The CMF Phone 1, recently launched in India by Nothing, has attracted significant attention for its impressive features at a low price. However, the device is now in the spotlight for a more controversial reason. An X user, Madhavkant05, shared a video demonstrating that the phone’s depth camera can see through objects, akin to an X-ray camera.
In the video, Madhavkant05 explains how he accessed the depth camera using a third-party app. Initially believing it to be a low-resolution monochromatic camera, he discovered its unique capability when he pointed it at his TV remote and could see through its back cover. He tweeted, “CMF PHONE 1 has a see-through camera? Akis wasn’t wrong at all man! They didn’t trust his words at all. But that 2MP is not a normal one but it’s see-through camera or X-ray camera we can say!! At this price range, this thing is commendable and damn amazing.”
The tweet quickly garnered attention, prompting a response from Akis Evangelidis, the co-founder of Nothing, within 24 hours. Evangelidis acknowledged the discovery and provided an explanation. He praised the ingenuity of their user base and noted that their popularity attracts scrutiny, which ultimately drives improvement.
He explained that the depth sensor, when accessed via a third-party app in developer mode, achieved a see-through effect due to its lack of an infrared light filter. This design choice enhances light-capturing ability, including infrared light, which can sometimes reveal the internal structure of thin or semi-transparent objects, especially black acrylic materials.
“While users can’t access the depth sensor output via the Nothing camera app, we understand that this could raise some concerns. As a result, we will restrict third-party apps from accessing the depth sensor output through a software update expected within a week.”
Evangelidis also addressed potential concerns, stating that while the depth sensor output isn’t accessible through the Nothing camera app, they recognize the issue raised. Consequently, they plan to restrict third-party apps from accessing the depth sensor output with an upcoming software update expected within a week. This proactive measure aims to address privacy concerns and maintain user trust.
