As promised, some thoughts on the CMF Phone by Nothing. First, some details.
- I use Google Fi as my carrier. T-Mobile coverage in LA is more than adequate.
- For the duration of this review, I will be using the CMF for most of my phone usage. I will still carry my daily 15 pro to keep powering my Apple Watch, but will otherwise keep the iOS usage to a minimum.
The Good
- Lightweight! Phone feels well balanced, not top heavy at all.
- Display is quite good! Dithering/gradient banding is minimal, colors aren't too garish, gets bright enough for outdoor use. Resolution is "only" 1080p, I am unable to discern pixels or fuzzy edges. Screen protector is pre-applied but garbage, I recommend removing it immediately.
- Performance is snappy. Nothing appears to have increased the default animation speed, making the OS feel faster than usual.
- Battery has held up well, and no heating issues at all even during setup and day one software updates.
- NothingOS 2.6 is pretty nice. Widgets look good, visual styling is cohesive with most Android software. Bloat is very minimal, especially considering the price range. The default UI scaling is pretty large, I suggest going into settings to make the UI smaller. Better use of space.
The Bad
- No wireless charging or NFC. It's $200, can't complain too much.
- While updating software or installing a lot of new software, the Dimensity 7300 can't keep up with your other usage. Frames drop below the 120hz refresh rate. This does not occur during usual phone usage, so Telegram, Chrome, etc remain snappy.
- Speaking of 120hz - this is not dynamic. It's 120hz or 60hz.
- The camera is fine. Autofocus takes a beat or two to kick in, definitely not as fast as Apple's cameras. Not sure what the secondary sensor is for but it's there.
- For whatever reason, the auto brightness goes all the way to the lowest setting in any variety of lighting conditions. Not good.
The Ugly
- The kickstand is bad. Phone is uncomfortable to hold with it, I suggest skipping it.
- There's a silvery ring around the selfie camera, like the cheaper Samsungs have. Not a good look.
- The vibration motor feels like it came from the early 2010s.
- Mono speaker is not great. bring headphones.
- Reviewers lied about it not wobbling on tables. It definitely wobbles, just on a different axis.
I'll be updating this throughout the weekend and week with any additional thoughts. I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have about this thing.
- I use Google Fi as my carrier. T-Mobile coverage in LA is more than adequate.
- For the duration of this review, I will be using the CMF for most of my phone usage. I will still carry my daily 15 pro to keep powering my Apple Watch, but will otherwise keep the iOS usage to a minimum.
The Good
- Lightweight! Phone feels well balanced, not top heavy at all.
- Display is quite good! Dithering/gradient banding is minimal, colors aren't too garish, gets bright enough for outdoor use. Resolution is "only" 1080p, I am unable to discern pixels or fuzzy edges. Screen protector is pre-applied but garbage, I recommend removing it immediately.
- Performance is snappy. Nothing appears to have increased the default animation speed, making the OS feel faster than usual.
- Battery has held up well, and no heating issues at all even during setup and day one software updates.
- NothingOS 2.6 is pretty nice. Widgets look good, visual styling is cohesive with most Android software. Bloat is very minimal, especially considering the price range. The default UI scaling is pretty large, I suggest going into settings to make the UI smaller. Better use of space.
The Bad
- No wireless charging or NFC. It's $200, can't complain too much.
- While updating software or installing a lot of new software, the Dimensity 7300 can't keep up with your other usage. Frames drop below the 120hz refresh rate. This does not occur during usual phone usage, so Telegram, Chrome, etc remain snappy.
- Speaking of 120hz - this is not dynamic. It's 120hz or 60hz.
- The camera is fine. Autofocus takes a beat or two to kick in, definitely not as fast as Apple's cameras. Not sure what the secondary sensor is for but it's there.
- For whatever reason, the auto brightness goes all the way to the lowest setting in any variety of lighting conditions. Not good.
The Ugly
- The kickstand is bad. Phone is uncomfortable to hold with it, I suggest skipping it.
- There's a silvery ring around the selfie camera, like the cheaper Samsungs have. Not a good look.
- The vibration motor feels like it came from the early 2010s.
- Mono speaker is not great. bring headphones.
- Reviewers lied about it not wobbling on tables. It definitely wobbles, just on a different axis.
I'll be updating this throughout the weekend and week with any additional thoughts. I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have about this thing.
