Saúl

I’d brought it for my missus as she liked the look of it. The migration from her Samsung went smoothly.

But I was surprised it didn’t support NFC as though that was a basic feature for all phones nowadays. I showed her the card holder option and TBH, it looks pretty stupid. How on earth do you find a case to cover that up.

I presume there will be option to add this in eventually.

BTW the missus love the camera 👍

TejasMaisuriya

Is the rubber-like case easier to destroy, or less protective, than hard plastic?

If the case can be replaced, what is the concern?

    sean (1) extra case is costly and what if people dont want to replace it then? I think it would be better to have aluminium mody its okay if in this case phone worth little more than this

    How much is a protective case, and how does that compare to the price of a replaceable case?

    A case comes free with the phone. If you were to buy a second case instead of a bumper case, you could swap out the original case once it is extensively worn or damaged. That way you don’t have to always have a protective case around your phone and case, and can have a like-new, “naked”, slimline phone whenever you like.

    A special edition aluminium/titanium case would interesting. I’d like to see a leather & antique brass phone.

      sean (1) the official CMF “cases” aka backs are £29 from Nothing direct. They were/are on promo during the pre-order period and come in at around £17. Since the back is the case so to speak - the door is open for some better rubberized cases or materials like you say.

      After Day 1 with the phone, some impressions:

      First of all there are two dealbreaker for me…1. the phone is huge, 2. no AoD.

      Other than that:

      pro +

      feels great, not cheap

      Great Performance

      Battery is a Beast, like all Nothing Phones

      Display great for the Price

      Unique Design

      Con -

      As i said size and no AoD

      Bezels are huge (but remember the price)

      Neutral

      Speaker and Camera are absolut okay for the price (i will test GCam)

        I just got the phone today and I’m absolutely loving the phone so far, it is exactly what I need as I don’t take many photos and I don’t game either. However there are 2 small complaints I have (one of which is understandable for the price point).

        My first minor complaint is the lack of NFC, only because I personally have become so used to paying with my phone it is basically 2nd nature to me, but this is an easy fix on my part which is just bring my wallet everywhere with me. Simple yet effective.

        My 2nd complaint which I hope Nothing fixes is about the software and the lack of a “close all” button when closing background apps. Not a major thing but going from a phone where I could have maybe 15-20 different apps open and then close them all at once, to a new phone where I have to close them one at a time, just makes it feel like I’m sat there for an unnecessarily long time.

        Other than that the phone is amazing and could not recommend more! Looking forward to the next one😁

        HerrSan - Hi, just on your point of:

        HerrSan no AoD

        There is a Always on Display feature on CMF Phone 1 - Edit, there kind of is, see below. You can find it here: Settings > Lock Screen > Tick “Show basic info of lock screen”.

        Hope this helps!

        EDIT - Apologies, it seems that CMF Phone 1 only allows this as a “Glanceable” toggle. Which won’t be “Always On”. Sorry! Maybe something to suggest via Settings > System > Feedback.

          Ealesy101

          Settings > Lock Screen > Tick “Show basic info of lock screen”.

          I dont know for what, because i can doubletap the Screen, so dont know what rhia Setting should bring

            HerrSan - this will temporarily show an “Always on Display” on your CMF Phone 1.

            For other Nothing Phones, it is their full “Always on Display”, which doesn’t turn off. Not quite sure why the CMF phone is only temporary however. But it shows your lock screen widgets, notifications and other lock screen items as white text on a black background.

            so without NFC means no google pay right? i dont carry cards with me anymore so google pay is a requirement for me

              Mr_Stim

              Not sure where you’re from but google pay does work without NFC in India. We have this payments standard called Unified Payments Interface (UPI) where you can just scan a QR code when you are paying.

              I have never used nfc in my life, for payments. I dont carry cards and cash as well.

                Yea, without NFC the phone becomes effectively useless, at least for me. I could live without wireless charging, though if there ever will be a second phone, I really hope they’ll add both. No design changes, though - please! Maybe make it easier to swap the battery. Man, I love this design. I really wish I could buy it. Is there any way to influence changes for the next phone? They need to add NFC.

                Battery is crazy! 6 hours SoT and 40% left…

                CMF Phone (1): An Insider’s Perspective

                As an early tester of the CMF Phone (1), I’ve had the unique opportunity to witness this device’s evolution from its pre-release phase to its current state. Using it as my secondary phone over the past couple of months has given me valuable insights into its capabilities and growth.

                First off, testing a pre-release device with an enclosed case was definitely not fun. You can’t really get a feel for the design or how it sits in your hand. But hey, it meant we could focus on what really matters—how the thing actually works.

                Now, I’ll be honest; initially, the experience was pretty average. The camera especially disappointed me. But as the feedback went in and updates rolled in, things started to get better. By the time we hit that community photowalk, I was noticing some real improvements. Sure, there were still some inconsistencies, but I had to keep reminding myself—this is a £200 phone we’re talking about!

                Performance-wise, it was a similar story. It started off a bit rocky, but over time, it really smoothed out. The combination of the CMF Phone (1) hardware and the Nothing OS? It just works. Clean, intuitive, no fuss.

                The real “aha” moment came during the Community Reacts video shoot. That was the first time I saw the phone without its protective case, and man, what a fun little device! It sparked this whole discussion afterward; I remember saying it’s like the Rabbit R1, but actually useful. Imagine that with AI capabilities next year—it’s going to be a blast, even software-wise.

                One thing that was solid throughout was the battery. No complaints there.

                However, it’s important to note the lack of NFC. While this might not be a big deal for users in India, it’s a significant omission for those outside the country who rely on NFC for mobile payments and other functions.

                When you factor in the price, that’s when you really start to appreciate what CMF has pulled off here. The camera quality, the overall performance, the features—it’s pretty damn good for what you’re paying.

                Another noteworthy aspect is the phone’s size and weight. It’s big yet surprisingly light, making it comfortable to use for extended periods. The speakers, while not exceptional, are decent and get the job done for everyday use.

                The display is another standout feature. It’s super impressive, offering vibrant colors and sharp details that enhance the overall user experience. For a budget phone, the display quality is top-notch and rivals that of more expensive devices.

                The modularity of the CMF Phone (1) is super exciting. Yes, there’s no wireless charging, but it’s possible that some third party could come up with a case that adds wireless charging. The possibilities are endless. Update: Looks like someone 3D printed it already, haha.

                Look, I’m not saying it’s perfect. But I am impressed. As I mentioned in that Community Reacts video, I reckon this thing will sell like hotcakes. It’s got that sweet spot of features, performance, and price that budget-conscious folks are going to love.

                It’s been great to see this phone evolve from a rough pre-release version to what it is now. It really shows what can happen when a company actually listens to its community. In the end, the CMF Phone (1) is just a fun, capable little device that doesn’t break the bank. And in today’s market? That’s something worth talking about.