Nothing's new affordable line, CMF, launches its first phone—priced at $199 with ChatGPT integration

[Garth Gator]

 

Nothing, the brainchild of Carl Pei that’s adored for its sleek aesthetics and minimalist design, has unveiled its first phone under the CMF sub-brand: the Nothing CMF Phone 1. This smartphone positions itself as a budget-conscious option, with a focus on customization and user accessibility.

 

CMF, which stands for Craft, Material, Future, seeks to offer quality design and innovation at an accessible price point by stripping devices down to their core functionalities. The CMF Phone 1 itself—priced at $199—sports a large 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals. Under the hood, it packs a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, a capable chip for everyday tasks, paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Its creators describe it as something with “engineering aesthetics.”

 

 

 

The model’s differentiating point, however, is its modularity. It features a removable rear cover, allowing users to customize their phone’s appearance to black, blue, light green, or orange (with each case priced at $35) by taking out its screws. Additionally, Nothing plans to offer several accessories that can be attached to the phone.

 

 

 

Importantly for casual photographers, it has a single 50MP rear sensor. More about the camera:

 

• TrueLens Engine 2.0: This is Nothing’s in-house processing engine, responsible for enhancing photos captured with the CMF Phone 1
• Ultra XDR: Co-developed with Google, this technology aims to improve photos taken in challenging lighting conditions by combining Nothing’s HDR software with the latest Ultra HDR tech from Android. This could lead to better dynamic range, meaning balanced exposure in photos with both bright highlights and dark shadows.
• AI Vivid Mode: This feature utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze a scene and generate a photo with enhanced colors and contrast.

 

In a first for budget smartphones, the CMF Phone 1 is integrated with ChatGPT. Users can engage with the smart AI voice assistant via the Nothing Ear (1), Ear (2), Ear (stick), Ear (a) and Ear buds or use compatible widgets to get the answers they want on the go.

 

 

Also, there’s a massive 5000mAh battery, which promises up to 23 hours of video playing, and support for 33W fast charging.

 

 

 

Specifications at a Glance

 

Display: The 6.7-inch AMOLED display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals. With 800 nits typical brightness (and a peak of 2000 nits), the screen remains visible even in bright sunlight.

 

Performance: Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G SoC, the CMF Phone 1 offers snappy performance. It comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

 

Camera System: The standout feature is the 50MP main Sony lens, promising detailed and vibrant photos. A 2MP depth sensor complements the primary camera.

 

Software: Running on Nothing OS 2.6.0, based on Android 14, the phone ensures a clean and intuitive user experience. Nothing commits to providing two years of OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

 

Battery: A 5000mAh non-removable battery keeps the CMF Phone 1 powered throughout the day (about 23 hours of video play). Fast charging at 33W ensures minimal downtime.

 

Pricing and Availability: Priced at just $199, the CMF Phone 1 is an enticing option for users seeking affordability without compromising on features. The phone will be available in the US as part of a beta program, allowing early adopters to experience its modular capabilities firsthand.
 

 

• https://www.gsmarena.com/nothing_cmf_phone_1-13122.php 
• https://www.androidauthority.com/cmf-phone-1-3458052/ 
• https://9to5google.com/2024/07/08/nothing-cmf-phone-1-review/ 

 

Images: CMF by Nothing