Reviews
CMF Phone 2 Pro – Budget King with Telephoto Lens!
Nothing has just launched a brand-new smartphone under its sub-brand CMF by Nothing, called the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Interestingly, there is no standard CMF Phone 2 for now — perhaps it will launch later, but Nothing is starting strong with this ‘Pro’ variant.
Let’s dive into what’s new and what makes this phone a compelling choice in the budget segment.
Unboxing Experience
The CMF Phone 2 Pro comes in a brand-new lightweight paper-type box, staying eco-conscious while still feeling premium. Inside the box, you’ll find a TPU silicone case, a CMF 33W charger, Type-C charging cable, a uniquely designed CMF SIM ejector tool, and of course, the phone itself.
The first impression is quite striking — especially due to its dual-tone finish. The Orange variant, in particular, stands out with its vibrant and fresh look. Other available colors include White, Green, and Black — each with a distinct texture and finish, which adds variety for buyers.
Also notable is the return of the CMF dial knob, positioned on the lower right side, but now it’s slimmer, matching the sleek design of the phone.
Sleek and Functional Design
The CMF Phone 2 Pro features a dual-tone finish and a triple-camera setup with a stylish silver ring around the lenses. With a thickness of just 7.8mm, it’s one of the slimmest phones in its category. It weighs 185g, making it lightweight and very comfortable to hold.
The edges have been slightly curved, improving the in-hand feel significantly over the previous generation. It’s also rated IP54, offering protection against dust and light splashes.
Although the back panel isn’t easily swappable like on the CMF Phone 1, you can still customize it by unscrewing and applying a different back cover. The phone features a hybrid SIM slot, allowing you to use either two SIMs or one SIM with a microSD card (up to 2TB).
There’s a USB Type-C port that supports 33W fast charging, and the phone comes with a mono speaker. While it’s loud enough, the lack of stereo output and slightly weaker bass (compared to CMF Phone 1) might be a letdown for some.
AMOLED Display with Dynamic Refresh Rate
The CMF Phone 2 Pro sports a 6.77-inch AMOLED LTPS display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate (switching between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz). The 91% screen-to-body ratio and 2.3mm symmetrical bezels offer an immersive viewing experience.
This is the same panel found in phones like the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, protected by Panda Glass. The display supports HDR10+, 1.07 billion colors, and Always-On Display at 30Hz.
In terms of brightness:
- Peak Brightness: 3000 nits
- High Brightness Mode: 1300 nits
- Normal Brightness: 800 nits
- Touch Sampling Rate: 1000Hz
It performs well indoors and outdoors. Watching HDR videos on YouTube works perfectly with great colors and contrast.
Performance: Good, but Familiar
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro, the CMF Phone 2 Pro performs very similarly to the CMF Phone 1, which had the non-Pro version of this chip. It’s paired with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, which might feel a bit outdated for some power users.
The phone starts with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, with a higher-end 256GB variant also available.
Benchmark Scores:
- Geekbench: Single-core – 995 | Multi-core – 2919
- AnTuTu: 675,555
App opening times are fast, and general multitasking is smooth. There are no noticeable lags or stutters during normal use.
Connectivity is robust:
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
- 5G (10 bands), 4G (8 bands), 3G & 2G supported
- No NFC
Gaming: 120FPS in BGMI!
For gamers, the CMF Phone 2 Pro supports 120FPS in BGMI. In TDM mode, the performance is smooth and playable. In classic matches, especially during hot drops, performance can vary — but it’s still playable. Gyroscope performance is excellent and responsive.
The phone includes a Game Mode with Performance Mode, and more features may be added in future software updates. Other popular games also run well at medium to high settings.
Software: Nothing OS 3.2
The CMF Phone 2 Pro runs on Nothing OS 3.2, which introduces several enhancements and features:
- New Camera App with LUT support
- Red Volume Bar indicator at full volume
- Private Space for apps
- Hotspot Manager
- Lockscreen and Quick Settings Customization
- Essential Space Key for app switching
- Nothing Gallery (though missing some advanced AI editing features)
The experience is clean and fluid, with minimal bloatware. Also, unlike CMF Phone 1, this model promises 3 major Android updates and 6 years of security patches — a big improvement.
Camera Setup: Triple Lens with Telephoto
The CMF Phone 2 Pro boasts a triple-camera setup:
- Main Camera: 50MP, 1/1.57-inch sensor, f/1.88 aperture, with EIS, supports 4K@30fps
- Telephoto Lens: 50MP, 1/2.88-inch sensor, f/1.85 aperture, up to 20x digital zoom, also supports 4K@30fps
- Ultrawide: 8MP, f/2.2, supports 1080p@30fps
The telephoto lens is the standout feature and works well in daylight. However, low-light processing, especially on the telephoto lens, needs some improvement — something that can potentially be fixed via software updates.
The 16MP front camera supports 1080p@30fps and 60fps but lacks autofocus. Selfies are decent, and video recording is acceptable for social media use.
For camera samples, you can scroll through the above Twitter thread.
Battery Life & Charging
The phone comes with a 5000mAh battery, which charges fully in about 1 hour and 10 minutes as per official claims. However, in real-world usage, it takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Battery life is impressive:
- Normal Usage: 8–9 hours of screen-on time
- Heavy Usage: Around 7 hours
This includes social media use, light gaming, YouTube streaming, and occasional camera use.
Haptics and In-hand Feel
Nothing has used an X-axis linear motor for haptics, which is a big improvement over CMF Phone 1. It feels sharp and premium. Combined with the slim design and lightweight build, the phone offers an excellent in-hand feel.
The dual-tone design, updated OS, and thoughtful UI tweaks make the user experience genuinely enjoyable.
Pricing and Availability
💰 CMF Phone 2 Pro India Pricing:
- 8GB + 128GB – Rs 17,999 (after bank/exchange offers)
- 8GB + 256GB – Rs 19,999 (after offers)
🔥 Day 1 Special Offer (May 5 only):
- 8+128GB – Rs 16,999
- 8+256GB – Rs 18,999
This pricing makes it a solid contender in the sub-₹20,000 category, especially considering the display, telephoto camera, software support, and refined design.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
The CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers a solid all-around experience. You get:
- A stunning AMOLED display
- Triple-camera setup with telephoto
- Excellent in-hand feel
- 120Hz gaming in BGMI
- Nothing OS 3.2
- And long-term software support
✅ Pros:
- Slim and lightweight
- Telephoto camera at this price
- Smooth display with 1000Hz touch
- 3 major Android updates
- Improved haptics
❌ Cons:
- Same processor as CMF Phone 1
- Mono speaker
- UFS 2.2 storage
- Camera needs optimization
- Gaming frame rates could be more stable
For the price, CMF Phone 2 Pro is a very competitive offering — perfect for users wanting clean software, a premium design, and great camera versatility in a budget-friendly package.
