CMF which stands for colour, material, and finish is a budget sub brand by Nothing. CMF’s first model Phone 1 was launched a month ago and hit the Bangladesh Market this week.
The Phone 1 was launched with a price tag of $199, but local retailers are offering it in the Tk23,000-Tk24,000 range. Besides the handset, they have also launched Bluetooth earbuds Buds Pro 2, and smartwatch Watch Pro 2.
The design language of CMF is consistent throughout all of its products. Although they are offering budget devices, the feel and quality offer more than its rivals in the price range.
Phone 1
Even in the spec sheet, Phone 1 wins with large margins. The only downside is the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 CPU and Mali-G615 MC2 GPU. That is a thumbs down for many users in Bangladesh who still want a Snapdragon chip on their device. However, Mediatek has come a long way in recent years and it can provide performance closer to Snapdragon’s 888 processor.
The 5,000mhz battery of the device can last longer than a day. Although the downside is the phone does not have a wireless charging feature.
Another bright side of the phone is their Amoled display which can peak at 2000 nits! Besides, the 120hz refresh rate of the screen is unheard of in this budget.
The 50-megapixel rear camera is accompanied by a 2nd depth sensor camera. Photos taken with the phone can easily compete with a phone which costs more. The rear camera can shoot 4K videos at 30fps or 60fps at 1080p settings.
The handset offers expandable storage up to 2 terabytes which is another plus point.
Nothing OS 2.6, based on Android 14 is installed on the phone as same as the other high-end devices by Nothing. The UI is already established for its unique design and smooth experience. The downside is CMF promised to provide only two years of OS upgrades where five years has become the norm.
The most unique feature of the phone is its changeable plastic back parts. The phone was initially launched with three colours where users can install and match the backparts as per their taste.
The wheel of the right corner of the phone is also replaceable with other accessories where users can add kickstands, wallets, or even 3D print their own.
The 3D model of the back is available on the Nothings website, but as 3D printing is not widespread in Bangladesh till now end-user application of this functionality remains in question. Despite that, the accessories or the changeable back covers are expected to be available if the device can reach a broad user base.
Buds Pro 2
The Bluetooth earbuds are a successor of CMF’s Buds Pro. It is also being offered in various colours and has an app to tune it further. Buds Pro 2 comes with the smart dial on the case which can be used to increase or decrease the volume.
Dual drivers, Active Noise Cancellation, and Spatial Audio support are the defining features of these earbuds especially when they cost only $59. The earbuds are expected to hit the Bangladesh market within the next week. Local shop owners say the price can be around Tk7,000 which is still a great value for the money.
Watch Pro 2
Watch Pro 2 is significantly different from its predecessor. While the first version was a rounded rectangle, this one is circular all the way. The watch has a 1.32-inch screen and a peak brightness of 650nits. These can be a problem on sunny days in Bangladesh.
The watch has a dedicated app called CMF Watch and can be connected to both iPhone and Android.
The Bluetooth calling feature is a plus point of the watch and it can also store 30 contacts on the device.
The 100 watch faces available on the device are aligned with Nothing’s design language. The downside is the users can not design or download more faces according to their tastes.
The fitness tracker of the watch is responsive and accurate in most settings. The built-in GPS of the watch removes the need to carry a phone while exercising or taking a walk.
The watch pro will also hit the local market with a price expected around BDT 8,500 in the next week which will put it in a tough spot where the local tech brothers are looking for smartwatches in a low range of 2,000-4,000 or very high ends like Apple or Samsung watch.
CMF has the potential to become a household name in Bangladesh where the user base wants value for money. However, due to the lack of any official stores, the pricing and warranty are still in the hands of importers.
