The CMF by Nothing Phone 1, released by the renowned Nothing brand, is a significant entry into the mid-range smartphone market, blending modern technology with minimalist design. It caters to those seeking a blend of performance, innovation, and aesthetic appeal.
Design and Build
One of the most distinctive features of the Nothing Phone 1 is its unique design. The phone features a transparent back that displays its internals in an artistic way, showcasing the phone’s inner workings. This transparent design is not just for show; it’s part of Nothing’s design philosophy, which aims to create devices that feel more open and honest in their construction.
The back also features LED lights, referred to as the Glyph Interface. These LEDs serve as a functional element, indicating notifications, charging status, and even acting as a visual notification for incoming calls. This is one of the standout features of the Phone 1, providing a user experience that is both visually unique and highly functional.
The phone comes in various color options, with the most popular being Light Green and Black. The Light Green version is fresh and unique, appealing to those who want a device that stands out in a crowd.
Display
The CMF by Nothing Phone 1 is equipped with a 6.55-inch OLED display, offering a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution, which falls under the Full HD+ category. The display provides 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and a more immersive viewing experience, especially when navigating through apps or gaming.
The OLED technology enhances colors and provides deep blacks, making the phone excellent for media consumption. Whether you’re watching videos, streaming content, or playing games, the phone’s screen delivers vibrant and accurate color reproduction.
The HDR10+ support allows for better color accuracy and contrast in compatible media, enhancing the visual quality of content. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring resilience against scratches and minor impacts.
Performance
Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chip, a mid-range processor that offers great performance for everyday tasks and gaming. It’s paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which should be sufficient for most users who use their phones for standard tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming.
The Snapdragon 778G processor is known for its efficient power management and ability to handle multitasking smoothly. Coupled with the Adreno 642L GPU, the phone can manage graphic-intensive games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and others at medium to high settings without noticeable lag.
While it may not offer flagship-level performance, the Phone 1 offers more than enough power for average users, especially at its price point.
Battery and Charging
The Nothing Phone 1 is equipped with a 4500mAh battery, which is fairly substantial for a phone in this range. It supports 33W fast charging, allowing users to charge the phone to 50% in around 30 minutes. Additionally, it supports 15W wireless charging, which is a nice feature for a mid-range device.
In real-world usage, the battery can comfortably last a full day with moderate use, which includes browsing, watching videos, social media, and light gaming. If you’re a heavier user, you might need to recharge it before the day ends, but the fast charging option makes up for the relatively small battery size.
Camera Setup
The Nothing Phone 1 features a dual-camera setup on the back. It includes a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). The main camera performs well in good lighting conditions, producing sharp and detailed images with good color accuracy.
The second camera is a 12MP ultra-wide sensor with a 120-degree field of view, making it ideal for landscape shots or group photos. It’s also useful for macro photography, although the quality may vary in low-light conditions.
The night mode feature is available and does improve low-light performance to some extent, although the camera is not the best in its class for low-light photography. In well-lit environments, however, the camera performs admirably, delivering bright and clear photos with minimal noise.
For selfies, the phone features a 16MP front camera that delivers good quality selfies with decent dynamic range. The front camera also performs well for video calls, and it includes features such as portrait mode and AI beautification.
Software Experience
The Nothing Phone 1 runs on Nothing OS, which is a custom version of Android 12. It’s a clean and bloatware-free version of Android, focusing on speed and efficiency without unnecessary pre-installed apps. Nothing OS is designed to deliver a smooth, minimalistic user experience with customizable themes, gestures, and aesthetically pleasing icons.
One of the key features of Nothing OS is the Glyph Interface, which allows users to customize the LED light on the back of the phone. The lights can be customized to indicate different types of notifications, such as calls, texts, and alarms. The Glyph Interface also acts as a notification system for charging status and even audio feedback for some apps.
Another important feature of Nothing OS is its focus on simplicity. The operating system is designed to be fast, smooth, and intuitive. It lacks many of the unnecessary customizations and apps that other manufacturers tend to include in their Android skins.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Nothing Phone 1 supports 5G connectivity, which is becoming increasingly important as 5G networks expand globally. This makes the phone future-proof, allowing users to enjoy faster data speeds as 5G becomes more widely available.
In terms of other connectivity options, the phone includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC, allowing for quick pairing with wireless devices and making mobile payments possible. The phone also has dual SIM support, making it a good option for users who want to keep personal and work numbers on a single device.
Other features include IP53 splash resistance, which protects the phone from light splashes of water or dust, and USB-C charging.
Comparison with Competitors
When comparing the Nothing Phone 1 to other mid-range smartphones like the OnePlus Nord 2T, Realme GT 2 Pro, or Google Pixel 6a, it’s clear that the Phone 1 has an edge in terms of design and unique features. The Glyph Interface sets it apart from other phones in its category.
In terms of performance, the Snapdragon 778G is a solid performer, but it’s not the best in the market for gaming or demanding tasks. Devices like the OnePlus Nord 2T and Google Pixel 6a may offer slightly better performance for the price.
The camera setup on the Phone 1 is good, but it doesn’t match the Pixel 6a in terms of computational photography, especially in low light. That said, the Nothing Phone 1 shines with its unique design and user-friendly interface.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unique design with transparent back and Glyph Interface.
- Good battery life with 33W fast charging and wireless charging support.
- Solid performance for everyday tasks and light gaming.
- Clean, bloat-free software with customization options.
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing.
Cons:
- Camera performance not as strong as competitors in low light.
- Average performance for gaming and demanding tasks.
- No IP67/68 rating for full water resistance.
Final Verdict
The Nothing Phone 1 is a device that stands out due to its bold design and innovative features. While it may not offer the best camera or top-tier performance, it excels in providing a unique user experience and good value for money. It’s a great choice for those who appreciate design and clean software but don’t want to break the bank on a flagship.
For users seeking a mid-range phone that breaks away from the norm, the Nothing Phone 1 is a standout option. With its transparent design, customizable Glyph lights, and excellent display, it’s a phone that offers much more than the typical cookie-cutter designs from other brands in this price range.
If you are looking for a phone that makes a statement and delivers solid all-around performance, the Nothing Phone 1 is worth considering.
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