CMF Phone 1 modular back panel revealed ahead of launch

Loud colours, visible screws and a mysterious dial – the CMF Phone 1 has been the talk of the town for weeks now. Ahead of its launch on July 8, the Nothing sub-brand has continued to reveal more details around what to expect from the device.

A new teaser image shows what looks like some modular parts. Similar to what the Glyph Interface was to the Nothing Phone (1), the circular dial at the bottom of the CMF Phone 1 has been its most curiosity-inducing feature, and now, it looks like we finally know what it does.

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Based on the shared image, it seems the dial will allow users to attach different accessories, including what look like a kickstand, a fastening loop, and a battery pack. However, it is not clear whether these accessories will be part of the phone, or sold separately.

The concept of modularity is actually not new in the world of smartphones. Phones with detachable accessories like the Motorola Moto Z (2016) have existed for almost a decade, while other like Google’s project ARA concept phone that was designed to be as modular as a desktop never saw the light of day.

It is also not clear how the accessories will attach to the phone, but we reckon it has something to do with the screwdriver seen in the image. The CMF Phone 1 can also be seen with multiple screws in its back panel, a design that reminds us of early smartphones, when removable back panels were still a thing.

We also see a dual camera setup on the back panel of the phone. However, the rest of the device is still a mystery. Thankfully, the launch date of the phone is not too far away, and we will see the CMF Phone 1 go official next week on July 8, along with some other accessories including a new smartwatch and TWS earbuds.