TL;DR: Swapping back to the original CMF Phone 1 as my main driver in 2026 after living with newer hardware was a fascinating experiment, feeling like Dexter’s Laboratory over here. While missing NFC, weak haptics, and a single functional back camera show its budget roots… 11-hour SOT, fluid 120Hz performance, and community 3D printing prove it still holds a unique, unmatched space for myself and in Nothing/CMF’s lineup.
Being the first CMF and Nothing product I’ve owned, I wanted to share my real-world retrospective as the final major OS updates settle for the CMF Phone 1, bringing in its final year of security patching.
So… that said I recently swapped back to the CMF 1 as my primary daily driver for three full weeks in the US on Verizon Wireless. Did it hold up in 2026? Is it still the modular king? Read below 👇 if curious!
What Held Up In 2026?
- Insane Battery Stamina 🔋: Getting up to 11 hours of Screen-On-Time (SOT) is outstanding. The efficiency of the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 paired with Nothing OS (even on the latest NOS 4.1 build) means the 5,000 mAh battery simply refuses to die. I consistently stretched my usage into Day 3 without plugging in, with practically zero overnight standby drain (1% at most).
- Smooth Daily Performance: The 120Hz display combined with Nothing’s continuous software optimization keeps scrolling and UI navigation feeling surprisingly modern and fluid. Most days, I completely forgot I was using the entry-level CMF 1.
- Expandable MicroSD Storage: In an era where microSD slots have been meteor’d out of existence on virtually every phone, having physical expansion makes local data transfers and offline media dumps seamless.. especially for travelers storing offline media or a bit of retro phone emulation.
- Solid US Verizon Connectivity: Running this as a primary driver on Verizon in the US was surprisingly reliable, despite the CMF Phone 1 only launching with partial US carrier band support during the US Beta Program. Across three weeks of heavy daily use, I only experienced a single dropped call.
Where the “Cracks” Show (vs. CMF Phone 2 Pro - For a Brief Comparison)
- Camera Versatility and Processing: The CMF Phone 1 is effectively a single-camera phone - two if you count the selfie cam (given the 2MP depth sensor was sunset early on after release due to the IR/X-ray shenanigans). Stepping back up to the CMF Phone 2 Pro highlights what you miss: a proper triple-camera array with an 8mp ultrawide, 50mp 2x telephoto lense and 50mp main that drastically improve resolution, color rendition, skin tones, and overall versatility for this price segment.
- Tactile & Haptic Quality: The buzzing, hollow vibration motor in the CMF 1 remains one of its clearest “budget phone” giveaways. It reminds me most of a cheap 90s Tamagotchi toy. 🪅 Coming from the linear haptics on the 2 Pro, the newer hardware feels significantly tighter and less “pingy.”
- The NFC Dealbreaker: The total omission of NFC remains its single biggest handicap for primary daily use if contactless payments are part of your routine. If you don’t rely on tap-to-pay, it’s a non-issue; for everyone else, it limits this phone to a secondary device.
- Hardware Controls & Software Lifecycle: Losing physical shortcuts like the Essential Space button feels like a major step backward once you’ve integrated it into your daily workflow. Combined with the phone reaching its final major Android milestone, its runway as a main driver is reaching its sunset phase.
- Ecosystem Abandonment vs. 3D Printing: While the removable backplate and modular accessories were revolutionary for the price, official first-party accessory support dried up quickly (in the US, the lanyard was essentially the only official item readily available). Fortunately, the community carried the torch with custom 3D printing through the maker space contest. Watching the community come together around 3D printing was a moment forever in time. 🧡
My Final Verdict?
As a primary daily driver in 2026, the CMF Phone 1 forces a few too many daily compromises (no NFC, hollow toy haptics, and basic camera setup), however, as a secondary backup/dedicated offline media and emulation throw around hub, the hardware modularity, 2 to 3-day basic battery life, and community 3D-printing support still make it one of the coolest budget values Nothing has ever released.
