Ever since features like replaceable batteries disappeared from smartphones, we’ve been begging for someone to bring them back. Some have tried, like the LG G5 with its Friends modules or the Fairphone 5 with its ten interchangeable parts, but neither made a lasting impact. Now, a new device has entered the modular market: Nothing’s budget-friendly CMF Phone 1.
On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer — pack a budget Android phone with some decent specs and make it stand out with interchangeable back panels and accessories like a kickstand. In practice, the CMF Phone 1 doesn’t make life so easy, at least not for someone like me in the US. It’s a phone I’d love to recommend to absolutely anyone looking for a fantastic budget phone for less than $200, but there are some things you need to know before picking one up.