CMF Phone 2 Pro: The CMF Phone 2 Pro is an interesting evolution in how Nothing plans to handle itself in the hard-fought medium-range smartphone category. Release in April 2025, it is a successor to the CMF Phone 1, fixing many issues from the original.
The Phone 2 Pro is priced at ₹18,999 for its base variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in India (and $279 for the 8GB/256GB model in the US), making it an appealing prospect for budget-concerned consumers that do not want to let go of the smart design and useful features.
Design and Build Quality
There’s nothing that makes the design language move on that much from the CMF Phone 1. The sharp lines which some users found uncomfortable are gone, in place of a more ergonomically rounded frame. Slimmest by far, in fact, being a mere 7.8mm at its thickest point and 185 grams.
It continues CMF’s (Color, Material, Finish) design language and has a dual-tone back panel with screws on either side to give it an industrial look.
Its back panel is no longer removable like that of the original Phone 1, though the device is still compatible with various accessories, such as universal covers for users to swap out, lenses that can be replaced, a lanyard, and a wallet with a built-in stand.
Offered in clean color options, there are a total of four color options, including Black, White, Orange and Light Green, that have more textures and finishes when compared to regular smart phones in the same price range.
Display and Performance
Its screen is a massive 6.7-inch Flexible AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen achieves a nice peak brightness of up to 3000 nits which is one of the highest among its rivals.
The 1000Hz touch sampling rate provides players with smooth touch response in games and daily usage.
The phone is fueled by the Dimensity 7300 Pro processor from MediaTek, which is a tick better than the Dimensity 7300 inside the CMF Phone 1.
Nothing makes a big deal of the 10% CPU performance improvement and 5% better graphics performance over its predecessor, but it isn’t a game-changing increase in processing power.
The phone comes preloaded with Nothing OS 3.2 based on Android 15 and is promised to receive three years of Android updates and six years of security patches – not the best, but not the worst in the software longevity stakes.
Camera Capabilities
It’s with photography that the CMF Phone 2 Pro makes its biggest leaps. The triple camera system of the device is highly adaptable:
50MP main camera, 1/1.57″ sensor with 64% more light than the CMF Phone 1
A 50MP telephoto camera, with 2x optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom
8MP ultrawide camera (119.5° field of view)
This replaces the more redundant 2MP depth sensor on the previous device. The selfie snapper has also been preserved in the form of 16MP. TrueLens Engine 3 utilises more sophisticated algorithms to improve image processing on all glass.
Battery Life and Charging
The phone is powered by a decent 5000mAh battery that can take you through a day of mixed usage without any hassles.
The charging situation is a little lower than 2025-level generous though, with support for 33W wired charging. There’s no wireless charging – a reasonable limit at this price.
Pros:
Excellent Display: With Realme 9 Pro, you get a 6.7inch AMOLED, and with a peak brightness of 3000 nits and refresh rate of 120Hz, it stands out in the competition at this price point.
Flexible Camera System: The rear triple edits camera collection with a real telephoto lens is uncommon at that price point.
Unique Aesthetic: Aesthetically unique with customizable add-on accessories in a market of look-alike smartphones.
Thinness At 7.8mm, it’s thinner than most rivals and doesn’t come at the expense of battery size.
Clean Software: None OS 3.2 does come preloaded with a near-stock version of Android that adds some beneficial features but it has less bloatware itself.
Six years’ worth of security updates: That’s dug in for the long haul.
Cons:
Marginal Performance Improvement: As a successor, the Dimensity 7300 Pro doesn’t bring much performance to the table, and performance enthusiasts may no longer be impressed by the changes.
Slow charging speed: 33W charging is a little behind the curve where competitors have 45W-67W solutions.
Immovable Back Panel : The back of the phone isn’t replaceable like on the original CMF Phone, so some of the customization appeal is gone.
Limited Software Updates: It is okay, but no celebration that we are getting three years of Android updates when a competing smartphone has four or more.
No Wireless Charging: This makes sense at the price and is a missed luxury for some.
Availability Challenges: Outside of major cities, distribution could also be limited, meaning shipping from overseas can be tricky.
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Verdict
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is the best Nothing’s budget line has to offer so far, upgrading display and camera quality — and with a nod to aesthetics, as well.
It is marketed as a great choice for people who value screen quality, versatile photography and a different kind of beauty to brute processing power.
It’s nothing groundbreaking but still a good alternative to the range of mainstream low-cost devices by established firms, especially for those who value Nothing’s minimalist design and clean software intentions.
For the money, it offers an attractive balance of flair and function that will be a good $700 investment for most everyday users.
