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Tom's Guide
14-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
CMF Phone 2 Pro Review: The bar for cheap phones just got higher
Nothing's been on a roll the past few years with its budget phone releases, including the the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro models it launched earlier this year. While they're both solid best cheap phone contenders, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is shaping up to be yet another ultra-affordable Android phone. And this one is even cheaper. A follow-up to last year's CMF Phone 1, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is an improvement in nearly every aspect. Not only does it have design upgrades, like a more durable IP54 rating, but it gains a triple camera system — complete with a dedicated telephone camera with 2x optical zoom. Everyone knows how much I prefer budget phones to more expensive flagships, so I'll explain in my CMF Phone 2 Pro review if this cheap device can set the bar even higher for bargain handsets. CMF Phone 2 Pro Starting price $279 / £219 Display 6.77-inch AMOLED (1080 x 2392) Refresh rate 120Hz adaptive Rear cameras 50MP main (f/1.88), 50MP 2x telephoto (f/1.85), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2) Front cameras 16MP selfie (f/2.45) Chipset MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G RAM 8GB Storage 128GB / 256GB, expandable up to 2TB Battery 5,000 mAh Charging 33W wired Operating system Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.2 Water/dust resistance IP54 Size 164 x 78 x 7.8mm / 6.46 x 3.0 x 0.31 inches Weight 185 grams (6.53 ounces) Colors Black, white, orange, light green Similar to its last phone release, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is available in the U.S. through a beta program, with only a $279 model offering 8GB RAM and 256GB. That's not too shabby given the $239 cost of the CMF Phone 1. In other markets, like the U.K., Nothing offers an 8GB RAM with 128GB storage option for £219. While the price certainly is a big draw factor, the worst part about the CMF Phone 2 Pro is actually trying to get one. The U.S. model comes in three colors: white, black, and orange. My review unit's in white, but it features a sandstone finish that gives a shimmery effect at the right angles. While the price certainly is a big draw factor, the worst part about the CMF Phone 2 Pro is actually trying to get one. Hopefully it won't take long for the phone to land on Amazon or at other retailers. Now that it's referred to as a "pro" model, the CMF Phone 2 Pro inevitably has a more premium finish than the previous version. Although the overall design language and style hasn't changed all that much, I do like how the new version has a more solid build quality. Just as before, there are screws all around the back and a cap in the corner gives the CMF Phone a unique look among other handsets. What really amplifies its build quality is the metal trim bezel that wraps around the entire phone and the shimmering effect of the sandstone finish of the back. It also helps that the phone is pretty thin at 0.31 inches. Considering its price, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is still a remarkable looking phone for under $280. With the screw cap, I like how I'm able to install previous accessories for the CMF Phone 1, such as the lanyard attachment. I really like this ability to modify the phone's design, mainly because it gives me a bit of control to make it distinctive and not just conform to what the phone maker wants. Other small details, like the thicker lens covers that wrap around each camera, show off how the CMF Phone's design evolves to be a bit more premium. And finally, it's nice knowing that it's better equipped with improved water resistance thanks to its IP54 rating. Considering its price, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is still a remarkable looking phone for under $280. Even though it's hard to see side-by-side against the CMF Phone 1, Nothing manages to cram a larger 6.77-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate into the CMF Phone 2 Pro — all without adding more length and depth to its size. Again, I'm blown away by how sharp and iridescent the CMF Phone 2 screen looks while watching videos. Not only do the colors pop, but the screen doesn't distort like other budget phones at odd angles. CMF Phone 2 Pro CMF Phone 1 Max brightness 1,179 nits 1,129 nits sRGB 125.2% (Standard) / 172.2% (Alive) 107.8% (Standard) / 152% (Alive) DCI-P3 88.7% (Standard) / 122% (Alive) 76.4% (Standard) / 107.7% (Alive) Delta-E (lower is better) 0.21 (Standard) / 0.3 (Alive) 0.2 (Standard) / 0.25 (Alive) Nothing claims that the display is rated for up to 3,000-nit peak brightness. That's an ambitious mark, especially when the brightest screen that the Tom's Guide labs has recorded was the Pixel 9 Pro XL's mark of 2,469 nits. The CMF Phone 2 Pro peaks at 1,179 nits, which barely pushes past the 1,129 nits achieved by the CMF Phone 1. Despite this, I can't complain too much because the CMF Phone 2 display remains visible in most situations outdoors, though it's still tough to make out under direct sunlight. Overall, I wish the screen were brighter, but the rich color tones it produces combined with its smooth dynamic 120Hz makes it a visual feast that I'm not often exposed to with budget phones. I can't believe there are still phones out there that have only a single rear camera, like the iPhone 16e. Most budget phones come with at least two, but one with three cameras is hard to find. That's why I'm really stoked about the CMF Phone 2 Pro's setup: a triple camera system that consists of a 50MP main lens, 8MP ultrawide shooter, and a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. There's also a 16MP selfie cam around the front, which appears to be unchanged from the CMF Phone 1. Nothing claims that the main sensor can draw in 64% more light than the one on the CMF Phone 1, so you'll see how it compares in the side-by-side snapshots I've captured with both phones. For a budget phone, there's a healthy set of controls and settings to choose from — including an expert mode that lets me dial in manual controls such as its shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and more. First of all, the main camera of the CMF Phone 2 Pro has a wider field of view that lets me capture more of the Citibikes in the photos above. While this is fine and dandy, I don't see many differences between the two cameras as they capture the same amount of details all throughout the scene. Despite the lack of a dedicated macro mode, the CMF Phone 2 Pro still lets me get close to subjects with its main camera. There's a lot of detail with the sunflower with the CMF Phone 2 Pro's snapshot, but the CMF Phone 1 does just as good of a job at capturing all the fine details — including the prickly parts of the center and its petals. When I look at the produce shelves filled with all the different kinds of peppers, I do like how the CMF Phone 2 Pro casts a more accurate tone. That's because it doesn't wash out the red and green peppers compared to the CMF Phone 1. The 16MP selfie camera of the CMF Phone 2 Pro is better equipped at handling high-contrast scenes, which is where the CMF Phone 1 really struggles in with the photos above. Highlights in particular are blown out to the point that the details around my shirt are too irreversibly gone to make out, whereas the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers a better tone to the exposure. Optical zoom is better than none at all, right? I think so, but there's a certain threshold where its advantage is more prevalent. At 2x zoom, it's hard to see how much better it is, but there's no arguing how the shot at 10x zoom above looks much sharper with the CMF Phone 2 Pro. In comparison to the CMF Phone 1 shot with its main camera, it's not as sharp or defined. I'm not convinced that the main camera draws in 64% more light than what Nothing claims, evident in the night time snapshots I captured above using their respective night modes. There are certain parts of the tree and surrounding branches that look a smidge brighter in the CMF Phone 2 shot, but they're not overwhelmingly brighter to convince me it's a big improvement. When it comes to video recording, the CMF Phone 2's package isn't a tremendous boost when it tops out at 4K 30fps — just like the previous CMF Phone 1. However, I can tell from the video I recorded near Times Square above that there are a couple of improvements. First of all, the CMF Phone 2 Pro footage looks a tiny bit sharper to the eye. The bigger improvement relates to its stabilization, which manages to mitigate the unintentional shake as I proceed to walk. Overall, there's not an overwhelming improvement to the camera performance from one year to the next — which is a little bit of a letdown because this is the one area where I expect wider disparities. The best thing about this new setup is the introduction of a dedicated telephoto camera with optical zoom, along with a much improved stabilization for video recording. Usually newer phones see at least some improvements around their processing performance, but synthetic benchmark tests show that's not really the case for the CMF Phone 2 Pro. It's powered by a Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G chipset, a follow up to the Dimensity 7300 in the CMF Phone 1. Geekbench 6 single and multi-core scores are flat, reaching on average around 1,016 and 2,961 respectively. These scores are roughly the same as what I've tested with the CMF Phone 1, so I'm a bit at a loss because Nothing claims a 10% CPU performance boost. In 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited test to see how its GPU performance handles, the CMF Phone 2 reaches an average frame rate of 18.62 fps. This actually turns out to be less than what the CMF Phone 1 delivered. Despite the lackluster benchmark scores, I can at least verify that the phone runs responsively with most everyday tasks. From browsing sites on Chrome to scrolling through my different social media apps, the CMF Phone 2 Pro handles them with finesse, including how animations have a fluid look throughout the interface. CMF Phone 2 Pro CMF Phone 1 Nothing Phone 2a Processor MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G MediaTek Dimensity 7300 MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro Geekbench (single core/multicore) 1,016 / 2,961 1,028 / 2,971 1,103 / 2,586 WildLife Unlimited(fps) 18.62 18.84 25.46 Adobe Premiere Rush Transcode Time (Mins:Secs) 1:19 1:19 1:40 I even tried a couple of the games I play religiously, like Age of Origins, which maintains decent frame rates when there's moderate action. However, it does stutter every now and then when there's a lot of explosive effects happening with some of the battle sequences. I know that benchmark tests aren't the definitive measure of a phone's real-world performance, but I was hoping to see the minimum improvements that the phone maker claims. That didn't happen, and it's a bit perplexing. As the CMF Phone 2 keeps the same overall size as its predecessor, there's no change to the size of the 5,000 mAh battery powering the device. So battery improvements boils down to the power efficiency of the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G chip. In the Tom's Guide's battery benchmark test, the CMF Phone 2 pulls in an average time of 15 hours and 24 minutes in dynamic mode, where the refresh rate changes to deliver the most optimal results. CMF Phone 2 Pro CMF Phone 1 Battery size 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh Battery life (Hrs:Mins) 15:24 15:02 Wired Charging 33W 33W Recharge percentage (15 mins) 28% 30% Recharge percentage (30 mins) 55% 62% This puts it slightly ahead of the CMF Phone 1, but our lab testing shows it's able to go for much longer at 16 hours when you set the refresh rate to standard mode. For a budget phone, nearly 15.5 hours is impressive endurance beating out other, more expensive models like the Pixel 9a. While the CMF Phone 2 lacks wireless charging— an expected omission for a phone at this price— Nothing at least gives it 33W wired charging. After 15 minutes, the CMF Phone 2 gets up to 28%, while 30 minutes yields a 55% charge. Strangely, that's not as fast as the CMF Phone 1, but it's not a deal breaker in my opinion. Just like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, you'll find the CMF Phone 2 running Nothing OS 3.2 on top of Android 15. I've always been a fan of Nothing's custom skin, mainly for how it employs Nothing's bespoke icons and animations — which gives it a dot matrix style look that's so different from other Android skins. The only thing missing is the customization of the Glyph Interface, which you don't get here because it doesn't have the LED light strips around the back that's needed for it. Despite this, there's still plenty of customization for anyone to make the CMF Phone 2 match their preference. Similar to the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, you get access to the Smart App Drawer, which I like for its ability to intelligently group apps together, making for yet another unique look to the app drawer. There's also the Essential Key on the side of the phone, one of the CMF Phone 2's key AI features. Pressing it captures a screenshot of whatever I'm looking at, which then is archived into the Essential Space. There, it can use AI magic to pull details from my screenshots and present it to me in a meaningful way. My only complaint about this feature is that it requires a lot on my part to "save" these screenshots for it to work effectively, instead of doing it all proactively without my intervention. Compared to other Android phones I've tested, I like how Nothing OS 3.2 doesn't try to overwhelm me with too many features. It's clearly lacking AI features that make the best Android phones even more useful, but I can't complain too much here because the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a fraction of the cost of those phones. While I've seen better support elsewhere, like the Pixel 9a's seven years of support, Nothing offers three years of Android updates and six years of security patch, which is fine for a phone of this caliber. Only $40 separates last year's CMF Phone 1 and the new CMF Phone 2 Pro, which is peanuts when I think about the price difference between an iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. There's a lot to like about the CMF Phone 2 Pro, like its more premium design, longer battery life, brilliant looking screen, and the addition of a telephoto camera. However, I have higher expectations around any phone that's deemed a 'pro' model because it should present itself as a much improved version. There are aspects about the CMF Phone 2 Pro that I find underwhelming, namely its lackluster processing performance scores and how there's no big improvement to its camera performance. But at the same time, I can't neglect how this phone costs $279 — and good phones don't often come this cheap. All things considered, I think CMF Phone 2 Pro is still a fantastic value for anyone on a tight budget and wants a phone that punches above its weight. And that's despite its 'pro' designation not quite living up to the performance hype.
India Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Nothing Phone 3 launching on July 1 and here is everything we know about it so far
It's been a long wait — quite literally, two years — but the Nothing Phone (3) is now finally launching on July 1. Ever since the Nothing Phone (2) debuted in July 2023, the company's portfolio has evolved significantly. Nothing has expanded its mid-range lineup, first with the Phone (2a) series and more recently the Phone (3a) series. It has also ventured into the budget segment through its sub-brand CMF, which already includes the CMF Phone 1 and Phone 2 Pro, alongside a range of audio amid all this expansion, there hasn't been a true high-end flagship from the London-based tech company. Nothing — no pun intended — has yet to deliver a proper successor to the Phone (2) from 2023. That's about to change with the launch of the Phone (3) on July Phone (3): Price expectationsUp until recently, all we had was a confirmation from Carl Pei, via a YouTube video, that the Phone (3) is in the works — and that it'll be the brand's first-ever true flagship. Carl also hinted that it wouldn't be cheap, stating the phone could be priced at around 800 Pounds, which roughly translates to Rs 93,000. But if past trends are anything to go by, we shouldn't expect that kind of pricing in the Indian For some perspective, the Nothing Phone (2) launched in the UK for 579 Pounds — around Rs 61,000 at the time, when 1 Pound was valued at approximately Rs 105. However, its actual launch price in India was Rs 45,000. So, while the UK price was significantly higher, it was clearly adjusted to suit the Indian according to a recent leak by tipster MysteryLupin, the Phone (3) could be priced at $799 (around Rs 68,400) for the base variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB all this into account, a realistic expectation for the Indian market would be a starting price of around Rs 70,000 — give or take. Of course, this isn't official, and we'll have a clearer idea once the company makes an announcement in the coming Phone (3): Expected specs and featuresJust a couple of days ago, the first render of the Nothing Phone (3) surfaced online, shared by tipster Max Jambor. From the looks of it, the signature Glyph lighting on the back might be missing this time around — a bold departure from previous designs. However, the transparent back seems to be retained. Industry insiders suggest that Nothing could instead go for a dot-matrix style rear panel, something akin to what we've seen on the Asus ROG Phone 9. advertisementMoving on, the volume rockers can be spotted on the left, while two buttons are seen on the right, likely the power button and Nothing's Essential Key, which recently debuted on the Phone (3a) for the cameras, the triple-lens setup appears to be housed within a single circular module, a change from the raised island design seen on the Phone (3a) Pro. In terms of specs, the Phone (3) is rumoured to feature a 50-megapixel triple-lens system — expected to include primary, telephoto, and ultra-wide sensors — along with a 32-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. Other features are tipped to include a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness — making it one of the brightest displays in the said, the most interesting detail is the chipset. While Nothing is pitching the Phone (3) as a true flagship, reports suggest it might be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 — a top-tier chip, but not the latest this would have made perfect sense if the Phone (3) had launched last year as a direct upgrade to the Phone (2) with a modest price hike. But now, with the Phone (2) being two years old and the 8 Gen 3 over a year old, pairing it with a Rs 70,000 price tag would feel like a bold move — especially when competitors like the OnePlus 13 (Rs 69,999) and iQOO 13 (Rs 54,999) are offering the latest Snapdragon 8 we won't have to wait long to find out how it all plays out. The Nothing Phone (3) is set to launch on July 1, and everything will be revealed then. Stay tuned to India Today Tech for all the latest updates on Nothing's upcoming flagship smartphone.
Nylon
22-05-2025
- Nylon
CMF by Nothing unveils the CMF Phone 2 Pro
Since its launch in September 2023, CMF, a sub-brand of Nothing, has been making great design accessible to the masses with their growing range of devices that are both beautiful and practical. Image courtesy of Nothing. Image courtesy of Nothing. Following their extensive releases in 2024 including the launch of the first-generation CMF Phone 1, the brand is looking to disrupt the market with their all-new CMF Phone 2 Pro, offering an alternative option to those who seek a differentiated approach to life and tech without having to conform. Dubbed the ultimate daily smartphone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro features a wonderfully bright display and a pro-level four-camera system that is primed to help you capture life's moments with a joyful, refined design. Image courtesy of Nothing. As the slimmest and lightest smartphone ever designed by Nothing, the CMF Phone 2 Pro weighs just 185g and 7.8mm thin, making it nearly weightless and 5% thinner than its predecessor. It comes in an elegant body with an aluminium camera surround that has evolved from the first-generation design, and features stainless steel screws to offer that authentic Nothing feel. Made with the largest display to date in the CMF range, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is built with a 6.77-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED display that delivers nearly 1 billion more colours than the CMF Phone 1, taking colouration and vibrancy up a level with enhanced brightness. Powered by the newly upgraded MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G processor, this device will be able to handle heavy demands, thanks to its 8-core CPU which clocks in speeds of up to 2.5 GHz. Co-engineered with the state-of-the-art TSMC 4 nm process technology, you'll be able to get game-changing power efficiency alongside 10% quicker processing and a 5% improvement in graphics. Image courtesy of Nothing. The CMF Phone 2 Pro features an advanced four-camera system that comes with a 50MP main camera with the largest sensor size in its class to capture 64% more light than the CMF Phone 1, an 8MP ultra-wide camera for an expansive field of view, and a 16MP front camera for sharp selfies. These, are in addition to the powerful telephoto lens that uses 6 stacked lenses to give you the ability to digitally zoom 20x while taking a photo — making it the only smartphone with a telephoto sensor in this segment. Together with a 5,000 mAh battery, you'll be able to power through two days of use on a single full charge, uninterrupted.
India Today
22-05-2025
- India Today
CMF Phone 2 Pro review in 5 points: Meaningful upgrades over CMF Phone 1 make it an easy recommendation
Phones under Rs 20,000 often make many compromises. The CMF Phone 2 Pro makes a few, too, but it still gets the basics right (meaning that it has a good display, clean software, dependable battery life, so on and so forth), while putting in a few extras that together make it a strong contender in its price range. I tested the CMF Phone 2 Pro for two weeks and I believe that it is one of the most well-rounded smartphones you can get below Rs 20,000 today. You can read our full review of the CMF Phone 2 Pro here. Here, we give you a more concise take on why it could – and should – be your next Phone 2 Pro: Key specificationsBefore I summarise my experience with the CMF Phone 2 Pro, here is a quick look at the key specifications of the 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000nits peak brightness Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 ProStorage and RAM: 8GB RAM, up to 256GB storageRear camera: 50-megapixel primary sensor, 50-megapixel telephoto lens (2x optical zoom and up to 20x ultra zoom), 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens with a 119.5-degree field of viewSelfie camera: 16-megapixelBattery: 5,000mAh with 33W fast charging supportOS: NothingOS 3.0 based on Android 15 advertisement CMF Phone 2 Pro review in 5 points-Design and ergonomicsNothing says that the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the slimmest phone it has made so far. At 7.8mm, its sleek profile stands out. The phone is light and easy to handle even with one hand. Basically, it is a big-screen phone that doesn't feel sent us the mint green variant, which is a nice departure from the usual colour palette we typically see in this price range, and the shimmer finish adds a playful touch while maintaining a premium signature back panel design of the CMF Phone 1 is continued on the CMF Phone 2 Pro with screws and a small dial to attach accessories. However, swappable panels are no longer part of the product offering.-DisplayThe CMF Phone 2 Pro's display is quite bright, which means you will never find yourself struggling with legibility even under direct sunlight. The display's colours are punchy, and scrolling or gaming feels smooth and responsive. Compared to the CMF Phone 1, bezels on the CMF Phone 2 Pro have been trimmed down, and the large bottom chin is almost gone. There is room for some more refinement, but this screen is among the best you'll get in this and UIPowered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset, the CMF Phone 2 Pro can handle day-to-day tasks like calling, multitasking, and social media, effortlessly. Even with heavy use, the phone does not lag while switching between multiple on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is also mostly fine, though the phone struggles a bit in sustaining peak performance during particularly with demanding really stands out, just like all Nothing phones, is the clean and ad-free software. The CMF Phone 2 pro runs NothingOS 3.0, which is based on Android 15. It is intuitive and easy to get used to. Even my 60-year-old mother-in-law had no trouble adapting to it. Nothing promises three years of Android updates and six years of security patches. -Battery performanceThe CMF Phone 2 Pro has excellent battery life. I regularly got a full day of use even with 5G and heavy usage. On lighter days, it could stretch even beyond a day. Nothing's software optimisation plays a big role here, and it shows in how it performs in the real world. This is a phone you can depend on to keep up with your routine without hunting for a charger towards the end of the debut triple-camera setupThe CMF Phone 2 Pro's camera is a major upgrade. The company has debuted a triple camera system on the CMF-branded phone with the Phone 2 Pro. And the phone is able to largely deliver on the hype it created around it. Photos come out sharp, with accurate colours and decent background blur in portrait mode when you give it lots of light. Low-light shots aren't perfect (you can notice some noise and dynamic range doesn't go very wide) and the shutter can be a bit slow. Regardless, it performs better than most phones in this range. Nothing also offers swappable lenses for those who want to experiment a bit more with Phone 2 Pro: Quick verdictThe CMF Phone 2 Pro feels like a sensible step up from its predecessor. It does not overwhelm you with gimmicks. Instead, it focuses on the things that matter – display, performance, battery, and usability. At a starting price of Rs 18,999, and the promise of long-term software support, the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers great value for money. If you are looking for a dependable daily driver that also looks good, it should be on your list.
India Today
16-05-2025
- India Today
CMF Phone 2 Pro review: The best phone to buy under Rs 20,000 today?
What makes a sub-Rs 20,000 smartphone tick? It could be a mix of a few different things, but generally, people who are buying these phones – much like any other phone across any other price point – want to get the most value and, if given a choice, use them for as long as they possibly can (yes, there is great value in that, too). So, the question is not so much about what these phones can get right, but how much bang for your buck they can deliver to pique the interest of the average buyer. Because let's face it, this is also a segment of intense buzz and activity. There are so many nice and trendy and putting in a few gimmicky features here and there is not enough. Rather, all this is a distraction. The phone must pass the basics. In other words, it must have a slick user interface (the cleaner, the better), a smooth display, and reliable battery life. If you can get a functionally good camera, that would be a bonus. In my experience of using the CMF Phone 2 Pro for two weeks, I found that this new affordable Nothing phone comfortably ticks all these boxes, almost, and that is why I feel it is now the phone to beat in the sub-Rs 20,000 segment. CMF Phone 2 Pro with 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED display advertisementIt's the year of slim phones and CMF Phone 2 Pro got the memoNothing claims that the CMF Phone 2 Pro is its slimmest phone ever. It comes in at 7.8mm (versus CMF Phone 1 which was 8.2mm). Those numbers, however, don't tell the complete story. I held the CMF Phone 2 Pro and the Nothing Phone 3a (which is technically a more premium Nothing phone) and the difference was evident. The Phone 2 Pro feels slimmer and lighter. It has a great in-hand feel. And if you prefer over 6-inch-displays phones, you will really enjoy using this one. Unless you have small hands, this phone is an absolute joy to operate with one hand. The edges of the phone have a metallic finish that is soft to touch and very premium to look at. The mint-green variant I have for review looks very nice and fresh even if it is a tad unusual at this price point. The back panel also has a bit of a shimmer, which adds a touch of playfulness to the about design, the CMF Phone 2 Pro continues to feature exposed screws at the back (like the CMF Phone 1) to accentuate its modular aspect. However, the industrial design leans more towards the aesthetic this time. Sure, the little wheel in the bottom-right corner has been retained. You can use it to connect a few accessories, but the stand and the wallet accessories (that have launched alongside the phone) are slapped on magnetically through an optional backplate now. There is no option for changeable back panels any more. But the good thing is, this doesn't come in the way of the phone's experience, which is mostly clean and minimal. Similar to the Phone 3a series, the CMF Phone 2 Pro comes with a dedicated Essential Space button Essential Space: Some AI goodness now, some maybe laterEssential Space, an AI feature that launched with the Nothing Phone 3a series, has been added to the CMF Phone 2 Pro as well. At the most basic level, it is meant to aggregate and sort information in your screenshots automatically, so that you don't have to scramble through them for information when you most need instance, you take a picture of a pamphlet that has information about a play – the day, date, time and the works. You don't have to go back to that picture to look at the details of the play. In a few days, when the time comes, and you need that information, Essential Space will sort it for you in one place, think that is quite useful. However, I also think the feature is still quite limited in functionality at this point. Nothing has promised more helpful features are in the works for a future update. Be that as it may, the dedicated key that invokes the Essential Space, could have been placed better. The CMF Phone 2 Pro supports up to 20x digital zoom Big screen experience that is mostly good newsThe CMF Phone 2 Pro has a 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED display with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 3,000nits peak brightness. In real-life use, the smartphone's display is bright, it has rich colours, and it is super responsive. Even if you are using the phone outside, under direct sunlight, the phone's brightness adjusts well enough for the content to remain legible making the CMF Phone 2 Pro well suited for multimedia bezels on the phone have also been made more even this time (compared to the CMF Phone 1). They are relatively slimmer, too. Nothing has done away with the big chin we saw on Phone 1. But there is room for some more improvement. Maybe the next version will cut down on bezels even performance and outstanding battery lifeThe Phone 2 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chip. It supports up to 120fps in games like BGMI and comes with either 128GB or 256GB of storage and 8GB RAM. It runs NothingOS 3.0 based on Android 15, and Nothing promises 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches. Rounding off the package is a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging.I have been using the CMF Phone 2 Pro as my primary device which means, all my work apps, social media apps, and some gaming apps are all loaded on the device. I was switching between multiple apps, and scrolling through social media for hours, and I did not face any lag while doing all played BGMI on the phone, and as Nothing promises, you can play graphic-intensive games on the device, but I found that if you play in high graphs mode for a long time, the device is not able to sustain peak performance. That said, over the CMF Phone 1, you can see visible improvement in performance here. For everyday use, which is taking calls, surfing through social media, and even multitasking, the CMF Phone 2 Pro will not the performance is a battery that's built to last. I used the phone on 5G with all the usual heavy usage I mentioned earlier, and I was easily able to get a full day's worth on a single charge. On lighter days, the battery has lasted me well over a day. A big reason for this is the optimisation in the CMF Phone 2 Pro's operating system, which is one of my favourite things about the phone. NothingOS is clean, ad-free, and very intuitive. And it's not just me — my mother-in-law used the CMF Phone 1, and she was able to pick up the UI quickly. For someone who isn't very tech-savvy and is over 60, that says a lot about the quality of work Nothing has put into it. The CMF Phone 2 Pro comes with a charger and adapter in the box More camerasThe CMF Phone 2 Pro brings a major step up over its predecessor, especially when it comes to the cameras. It now features a triple rear camera setup, including a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom (and up to 20x ultra zoom), and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens with a wide 119.5-degree field of view. For selfies, there's a 16-megapixel front camera. These upgrades put it in line with Nothing's higher-end offerings, and for the price, you're getting solid hardware on the photography camera performance of the CMF Phone 2 Pro is certainly not perfect. Low-light shots are sometimes noisy, the dynamic range could be better in some shots, and the shutter speed is a bit slow when taking portrait shots, but if you compare it to other phones in this price segment, the CMF Phone 2 Pro does well. In good lighting conditions, the phone's camera captures good details, portrait mode does decent background separation, and the colours are close to the natural tones. To make photography more fun on the CMF Phone 2 Pro, Nothing also sells interchangeable lenses that you can play around CMF Phone 2 Pro is easy to recommendOverall, despite a few minor shortcomings, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is an easy phone to recommend. As I mentioned at the start of this review, what really matters is that it gets the essentials right — and it does do that. You get reliable everyday performance, a vibrant display, and a battery that comfortably lasts over a day. With the added promise of six years of security updates, the Phone 2 Pro stands out as a solid option under Rs 20,000, especially if you're looking for a phone that can go the distance.
