CMF Phone 2 Pro Review: A Perfect Blend of Style and Speed

So, with the boring budget phones, we say goodbye. CMF by Nothing broke that rule with its Phone 1, where personality was sewn into an under-20,000 segment. Modular design was not just for setup; it was for making a statement. From the offbeat aesthetics to knowledge of its inner working and no bloatware, to customizable backplates – a fresh breeze of personalization. Now, it’s time to hit the highway with the CMF Phone 2 Pro.

Will the CMF Phone 2 Pro prove worthy of an investment in 2025? With its so-called “top-in-segment features” and a spanking new accessory layout, this phone sees its doors opening at Rs. 18,999 for a RAM of 8GB and storage of 128GB, climbing up to Rs. 20,999 for the 256GB variant. The question is, does that price justify the value, or is this just another contender? Let’s dive in and find out whether CMF Phone 2 Pro is a winner in the long run or if it is just another contender.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Design: Slim, Lightweight, and No-so-Modular

• Dimensions – 164 x 78 x 7.8mm
• Weight – 185g
• Colours – White, Black, Orange, and Light Green

Designing the CMF Phone 2 Pro: Design Refinement, Not Redefinition. Nothing carved a niche in the design army with its characteristic language; the 2 Pro goes farther. So, the 2 Pro does not just copy the CMF Phone 1; rather, it takes it to the next level. Picture the same caffeine-punchy DNA, now etched into a slender form of premium quality. Plastic completes the basic skeletal framework, on which the build comes the rear panel with unexpected textures and materials, thereby grossly overdosing “wow” in mundane existence.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro is available in four colour options: White, Black, Light Green, and Orange.

The device bursts forth onto the scene in a composition of four colors: White, Black, Orange, and a whiff of Light Green. The White and Orange versions flaunt an attractive dual-tone treatment, a visual pleasure when contrasted with the simple single-tone setup in Light Green and Black. However, it is the finishes that capture the most interest. Orange ignites energy with a glossy metallic mix, making its own daring statement. White is much more subtle with matte finishes, almost like the texture of soft sandstone. On to my Light Green review unit, the glossy polish is elegantly understated, the quietest voice in the room, yet captivating nonetheless.

Gone are bulky bricks. With its feather-light 185 grams and uber-slim 7.8mm profile, this phone redefines “pocket-friendly.” Say what you will about its plastic make; pour the bait: this phone feels so solid. No buzzing, no cracking, just a smooth comforting feel in the hand. And in case you were wondering, splash resistance is rated at IP54 here, which is one step above the other ones down there. While others are plunging down with full IP69 ratings, this rig would suffice with protection against casual splashes and spills.

The company has introduced a new range of accessories for the CMF Phone 2 Pro.

If we remember the screws and modular magic of the original CMF, the Phone 1 brought the customization aspect back with swappable back panels-a much celebrated feature in tech circles. However, the Phone 2 Pro has turned off in another direction. No more backplates, now it’s all about the Universal Cover-as in launching an entire landscape of accessories. Imagine fisheye and macro lenses that redefine mobile photography, a MagSafe wallet to keep things handy, and, of course, that familiar lanyard keeping your phone stylishly tethered. It’s a mode of operation much different from directly swapping back panels, one that is loaded with possibilities for customization.

Truly, installation is the Universal Cover’s first step- a requisite for accessory nirvana. The joy of swapping rear panels? Sadly: a distant memory. But then comes the magic. MagSafe wallet clangs into place with gratifying ease, forming an instant stand. It is from this moment-onward, that the Universal Cover allows the fisheye and macro lens to stick to the camera, opening their world of tiny wonders. And then, there is the lanyard. Tear away that accessory point and slap that lanyard on, if you please. It fills me with dread, however, the mere thought of having to sport a bright orange leash on my phone and yanking it around like some sort of “Pro.”

CMF Phone 2 Pro Display: Vibrant and Colourful

• Display – 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display
• Refresh Rate – 120Hz adaptive screen refresh rate
• Other Features – 480Hz touch sampling rate, Panda Glass protection, HDR10+, 3,000nits peak brightness

An upgrade in vibrance is bestowed upon the Nothing Phone 2 Pro’s display. A tiny bit of an increase comes in screen size, but that is where the real magic happens. Prepare for richer, true-to-life colors as 10-bit display makes an entry, burning the 8-bit panel of Phone 1 past it. Hold on to your shades as the peak brightness is now at 3000 nits, moving up from the 2000 of Phone 1; visuals have never been more vibrant and can seize your attention.

The handset comes equipped with a 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED display that offers good brightness in outdoor conditions.

With this being the class player, it has a flat display worth 100-plus colours and 100 per cent colour gamut ability. Get inside the settings, and you would be bound to select between the “Alive” mode:a giant blast of colour slapped on the display right out of the box, or “Normal” mode with dull colours. But the big thing would have to be its HDR10+ certification, enabling one to fall into the rich details of HDR content on Netflix and YouTube, right from your pocket.

The major changes: a high refresh rate of 120Hz is now constant for responsiveness. Everything from swiping to scrolling is just buttery smooth, never to be reached by the previous generation of devices anymore. Another great thing to consider is sunlight legibility, wickedly enhanced by the brightness of the screen pushing through all glare.

So, given that the in-display fingerprint sensor unlocks the device with speed and surety, the same could not be said for the audio experience. The thing is, the device ends up with that mono speaker setup from last year-an absolute letdown in 2025. Speaker direction is downward, which assures fair sound but does not have that immersive punch which other competing devices within that price range manage to put out.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Software: Minimalistic and Bloat-free

• Software – Nothing OS 3.2
• Version – Android 15
• Updates Promised – 3 Years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches

The CMF Phone 2 Pro, while on Android 15, is really the showcase for Nothing OS 3.2. Forget overcomplicated user interfaces; NothingOS is about sharp contrasts with a near-monochrome look that’s stunning in both form and function. Picture a nude home screen with only a handful of black-and-white icons stamped in a quirky dot matrix font. At that quaint look and feel lies 24 widgets, each very much customizable. Forget hunting endlessly for essential apps. Time, date, weather, treasured photos, and loved ones are all elegantly laid out just for you. This is Android, distilled.

NothingOS, My digital sanctuary. The timely appearance of an OS that spoke to me about the beauty of less is more. Forget all about pre-installed garbage; the CMF Phone 2 Pro is barely touched, an unpracticed design fully reflective of Nothing’s unyielding belief in a truly raw mobile experience. It is the bloat-free bliss I have been wanting.

The handset is loaded with NothingOS 3.2, which offer a minimal and bloat-free experience.

Owners of the Nothing Phone 3a, it’s time for liftoff! Under the power button, there’s a gateway: essential space. It’s not another random shortcut but rather the expressway to where it matters most. A single press will whisk you into a custom-curated world of application’s favorites and crucial information, clearing away the digital clutter and placing you back in the driver’s seat.

Just a single press ushers in a universe of organized ideas. Using its smarts in combination with cloud computing, Essential Space converts the scattered notes, screenshots, and voice memos into neat collections. One tap on the Essential Key takes a screenshot, press and hold it for a voice note, and a quick double-tap just opens the application; organizing is just a tap away.

Though the idea behind the Essential Space deserves to be admired, and the augmented image recognition with generative descriptions is clever, I still find the main idea not my cup of tea. I am not one to fill my space with screenshots; that seems to be its key area of focus. Maybe for the avid screenshot maker, Essential Space is a revelation, but for someone who is into my workflow, it is an interesting concept rather than a working tool.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Performance: Not a Powerhouse, But Still Gets the Job Done

• Processor – MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro
• Memory – 8GB LPDDR4X
• Storage – Up to 256GB UFS 2.2

Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro SoC and paired with 8GB of RAM, the CMF Phone 2 Pro can roar to life. Storage? Up to 256GB on the inside, plus a microSD for external expansion. The big hearty jump in performance comes from the slightly refreshed Dimensity 7300 over the first iteration at CMF Making.

Day-to-day stuff? A wash. You won’t feel any seismic shift in handling these phones. Nevertheless, throw some hard-hitting graphics or heavy-duty processing on them and a subtle advantage comes to light. Let’s face it; the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro is almost never going to be winning a speed contest. But neither is it a fossil. Prepare for fluid, responsive experience levels throughout the day, courtesy of the optimized NothingOS 3.2 and, of course, the brand’s trials and tribulations.”

Laggy? Think Instagram reels without lags, uninterrupted music as you browse, and flawless casual games running while you sit back. Smooth and buttery performance, without any irritating stutters.

Mechanically, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset, the instrumental variation that builds a noticeable surge in power upon the CMF Phone 1.

The chipset can take demanding games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile but for truly smooth and lag-free play, you must reduce the graphics setting. Well, the thermal performance has been good. It may even stay cool during long gaming hours.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Cameras: Dependable

• Rear – 50-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture + 50-megapixel telephoto sensor + 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens
• Front – 16-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture

Step up your mobile photography game with the CMF Phone 2 Pro! This phone is equipped with a triple-camera configuration led by a unique 50MP telephoto lens, casting away all the limitations of the past. It zooms in and captures fine detail with unmatched clarity. Complemented by a dazzling 50MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens, each shot turns into a masterpiece. Along with its Nothing trusteeship, the CMF Phone 2 Pro brings forth True Lens Engine 3 that magically elevates everyday snap moments to spectacular visual experiences.

CMF Phone 2 Pro daylight camera samples from primary sensor.

LCM Phone 2 Pro uses its prime main sensor for social-media-ready pictures. Daylight shots feature good accuracy and pleasant colors. The dynamic range and contrast charmed me. While it initially featured a bit of over-sharpening, a recent update has thankfully improved this, softening the fine detail.

With a good eyepiece, the first lens is used to take classical portraits that perhaps appear generic in a way. Skin tones are somewhat basically rendered, textures are implied, and the subject stands out with an impeccably resolved effect along the edges.

CMF Phone 2 Pro daylight camera samples using telephoto lens.

But the real magic is there into the telephoto lens of 50MP. If that thing is being called a zoom by you, forget everything about it. Colors bloom with startling naturalism, contrast is just perfect, and the dynamic range stretches out like a canvas in the sun. It is an artist for portraits just in your pocket-if daylight is around. Edge detection? Off the charts. Foreground and background melt into creamy separation, transforming pedestrian everyday shots into miniature masterpieces. The telephoto is not just a feature; it is the CMF Phone 2 Pro flexing its muscles as a photographer.

CMF Phone 2 Pro daylight camera samples with wide-angle lens.

Finally, the ultra-wide one takes a back seat. The pictures from this sensor appear softer regarding details, and colors are not as vibrant as those from the main and telephoto ones. Detailing-wise, it’s quite uninspiring, to be honest.

CMF Phone 2 Pro low-light camera samples using primary sensor.

There is no shy in the CMF Phone 2 Pro towards dark photography. The low-light capabilities are good, if one may say, considering the price. The shots bear enough details, and the colors look great, with a wide dynamic range. Do take the warning that overprocessing sometimes will make the skies look, well, kind of surreal, should you have Adulting to do on the phone.

CMF Phone 2 Pro low-light camera samples using telephoto lens.

The telephoto lens truly shines under dim lighting, revealing those little details missed by the main camera. The images boast very good clarity and support a natural feeling absent in pictures clicked by the primary sensor. Expect excellent contrast levels with widely spread dynamic ranges that breathe life into the scene.

CMF Phone 2 Pro low-light camera samples using wide-angle lens.

The wide-angle lens cannot cope with low light. It produces images soft and blurry with scarcely any crisp detail. Though it can take advantage of EIS, absence is most felt when the illumination dips. A surgeon’s steady hand will be needed to bring into focus half-decent shots, unlike any other phone with OIS.

The selfie cam shall not fail. Your photos sparkle with details under the southern sun and display skin tones that are very realistic. Portrait mode enhances your selfie game with accurate edge detection and natural bokeh that seems to drift. Then comes the actual magic: the customization of the bokeh effect! You can give every shot your own artistic flair.

Video-wise? Very good, but with a caveat. You get beautiful 4K footage at 30fps with loads of details and colors as they are observed from nature, plus a dynamic range that stretches well to great heights. The setup is such that ultra-wide does not entertain the class and is stuck at a meek 1080p max. The bigger bottle-neck? This one lacks OIS, which in a way makes camera-holding shakes very evident.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Battery: Good output

• Battery Capacity – 5,000mAh
• Wired Charging – 33W SuperVOOC
• Charger – 33W (Included in Box)

With its charging 5,000mAh battery, the CMF Phone 2 Pro 5G is loaded with punch-just like the previous CMF Phone 1. To insinuate that the 2 is merely a repetition of the 1 is a sin. The 2 is in fact an efficiency course in energy matters. CMF conjured up a brilliant scenario, extracting every iota of energy from the battery. In one morning to night testing; a day filled with normal use, it managed to deliver close to six hours of screen-on-time without a hitch. So farewell to battery anxiety and say hi to endless connectivity.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro packs a 5,000mAh battery and offers 33W fast charging support.

The battery holds out rather well for 20 hours and 15 minutes in our HD video loop test, so it can easily stand a full day of heavy duty use. In a market that sadly has become almost bereft of power bricks, the included 33W charger was much appreciated; the charging speeds, however, certainly left us wanting for more. Fifteen minutes of charging results in a 24% boost, climbing to 47% after a 30-minute session. An hour and 20 minutes is required to fill the battery to capacity. It’s an acceptable speed maybe for the pricing, but it is not what I would call very fast.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Verdict

To conclude, the CMF Phone 2 Pro has completely matured, more than fulfilling the promise of enhanced aesthetics and a broader/increased-side ecosystem of accessories with which to truly maintain a sense of individualization for your device. The beautiful display is nevertheless a worthy farewell to swappable backs from the CMF Phone 1, with colors as vibrant as they are clear to stream in all their glory.

This unit is perfectly capable of meeting one’s daily requirements, but it shines when the true gamer puts it to use. What dazzles with youngsters is the camera. Capture crisp, vibrant shots with both the telephoto and the main lens in daylight. Battery-wise? Oh, yes, it can get you through the day.

Make no mistake, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is an understatement for the phenomenal statement it makes. Gone are the days when design would conform to the minimum; this one will challenge heads to turn in its direction, whereas the sleekness of the software will bloom a simple user experience within one’s mind.

In this pair of sentences, I had altered some phrases to accommodate more flow, drawing out a poetic feel to the language.

However, certain things have stayed ugly and cruel. Though said to carry a better ingress protection rating, it still falls short behind that of its competitors. A single speaker is so unwanted, and the wide-angle lens certainly could use an upgrade. On the other hand, maybe even more infuriating is the slow charging, considering that brands like Realme and Poco are already racing front-and-center with almost instantaneous fast charging.

Setting its foot in a crowded arena, the CMF Phone 2 Pro will be challenging some heavyweights like the Oppo K13, Poco X7, and Realme Narzo 80 Pro, so get ready for a battle royale!

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