I’ve by no means had a lot enjoyable taking a cellphone aside.
That’s a deceptive assertion; I haven’t actually taken any telephones aside recently, however when CMF’s Cellphone 1 arrived, that’s the very first thing I did. As a result of this one, my associates, is constructed totally different. It gained’t be broadly out there within the US, however if you happen to’re sport, you will get one by way of Nothing’s beta program — and for $199, that’s severely tempting.
CMF, Nothing’s budget-conscious however nonetheless extraordinarily style-driven subbrand, is delivery its first cellphone, the aptly named Cellphone 1. Whereas it shares a reputation and an working system with Nothing’s first own-brand cellphone, it involves the desk with a brand new modular strategy to cellphone customizations. Why put a unique case in your cellphone when you possibly can put an entire new cellphone in your cellphone?
The idea is easy: it’s a cellphone, however the again panel comes off so you possibly can swap it with a unique one. Every alternative comes with all the things you want for the job, together with its personal little screwdriver, screws, and a color-matched SIM tray.
There’s additionally a spherical accent port cowl within the backside nook of the cellphone. Though it resembles the management dial on CMF’s neckband earbuds, it doesn’t supply any practical use apart from defending the accent port. At launch, CMF will supply three equipment: a lanyard, a pockets, and a kickstand, every $25 and an eye catching orange coloration.
These are all bought individually, as are the colourful alternative again panels, that are $35 every. Within the field, you get a completely respectable funds Android cellphone with a 6.7-inch OLED, 50-megapixel rear digicam, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, and a beneficiant 5,000mAh battery. It comes with a black panel put in; different choices embody orange, mild inexperienced, and blue.
Taking the again panel off is simple, although it takes a little bit of power — sufficient to interrupt a fingernail that was too lengthy, as I realized. In all probability for one of the best, although, since that panel is the factor standing between the center of your cellphone and the remainder of the world. Talking of guts, it’s so bizarre seeing a contemporary cellphone all bare and uncovered like that.
As soon as the cellphone is safely encased once more, you possibly can add equipment. The pockets is definitely two items — a plastic panel with a MagSafe-like magnet embedded and the precise pockets. I’m positive it’s no coincidence that I used to be capable of connect the cellphone with this magnetic mount to a MagSafe charging stand (although the Cellphone 1 doesn’t supply wi-fi charging). It’s also possible to connect both the kickstand or the lanyard with the pockets in use.
The lanyard is fabricated from a thick, woven cloth. Somebody a lot cooler and youthful than me might in all probability pull off carrying their cellphone with it. And the kickstand appears sturdy sufficient, although I want the arm sat flush in opposition to the cellphone when not in use. They’re all a vibrant orange coloration — the gadget coloration of the 12 months, I assume.
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Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge
Being a funds cellphone and all, there are clearly some tradeoffs to contemplate. There’s no NFC, and the Cellphone 1 is just splash-resistant. That’s comprehensible, contemplating the worth level, and you realize, the best way the entire again of the cellphone comes off. Provider assist within the US can be fairly restricted. Just like the Cellphone 2A, it would work on T-Cell’s 4G and 5G networks, however solely helps Verizon and AT&T’s 4G bands. However for $199? It’d simply be value it — if nothing else, it’s one heck of an adjunct.
Images by Allison Johnson / The Verge