I’ve been a die-hard Apple user for years, but Nothing’s budget brand, CMF, might convince me to leave Apple’s walled garden.
On Wednesday, Nothing launched a trio of new budget-friendly devices — though you wouldn’t know it by looking at them. The new CMF Phone 1, CMF Buds Pro 2, and CMF Watch Pro 2 all cost less than $400 combined, but feature creative, minimalist designs that set them apart from other devices in this price range.
The trio is also the start of a Nothing ecosystem, which begs the question: could CMF by Nothing be Apple’s next budget rival? Apple’s devices have only gotten more expensive in recent years despite the addition of lower-cost models like the iPhone SE and Watch SE. However, these devices have older designs and lack innovation. In contrast, Nothing took a unique approach with the design of the CMF Phone 1.
I have an older iPhone, so I only have one or two more years of software updates left. I had no plans to abandon the Apple ecosystem. Still, Nothing’s new CMF line is the first collection of Android devices that has me questioning that decision — almost enough to convince me to opt for a Nothing phone over another iPhone.
Other Android competitors from Apple and Nothing may want to pay attention to how the new CMF line rethinks tech design.
Nothing launches the CMF Phone 1 for under $200
(Image credit: Nada)
CMF is a sub-brand of Nothing, the Android brand founded by OnePlus alumnus Carl Pei. It markets itself as the budget offshoot of Nothing, but maintains the minimalist industrial design aesthetic that Nothing is known for. Before this week, the only CMF products on the market were a pair of wireless earbuds and a smartwatch with clear design cues from the Apple Watch.
However, Nothing finally put CMF on the map on July 8 with the launch of the CMF Phone 1. Priced at just $199, the CMF Phone 1 features a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G processor, a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED display, and a 50MP Sony camera, all running Nothing OS 2.6, Nothing’s new version of Android. What makes the CMF Phone 1 stand out the most, though, is its chassis design.
The CMF Phone 1 has modular back plates, so you can freely unscrew a back plate and replace it with one of a different color or material. The screw holes on the back plates also allow you to attach various accessories like a magnetic plate for a card holder, a stand, or even a lanyard (which would make the CMF Phone 1 ideal for safely carrying around at concerts or music festivals).
(Image credit: Nada)
There are only a few accessories and backplates available at launch, but it’s easy to imagine the potential for many more. Modular backplates also mean the CMF Phone 1 doesn’t need a case. If the original backplate gets scratched, no problem – just pop it off and swap in a new one. The backplates cost just $29, which is less than many premium phone cases.
You can also combine pieces from different backplates. For example, you can use a black SIM card slot and thumbscrew with an orange backplate.
No careful balance between price and design in the CMF line
(Image credit: Nada)
I love modular design, but that’s not the only reason the CMF Phone 1 caught my eye. The overall design is minimalistic with just enough industrial details to make it interesting. Plus, nothing adds pops of color to it, like the orange hardware or the orange backplate. It’s refreshing to see a design that isn’t an iPhone clone or pastel-colored glass.
Nothing infused the CMF Phone 1 with originality and creativity, allowing it to stand out in a smartphone market that has become saturated with similar designs. The CMF Phone 1’s aesthetics may not appeal to everyone, but at least it offers something different and does so at a price that’s hard to beat.
In fact, it’s this combination of price and design that makes me doubt whether my next phone will be another iPhone or not.
Apple products have always been top-notch, from build quality to price. Sadly, Apple hasn’t shown much interest over the years in making the Apple ecosystem accessible to people who can’t afford to spend over a thousand dollars on a new phone. Even the “budget” offerings Apple currently has on the menu pale in comparison to Nothing’s CMF line:
- CMF Phone 1: $199
- CMF Pro 2 Watch: $69
- CMF Buds Pro 2: $59
- Total: $327
That total is $100 less than the price of the base iPhone SE, which features a design inherited from the iPhone 8 and includes half the storage of the CMF Phone 1. If you want a similar trio of Apple devices, the price difference grows even larger:
- iPhone SE: $429
- Apple Watch SE: $249
- Airpods (2nd generation): $129
- Total: $807
So, you can get a phone, smartwatch, and wireless earbuds for $480 less with the CMF by Nothing line. Do these devices have any drawbacks compared to Apple’s line? Of course. They obviously lack iOS-only apps, and the CMF Phone 1 only has a 2-year warranty on Android updates, while Apple typically promises 5-7 years.
Still, Nothing’s CMF line rivals Apple in terms of design. Apple’s budget lineup is nothing new. In fact, typically, the brand’s low-end devices are simply recycled designs from previous versions of its more premium products (most clearly evidenced by the iPhone SE’s dated design).
Meanwhile, Nothing is doing something fun and unique with its budget devices while still offering a sleek, minimalist aesthetic at a fraction of the cost. Nothing put effort into its budget designs in a way that Apple rarely does.
Is this a Nothing CMF ecosystem?
(Image credit: Nada)
The CMF Phone 1 is the star of Nothing’s new line of budget products, but it also launched two accessories this week: the CMF Watch Pro 2 and the CMF Buds Pro 2. Both are redesigns of CMF’s previous accessory offerings. They feature some design and performance improvements but maintain the low prices of their predecessors.
The Watch Pro 2 costs just $69, while the Buds Pro 2 cost $59. Both are compatible with Android and iOS, so you can use them independently of the CMF Phone 1. They do look great next to the Phone 1, though. Nothing seems to be creating a distinct, cohesive aesthetic for the CMF line to build its own ecosystem.
All three products are strong contenders in the budget phone segment, but there are still some areas for improvement. For example, the CMF Phone 1 lacks NFC or wireless charging. The modular backplates also mean it’s not waterproof. If Nothing can find a way to polish those flaws with the second version of the CMF Phone, it could be a no-brainer no matter what price range you’re shopping in.
You may not have been paying attention to Nothing before this week, but that’s no longer the case. Apple and Nothing’s competitors on Android should keep an eye on what this little company does, because it could be the key to Nothing’s success: infusing much-needed originality into a world of recycled smartphone designs.
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