The new specs of CMF’s Phone 1 are pretty run-of-the-mill, but once you’ve seen it, you’ll probably want one. And that’s the point.

Not since the Xpress-on covers of the Nokia 3310 have phones looked this cool. Why do smartphones have to be powerful, complex, delicate computers? Why can't they be cheap, fun and robust? Especially since mobile computers are now so powerful that even a cheap one will do. The CMF Phone 1, Nothing's first budget phone, is a welcome step away from the homogenization of the phone industry.

"Absolutely, there is a growing niche for phones that value fun and personality over high technology. Similar to how Swatch revolutionized watches by transforming them from simple timekeepers to fashion statements, there is potential for mobile phones to follow the same path. These devices could appeal to a younger demographic that values uniqueness and self-expression over high specs," Chris Sorensen, CEO of PhoneBurner, told Lifewire via email.

Perhaps the iconic phone of the early 2000s was Nokia’s 3310, famed for its durability and usability, but also known for its interchangeable case, which allowed you to swap out the standard boring office-conforming covers for, well, pretty much anything from graffiti to just plain shocking pink. It’s kind of what we do with phone cases now, only back then, you didn’t need a case.