Two years ago, Nothing introduced its CMF sub-brand, aiming to deliver premium aesthetics and quality at a budget-friendly price tag.
This year in April, CMF announced its newest model, the CMF Phone 2 Pro. The question is, does this device uphold the brand’s philosophy, and does it excel in delivering on that promise?
That’s what I’ll try to find out in this CMF Phone 2 Pro review.
Since specs tell only part of the story (and most of you know how it stands on paper), I’ll focus on my real-world experience using the phone over the past few weeks.
When I received this phone for review, I was excited because I was about to head out on one of the longest drives of my life – a 2000km ride from Mumbai to Dharamsala.
For five days, I made the CMF Phone 2 Pro my trusted companion, relying on it for everything from navigation to daily tasks, putting it to the ultimate test.
DESIGN
Staying true to the brand’s ideology, the CMF Phone 2 Pro brings a beautiful design that stands out in this price range.
I’ve got the light green color, which is subtle yet elegant. This color paired with the industrial design of the phone makes it stand out in its segment. The screws and accessory point, while functional (allowing you to attach a modular case), enhance the device’s aesthetic appeal.
At just 185 grams and 7.8mm thick, the phone feels remarkably comfortable and easy to handle.
The 6.77-inch screen makes the CMF Phone 2 Pro a sizable device, yet it feels manageable in hand. The green color unit with me has a glossy finish on a plastic body.
Besides Light Green, the CMF Phone 2 Pro comes in three other colors: black, orange, and white. The orange and white variants feature a stylish dual-tone finish, while black remains solid.
For those wondering about accessories, the CMF Phone 2 Pro requires a universal cover that screws onto the back, allowing you to attach add-ons. Options include a wallet, stand, lenses, and a lanyard, with the added benefit that older accessories appear compatible.
Overall, in the design department, I think CMF has done a fantastic job with the Phone 2 Pro.
My only complaint is the IP54 rating, which, while an improvement over its predecessor, lags behind competitors in this price range offering up to IP65 protection.
DISPLAY
Alongside its design, display is one of the selling points of the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro features a 6.77-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED display, boasting up to 3000 nits peak brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 1000Hz touch sampling rate.
How does this translate to real-world use?
The display delivers an outstanding viewing experience, whether you’re watching videos, scrolling through social media, or gaming. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth animations and scrolling, which is complemented by excellent touch responsiveness. The phone’s slim bezels further enhance the immersive viewing experience.
I personally feel the brightness could have been higher, but the display performed well even in outdoor conditions without any major viewability issues.
In short, for a phone in its price range, the display is excellent.
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PERFORMANCE & SOFTWARE
On paper, the processor may be the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s weakest link.
Under the hood, the CMF Phone 2 Pro features the Dimensity 7300 Pro, paired with 6/8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable storage.
The Dimensity 7300 Pro isn’t the fastest chip in its price range, but it performs reliably. When you pair it with ample 8GB RAM and Nothing OS, it delivers a consistently smooth user experience.
During my journey, I frequently switched between apps and ran navigation for 7-8 hours straight, yet the phone never felt underpowered or sluggish. It didn’t visibly overheat either, even with continuous GPS usage.
The UI is smooth and responsive, with apps loading quickly and no noticeable lag when using the camera or handling demanding tasks. While I’m not a heavy gamer, the phone handled everything I threw at it with ease.
While a faster processor would be ideal on paper, in real-world use, the performance is more than adequate for regular users.
This hardware, paired with Nothing OS 3.2, delivers a seamless and delightful user experience. Its minimalist design, free from the bloat of other brands, combined with smooth animations and subtle design touches, makes the phone a joy to use daily.
Add to that, you get three years of OS upgrades and an extended six years of security updates too – which is good for a device in its price class.
Essential Space
A new feature is the dedicated Essential Button, designed to organize your notes. It allows you to save screenshots and voice notes, with AI-driven organization in the app.
Honestly, I found the Essential Button largely unnecessary and frustrating, as I often misclicked it while reaching for the power button. While some may find it useful, I suspect it will appeal to only a niche group of users.
CAMERA
There are three cameras on the CMF Phone 2 Pro – a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor, another 50MP telephoto sensor, and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle shooter.
Unlike some budget phones where the third camera is merely decorative (often a macro lens), the telephoto sensor here is impressively capable. In fact, it is the ultra-wide-angle sensor that is the weakest of the trio.
Main 50MP Camera
The primary camera captures good-quality, saturated photos right out of the default camera app. So you can directly share those photos on social media without significant edits. The level of detail from the primary sensor is also pretty good for a camera in its price class.
In low light, the primary camera struggles somewhat, but it remains usable with minor adjustments.
Telephoto 50MP Camera
This unexpected addition to the camera system significantly enhances its functionality.
The 2x portraits are a delight with this sensor, delivering sharp background separation from the subject in focus. Zooming up to 2x outputs impressive photo and video quality.
For example, consider this 2x telephoto shot of Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal. Despite half the monument being under construction, the telephoto sensor allowed me to capture its intricate patterns beautifully.
Low-light performance in night mode is also pretty effective with this sensor. For example, a shot of Jaipur’s Jal Mahal at midnight, with minimal light, still produced a decent image.
Ultra-Wide Angle 8MP Camera
As noted earlier, the ultra-wide-angle sensor is the weakest part of the camera system.
In good lighting, the ultra-wide-angle sensor produces decent shots, but its clarity and detail fall short of higher-quality sensors.
At night, its performance declines significantly, especially in terms of details. Check the samples below to see this sensor’s real-world performance.
Video Shooting
The phone captures 4K 30fps videos with solid quality and detail, but the lack of OIS requires careful handling for stable footage.
Overall, if you stick to the two 50MP sensors on the device, you should be pretty happy with the phone’s camera performance.
BATTERY
On paper, the CMF Phone 2 Pro doesn’t boast the largest or longest-lasting battery.
But in real-world use, the 5000mAh battery proves more than adequate, delivering 6-7 hours of screen-on time without causing battery anxiety, thanks to efficient power management. Whether scrolling through social media, streaming videos on Netflix or YouTube, or enjoying occasional gaming, it keeps up reliably.
Even during my 2000km drive, using the phone as my GPS with reliable accuracy, the battery remained stable with gradual drain. It also stayed cool, a reassuring improvement over some previous phones I’ve used.
Honestly, being used to faster charging, I found the 33W charger somewhat slow. It’s not a major complaint, but charging to 100% takes well over an hour, which may feel sluggish by 2025 standards.
That said, the 33W charging is sufficient for a decent top-up before heading out.
VERDICT
In recent years, budget phones under Rs. 20,000 ($250) have matured offering solid performance, reliable batteries, capable cameras, and vibrant displays for seamless daily use.
Yet, the CMF Phone 2 Pro stands out with its well-rounded performance and smooth, bloat-free experience—a rarity at this price—making it a good daily driver.
The phone comes with a stunning display, unique design, dependable battery, and good performance, though the ultra-wide lens and mono speaker fall short.
Ultimately, the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers good value and a delightful experience, marking its place as an affordable smartphone that most won’t regret choosing.
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