Nothing, which last week announced the shockingly inexpensive CMF Phone 1, has made another surprising announcement about a new phone

Nothing revealed the details of the files in a blog post (via 9to5 Google) The stl and stp files released are for the CMF Phone 1's back cover and are interchangeable The files can be used to make covers and other accessories for this budget phone

Leaving the creation of accessories to the smartphone buyers themselves is an interesting move, and will depend largely on how many of the CMF Phone 1 buyers have reliable access to a 3D printer There are low-cost 3D printers out there, but if you are not already using one, purchasing and mastering another device just to make phone accessories may be too big a ask It would certainly seem to contradict the low-budget friendly selling point of the CMF brand

Still, having seen the board gaming community inundated with cult-like claims about what 3D printing can do, I'll admit that Nothing gives users a pretty cool option

In a blog post, Nothing's community manager Rob Godwin writes, “Because of this creative community, for the first time we have created a detailed document outlining the physical dimensions of the CMF by Nothing product

“Whether you are a seasoned maker or a humble hobbyist, there are many exciting opportunities with the CMF Phone 1

The post points out that the Phone 1 screws are M2 threads, a common standard in electronics

Godwin highlighted the idea of accessories including a camera grip, card wallet, or lens attachment

This seems surprising, as no other cell phone company I can think of openly offers such options to its customers Nevertheless, the tagline for the Phone 1 is “Customizable Functional Yours”

The phone comes with tools, including two accessories, one of which appears to be a flathead screwdriver, a SIM removal tool that can be used on the removable rear cover There is also a knob that Nothing calls an “accessory point,” which can be used to attach things like a folding stand, card holder, or strap

Nothing is already a fledgling brand, and launching the CMF Phone 1 as another fledgling sub-brand is an interesting move However, this sub-brand seems to be geared toward those seeking an affordable device that apparently offers deep customization