The Buds also feature a rotatable dial on its case that the company calls the Smart Dial. Nothing said that the users will be able to control every aspect of sound using this dial such as volume levels and more.
Please let me know how excited you are about this CMF category by Nothing.