CMF Phone 1 Rear Panel Design, Key Specifications Teased Ahead of Launch

Nothing sub-brand CMF has been dropping hints and teasers about its first smartphone, the CMF Phone 1 for the past several days in the runup to its official launch on July 8. We now know a bit more about its interesting rear panel design, along with major specifications such as the processor and primary camera. More details will undoubtedly be shared over the next few days as CMF generates buzz for its launch, but the price is unlikely to be revealed before the official announcement.

Starting with design, the CMF Phone 1 seems to have a unique accessory mounting system, with four screws on the rear panel and one large thumbscrew, which was referred to as potentially a jog dial in earlier leaks. CMF’s latest image shows multiple Phone 1 units with different accessories attached. A lanyard and a kickstand seem to be attachable using the thumbscrew in the lower right corner, while a larger, puffy panel that could be an extra battery pack or a wallet is seen affixed to the rear panel using the standard screws.

The Phone 1 units shown in the teaser are black, blue, and orange. A light green option, not shown, has also been confirmed. The accessories are all in orange, which is CMF’s signature colour. A small matching screwdriver with a SIM eject pin is also shown, and will likely be included in the box with this phone. The company promises that this device is customisable and functional, which goes with the brand’s identity - Colour, Material, Finish.

We can also get a clearer look at the CMF Phone 1’s dual-camera module and flash in this image. It remains to be seen how screw-on accessories will fit around this, as the upper half of the phone with the unspecified attachment is not visible in the teaser. It does not look as though the phone’s rear panel itself will be removable, as was rumoured earlier.

The CMF Phone 1 will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, and will have at least 8GB of RAM. Other official teasers have confirmed that it will have a 6.67-inch HDR10+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz peak refresh rate and integrated fingerprint sensor. The primary camera will have a 50-megapixel resolution with a Sony sensor and f/1.8 lens. CMF also says there’s a 5000mAh battery that should last for two days of usage, and has been engineered to run cool.  

The company will launch two other products along with the Phone 1 on July 8. The Buds Pro 2 true wireless earphones are teased to feature ANC and have a dial on the battery case that will allow for sound signature control, while the Watch Pro 2 wearable will have a round dial and customisable watch faces.  

Another shot of the Phone 1 was also released by CMF today when it announced actress Rashmika Mandanna as its brand ambassador in India.