CMF Phone 2 Pro overview: Nothing however the very best

Nothing delivered successful final yr with the CMF Phone 1; the cellphone had an attention-grabbing design and modularity, and it nailed the fundamentals. The model is seeking to construct on that with the CMF Phone 2 Pro, which delivers respectable upgrades in most areas. The most notable addition is a 50MP tele lens on the again in addition to an 8MP wide-angle module that joins the principle 50MP digicam, and it provides the CMF Phone 2 Pro versatility like no different funds cellphone as we speak.

You additionally get an AMOLED panel with ultra-thin bezels — much like the Phone 2 and 3a Pro — a decent-sized battery, IP54 ingress safety, and the very best software program of any funds cellphone out there as we speak. The better part is that Nothing is constant its value-focused push, and the Phone 2 Pro prices only a smidgen greater than its predecessor.

Is this the funds cellphone of 2025, then? Without a shadow of a doubt.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: Pricing and availability

Nothing unveiled the CMF Phone 2 Pro at a world launch occasion in India on April 28, and the cellphone is slated to go on sale within the nation beginning May 5. The excellent news is that it prices simply ₹18,999 ($223) for the variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and that is simply ₹1,000 ($12) greater than what the Phone 1 debuted finally yr. Nothing can also be promoting the machine in an 8GB/256GB configuration at ₹20,999 ($246), and each fashions retain the MicroSD card slot — a fantastic transfer in 2025.

Annoyingly, the machine is not launching within the U.S., with Nothing making the 8GB/256GB variant out there as a part of the beta initiative for $279. Thankfully, the machine might be on sale within the U.Okay. and different markets within the area, debuting at £219 ($293) for the 8GB/128GB version and £249 ($333) for the 8GB/256GB mannequin. In Germany, it is launching at €249 ($283) for the 8GB/128GB variant, and €279 ($317) for 8GB/256GB.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: Design

Nothing’s mainline telephones stand out for his or her designs, and the CMF Phone 2 Pro isn’t any completely different. While it would not characteristic an identical design language, the daring colours and vibrant accents give the cellphone a superb presence, and the design belies the value tag. I have never used an entry-level cellphone that appears this good, and in order for you a tool that turns heads, you may must get the orange mannequin.

I received the inexperienced model of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, and it has a again that mimics a frosted-glass end. The black model makes use of the identical texture, with the white mannequin delivering a sandstone-like matte texture as a substitute. The orange colour, in the meantime, has a metallic sheen, and appears very distinctive.

Another distinction is the size; coming in at 7.8mm, the Phone 2 Pro is the thinnest Nothing cellphone but, and at 185g, it’s 12g lighter than the CMF Phone 1 — there is a noticeable distinction between the 2 in relation to in-hand really feel. The again has easy curves the place it meets the mid-frame, and it has good weight distribution.

Interestingly, Nothing added the Essential Key to the Phone 2 Pro as effectively; the devoted button debuted on the Phone 3a Pro this yr, and it permits you to launch Essential Space, a dashboard that permits you to save notes, photographs, and absolutely anything else.

The rear digicam design is accentuated by shiny rings round every module, and it provides further aptitude to the design — not that it wanted it. A key distinction this yr is that the again is absolutely sealed; this allowed the model to attain an IP54 ingress safety. Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis revealed throughout a briefing that the machine is waterproof, however that it did not undergo the requisite IP testing.

As the again cowl is now not removable, the CMF Phone 2 Pro would not fairly have the identical stage of modularity as its predecessor. That stated, Nothing is debuting a common case that attaches to the again, and it allows the usage of a number of equipment. This time round, the equipment embrace a kickstand that connects magnetically to the common case, a macro lens, fisheye lens, and a lanyard.

Attaching the equipment is about as simple because it will get when you affix the common case to the again of the Phone 2 Pro. While I usually favored utilizing the common case, it would not affirm to the curves on the again, and it has a definite plastic really feel to it. It’s a great way to allow the usage of customized equipment, and for what it is value, the Phone 2 Pro as an entire has a design that appears rather more polished.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: Display

Nothing is utilizing a similar-sized 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel as final yr, nevertheless it went with a versatile AMOLED on the Phone 2 Pro, leading to thinner and even bezels on all sides. Evangelidis famous that the change to a versatile AMOLED added to the machine’s manufacturing prices, however because the model needed to retain parity with its mainline telephones, it used the dearer panel.

There’s additionally larger flexibility with panel refresh, with the Phone 2 Pro in a position to change between 30Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. The machine even will get 2,160Hz PWM dimming, and the panel itself is the very best of any funds cellphone round. I did not run into any points throughout common use or whereas gaming, and Nothing did all the precise issues on this space.

My colleague Nick Sutrich examined the machine’s PWM dimming, and famous that it was greater than double that of the CMF Phone 1 at low brightness, which is nice. When you increase the brightness to over 50%, you get DC dimming as normal.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: Hardware

Nothing is as soon as once more utilizing MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300 Pro this era, and the platform is clearly exhibiting its age; I have never used a cellphone with the older Cortex A78 and A55 cluster shortly. That stated, Nothing did a good job optimizing the platform, and there’s no noticeable lag in common use.

The cellphone is satisfactory at gaming too, and whereas you do not get easy framerates, there is not an excessive amount of jitter, and it’s usable when you flip down the settings. That stated, I’d strongly suggest selecting up the Phone 3a Pro when you’re taking a look at a budget-focused gaming machine — it does a significantly better job on this space.

Outside of that, the notable inclusion is a MicroSD slot; the bottom variant’s 128GB storage is respectable sufficient, and whereas 8GB of reminiscence is usable, Nothing ought to have rolled out a 12GB/256GB variant at the least. You do not get AptX codecs, however there’s the usual Bluetooth 5.3, and I did not see any issues with connectivity.

Nothing did not change something on the battery aspect of issues, and the CMF Phone 2 Pro retains a 5000mAh battery with 33W quick charging. Interestingly, the Indian mannequin now features a charger within the field — Nothing says its userbase within the nation was vocal about its inclusion — however different areas miss out on the identical. You can use any USB PD charger with the machine, and typically, I received a day’s value of use comfortably.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: Cameras

The CMF Phone 2 Pro will get a trio of cameras on the again, together with a 50MP principal lens, 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom, and an 8MP wide-angle lens. That’s a giant deal in itself contemplating most telephones on this class have only a single usable digicam, and it is good to see the model offering respectable versatility.

The digicam interface is fairly primary, however you get entry to all of the taking pictures modes and toggles. It takes 4K30 video, and whereas the video high quality is not notably nice, it’s usable. There’s a good variety of taking pictures modes, and the cellphone does a satisfactory job with portraits.

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Daylight pictures have good element and colour vibrancy, and I did not see any points on this space. What I like essentially the most is how effectively the CMF Phone 2 Pro handles low-light imagery; even in difficult circumstances, it delivered images with good colours and little to no seen noise. The wide-angle and 2x tele lenses are good in their very own proper, and when you want just a little additional, Nothing has macro and fisheye lens attachments.

The fisheye lens is enjoyable to make use of, however I did not see a lot utility out of the macro module. Overall, the digicam on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the very best you may discover on a sub-$300 cellphone, and Nothing deserves credit score for bundling a powerful bundle.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: Software

The CMF Phone 2 Pro runs Nothing OS 3.2 based mostly on Android 15 out of the field, and the model continues to do a stellar job with its UI. You get a clear interface with a definite visible styling, and it makes utilizing the machine that rather more pleasant. Nothing’s unique widgets are a giant a part of why I like utilizing its telephones, and the design mixed with usability makes the OS as an entire stand out.

You get a superb quantity of customizability as effectively, and the interface is fluid — I did not have points in each day use. You get the same old AI-enabled utilities with on-device transcribing, and Nothing makes use of ChatGPT for any cloud-facing requests. On that word, a brand new addition is Essential Space, which principally makes it simple to prepare data, together with creating notes, taking memos, and saving issues like billers.

The utility does a fantastic job, and it is one other method that Nothing differentiates its gadgets. Switching over to updates, the CMF Phone 2 Pro will get three Android OS updates and 6 years of safety updates, and that is among the many better of any funds cellphone as we speak.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: The options

POCO’s X7 continues to be a sensible choice when you want a dependable funds cellphone. It has the identical MediaTek Dimensity 7300 platform, a much bigger 5500mAh battery with 45W charging, and IP68 ingress safety. The software program is not nearly as good because the CMF cellphone 2 Pro, and it will not get as many updates, but when battery life is a precedence, the X7 is an efficient possibility.

Last yr’s CMF Phone 1 remains to be fairly respectable, and a viable different if you may get a superb deal on the machine. Obviously, you miss out on the upgrades that the CMF Phone 2 Pro affords, however the Phone 1 is a superb machine in its personal proper.

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro: Should you purchase it?

You can buy this if:

• You want a funds cellphone that appears nice
• You need good cameras
• You want clear software program on a funds machine
• You need well timed software program updates

You should not purchase this if:

Nothing is making a behavior of exhibiting up different funds telephones, and the CMF Phone 2 Pro is my go-to suggestion when you want a brand new sub-$300 cellphone in 2025. There’s loads to love with the design, and the distinctive equipment give the machine an edge. The AMOLED panel has good colours, and the skinny bezels make the machine really feel premium.

You get a superb set of cameras on the again, nice battery life, and the software program is well the very best you may discover on any funds cellphone. The solely limitation is round gaming; you may wish to get the Phone 3a Pro when you want a little bit of added energy, however apart from that, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a improbable all-rounder.