CMF Phone 2 Pro Long-Term Review: Still the Best Budget Phone Today?

For many, be it the consumer or the brand, their first smartphone sets the rhythm and raises the bar about what to expect from their future products. In Nothing's sub-brand CMF's case, it was the CMF Phone 1 that put the brand on the map. The smartphone came out with one goal, and that is to bring back the modularity while getting the core smartphone functionality right.

But unlike most modular phones of the past, CMF Phone 1's "modularity" was strictly cosmetic, a limitation Nothing seems to have recognised. The CMF Phone 2 Pro attempts to course-correct by giving users more phone and less toy, but does the trade-off succeed? I've been using the CMF Phone 2 Pro for six months now, and here is my review.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Unboxing

Before we get started, let's look at the box contents of the CMF Phone 2 Pro:

Unlike the first iteration, which lacked a charger, which was a significant setback for an affordable smartphone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro addresses this. The CMF Phone 2 Pro not only includes a charger but also a decent-quality silicone case.

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Design and Build

The first prominent change from the original CMF Phone was noticeable as soon as I held the Phone 2 Pro in my hand for the first time. The Phone 2 Pro has gone on a diet at 7.8 mm and 185 grams, making it the slimmest phone Nothing has ever put out. The signature dial on the bottom corner protrudes less, making the in-hand feel significantly better.

And here's where we arrive at the trade-off. The "fun" modularity has been nerfed, which is that you can no longer rip the entire back cover off. Instead, CMF uses a Universal Cover system where you remove the screws to attach specific accessories like a lanyard, wallet stand or interchangeable lenses.

While the Orange and Lightgreen colourways are great, the modularity feels more restricted. The buttons have also been downgraded to plastic (vs metal on the CMF Phone 1), but the IP rating sees a bump to IP54. That said, in the six months I spent using the phone, I could not care less about the modularity aspect as it's nothing to write home about.

Sure, the lenses and the lanyard were tempting, but they aren't something that I could see myself using. If anything, I took them as inconveniences and hindrances in my daily experience. Perhaps Nothing should've actually listened to the feedback around a removable and swappable battery. That alone would've made the phone a true modular smartphone. But it is what it is.

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Display

The CMF Phone 2 Pro packs similar display specifications to the Nothing Phone (3a) series. In our testing, the phone doesn't quite reach 3,000 nits which is the  claimed peak brightness, but it did hit 2,120 nits under direct sunlight. Still, using the display outdoors was a flawless experience. There were times when I set the brightness to maximum and accidentally turned the phone on during bedtime. It felt nothing less than a mini flashbang.

 In the six months of comprehensive usage, I put the phone through its paces both usage-wise and physically, and the exterior held up well. The display has a few scuffs and minor scratches here and there, but it's worth noting that they appeared after I recently removed the pre-applied screen protector.

This means the display is quite prone to scratching, and Panda Glass isn't at the level of Gorilla Glass. Therefore, we'd recommend sticking to the pre-applied screen protector or investing in a good-quality tempered glass.

As for the display quality itself, it ticks most of the boxes. The colours are punchy, the details are crisp, and the bezels are much slimmer. It's all surprisingly good for a budget smartphone.

The compromise, though, lies in the speakers as the phone sports only a single bottom-firing unit. The "150% ultra volume" marketing just doesn't cut it for me, and the content consumption experience via the speakers was subpar. 

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Performance Tested

Under the hood lies a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro. In our testing, the processor scored 646,248 points in AnTuTu, suggesting a marginal improvement over the CMF Phone 1. However, it's still noticeably behind the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 found on the Nothing Phone (3a). That said, the chipset and the phone do shine in real-world optimisation.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro is capable of handling BGMI at 120 FPS and CoD: Mobile at 90 FPS, which is impressive for its segment. Genshin Impact, too, runs at playable 40-45 FPS on highest settings. Thermally, the phone stayed cool, hitting just 37 degrees after benchmarks, thanks to the built-in Liquid Cooling system.

All in all, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a capable smartphone for gaming, but it's not a solid performer by any means. Try to push it further, and it will lose all its steam. Therefore, if you do a lot of casual gaming, the Phone 2 Pro could work, but for high-intensity, heavy gaming, there are alternatives.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Camera Review

The CMF Phone 2 Pro's 50 MP telephoto camera is a highlight on paper as it's quite rare in this segment, but how does it perform? Before we get to that, the main sensor performs well. It has that signature warm Nothing look to it with good dynamic range, slightly contrasty tone and slight oversharpening all across, but the images are very respectable for its price.

However, while the telephoto upgrade makes it look like a steal for its segment, it lacks OIS and therefore suffers from the same issue as we mentioned in our Nothing Phone (3a) review. The images are susceptible to shakes in challenging lighting conditions, and are borderline unusable in dark conditions unless you use a tripod. Generally, though, the daytime images are sharp, dare we say sharper than the Phone (3a) in some instances. 

The ultrawide is serviceable, but just like the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro, it lacks details. The colours are surprisingly good thanks to Nothing's TrueLens engine, but I did not see myself using the ultrawide that often. The performance of both the Telephoto and Ultrawide is similar to that of Phone (3a), which you can check out in our Phone (3a) review.

The front camera took decently sharp pictures, but it was pretty evident that it's not as sharp as the 32 MP snappers on the Phone (3a) series. The images have the same red-ish tone, a bit of saturation and boosted contrast. Again, the images are okay-ish but they won't blow you away.

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Software

Had I reviewed the Phone 2 Pro a month later, I would've straight-up rated the software experience a 7. However, I rate it an 8.5 now because the damage is yet to be done. As of writing this, the Phone 2 Pro runs Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, and it offers a clean, bloatware-free experience (so far).

I've only sung praises for Nothing OS's minimal design and unique experience so far, until Nothing OS 4.0 landed for the Phone (3a) series, which will soon also make its way to the CMF Phone 2 Pro. The release brings Glance ads and bloatware apps to Nothing and CMF's budget smartphones, which is a step in the wrong direction.

While the apps and services will be uninstallable, and Glance can be disabled, it goes against the firm's initial promise of a clean, bloatware-free experience. However, the overall experience should remain fairly clean compared to the competition, and in the price segment.

Overall, the Phone 2 Pro still has one of the most desirable and clean Android experiences that you can get in its segment, and oftentimes, the rest of the features feel like bonuses. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is promised three major updates and 6 years of security patches, which is ample for a smartphone in its segment. So, kudos to Nothing there.

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Battery and Charging

The battery on the Phone 2 Pro is reliable. Even after heavy usage and 3+ hours of screen-on time, we had 37% left in the tank. In most cases during regular usage, I was able to end my day with 20% battery remaining, which is pretty great. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is no marathon runner, but it's no sprinter either. It walks the walk, gently and easily.

In general, you can expect around  6 to 7 hours of screen-on time by the end of the day. The 33W charger included in the box tops the phone up from 0-100% in about 1 hour and 15 minutes, which is a little slow but not bad at all.

CMF Phone 2 Pro Review: Should you buy it?

The Nothing Phone (3a) was a device with calculated compromises, and that cannot be truer with the CMF Phone 2 Pro. It almost feels as if Nothing took the Phone (3a), stripped the transparent back for a colourful, "modular" look and removed a few other features to bring the cost down to Rs 17,499. It feels like a smartphone that was stripped of features, not something that was built from the ground up, in a good way.

It's not as good as the Phone (3a), but if your budget is strictly below Rs 18,000, the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers things that only a few smartphones provide, i.e., a telephoto lens, 120 Hz gaming experience and an incredibly clean software experience. Just be prepared to live without OIS and stereo sound. All in all, the CMF Phone 2 Pro could be a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a good budget smartphone.