We are starting to see some rather interesting times where it’s not the latest flagships that most catch the eye, but the cheaper models.
While the current best phones are very similar to each other, we are noticing interesting innovations in the segment of the best budget phones.
Among them, the CMF Phone 1 and the Galaxy A25 are two options that stand out. Both offer a range of features at competitive prices, but which one is the better choice for you?
Let’s dive into the details and compare them to help you decide.
Differences between the CMF Phone 1 and the Galaxy A25
Design & Build
The CMF Phone 1 stands out thanks to its unique design and robust build quality. The phone embraces a minimalist, edgy aesthetic that immediately sets it apart.
The build quality is impressive, featuring a removable rear cover that, while not designed for easy battery replacement, contributes to its utilitarian and rugged charm. For £29/£35, you can get a new rear casing in orange, blue, or light green. Then, with the included flathead screwdriver, you can change your phone’s look in minutes.
The materials used in the construction feel premium and durable, with a solid frame that ensures the phone can withstand everyday wear and tear. The flat edges and clean lines also add to its modern aesthetic, making it a visually appealing choice for users who appreciate a unique, minimalist design.
Additionally, the phone’s form factor ensures a comfortable grip, making it easy to handle despite its size. It’s available in Black, Orange and Light Green.
In contrast, the Galaxy A25 showcases Samsung’s signature design aesthetics, which are known for their sleek and polished appearance.
The phone sports a smooth, glossy finish that exudes a sense of elegance and modernity. It also features smooth curves and a refined finish, providing a premium feel at its lower price point.
The build quality is robust, with a sturdy construction that promises durability. The phone’s glossy back panel, although prone to fingerprints, adds a touch of sophistication, also making it stand out next to the CMF Phone 1.
It’s comfortable to hold and use, with a slim profile that fits well in the hand. The placement of buttons and ports is also intuitive, enhancing the overall user experience.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
This design approach makes the Galaxy A25 a great option for users who value a polished, high-quality appearance without compromising on functionality.
However, CMF Phone 1 brings unique looks and functionality thanks to the possibility of attaching accessories and changing its back cover.
Screen & Speakers
The CMF Phone 1 is equipped with a 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate. This provides a bright, smooth visual experience, making it ideal for watching videos and playing games.
The display is vibrant, with deep blacks and excellent colour accuracy. However, the phone uses a single speaker which, while delivering clear audio, lacks the immersive experience provided by stereo sound.
In contrast, the Galaxy A25 sports a slightly smaller 6.5-inch AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution and the same 120Hz refresh rate. This screen is equally vibrant and smooth, ensuring a high-quality viewing experience.
The phone includes stereo speakers, offering a more immersive audio experience, and the sound quality is richer and more dynamic, making it better suited for multimedia consumption.
Specs & Performance
Under the hood, the CMF Phone 1 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300, paired with 8GB of RAM. It is available in 128GB and 256GB storage options.
This setup ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks and decent gaming but only at lower settings. The phone handles multitasking well, and apps open relatively quickly and run smoothly.
The Galaxy A25, meanwhile, runs on Samsung’s Exynos 1280 chipset, with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The performance is solid for general use, with smooth app transitions and reliable multitasking, but it falls short in handling more demanding applications.
In our Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the CMF Phone 1 received 1602 points, while the Galaxy A25 came in ahead scoring 2074 points.
Although the Galaxy A25 offers less RAM, it handles daily tasks better compared to the CMF Phone 1 and simply offers better raw performance.
Cameras
The CMF Phone 1 features a single 50Mp camera accompanied by a 2Mp depth sensor. The camera excels in daylight photography, producing images with good exposure, accurate colours and effective HDR effects.
However, the lack of optical image stabilization (OIS) affects its performance in low light, resulting in less sharp and grainy photos. The camera’s minimum focus distance is impressively small, allowing for detailed close-up shots.
The Galaxy A25 offers a more versatile camera setup, including a 50Mp main camera, an 8Mp ultrawide lens and a 2Mp macro lens. This combination allows for greater flexibility in photography.
The main camera performs well in various lighting conditions. The presence of OIS helps stabilise video and improve low-light performance. The ultrawide lens is useful for capturing broader scenes, while the macro lens, although not always practical, adds to the phone’s versatility.
If you are looking for a cheap but good phone for photography, of the two, the Galaxy A25 is the better choice.
Battery Life & Charging
Both phones are equipped with a 5000mAh battery, ensuring they can last through a typical day of use.
The CMF Phone 1 supports 33W wired charging and reverse charging, although it lacks wireless charging. The phone can charge up to 30% in 15 minutes and takes about an hour for a full charge.
The Galaxy A25 also promises solid battery life. It supports 25W wired charging, matching Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S24, though it lacks wireless charging. In practice, it charges to 32% in 30 minutes.
The faster wired charging of the CMF Phone 1 provides a slight advantage, so it’s the better choice in this respect.
Software & Apps
The CMF Phone 1 runs on Nothing OS 2.6, offering a clean, minimalist interface free from bloatware. The unique monochrome icon pack and dot matrix-style widgets add to its distinct look.
The OS is close to stock Android, providing a smooth and intuitive user experience. However, it lacks some conveniences, such as bulk app organisation, making it less user-friendly for those with many apps.
Nothing promises the CMF Phone 1 will receive two years of major Android updates.
The Galaxy A25 features Samsung’s One UI 6 on Android 14, which is visually appealing and packed with useful features.
These include the sidebar for quick access to favourite apps and contacts, Link to Windows for seamless integration with PCs, Smart Switch for easy data transfer, Quick Share for instant sharing with other Samsung devices and Multi Control for using the mouse and keyboard of one device to control another and drag files between them.
Unfortunately, it comes with significant bloatware, though these pre-installed apps can be uninstalled. Samsung’s software support is excellent, promising up to four Android version updates.
Price & Availability
The CMF Phone 1 is available in the UK through Nothing’s website and Amazon, with the 128GB model priced at £209. The 256GB model costs £239.
In the US, it is available for $199 for the 128GB model. In Europe, it is sold at €239.
There are no contract deals available, so purchasing outright and pairing with one of the best SIM-only deals is recommended.
