CMF Phone 2 Pro review: The best budget phone (again)

Best Prices Today: CMF Phone 2 Pro

The CMF Phone 1 was my favourite budget phone of last year, and honestly, probably my favourite budget phone ever. It’s an incredibly stylish phone with a fun modular design, which tend to be things reserved for pricey flagship devices – and not a phone that costs just over £200 or just under $200 in the US.

Now, less than a year later, its successor has landed. The CMF Phone 2 Pro has everything that made the original a hit, but it now comes with a better main camera, two new auxiliary lenses, a speedier chip, added NFC and plenty more besides.

The “Pro” moniker hints that a non-Pro model could be on the horizon, but we’ve had confirmation that this phone is the only successor. Thankfully, though, the new model doesn’t come with much of a price hike. It has an MSRP of £219, just £10 more than the original CMF Phone.

The CMF Phone 1 was already incredibly easy to recommend, and all signs point to this model being even better, but the only way to know for sure is to test it out. After living with it for almost a week, here’s everything I learned.

Nothing has stuck to the same core concept and simply made everything better

Design & Build

• Varying textures on rear panels
• 185g, Panda Glass
• Modular swappable accessories and rear casing

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a similar design to its predecessor. You still get the same Accessory Point screw in the bottom-right corner, along with the same exposed screws in similar locations across the back panel.

This is no bad thing, from a design standpoint, the CMF Phone 1 was already one of my favourites. I’m pleased to see that Nothing is leaning in the same rugged utilitarian direction for this model.

not only do you get more colour options to choose from, but you get some more variety in the way that each back feels

The most obvious change is with the cameras. The two larger lenses get their own circular aluminium-effect rings, while the ultrawide and flash unit sit on a separate elongated island. It’s not a drastic change, but it’s immediately noticeable, and it’s a clear indicator that the CMF team has put some work into the optics.

Another big change is with the finish of the rear panels. Nothing describes the Black and Light Green options as having a frosted glass-like finish with a metallic frame. Meanwhile, the Orange version has a metallic sheen, and the White option has a “panelled sandstone finish.”

So, not only do you get more colour options to choose from, but you get some more variety in the way that each back feels. You might think that it doesn’t matter which one you choose, as CMF sold the Phone 1 rear panels separately, but that’s not the case here. Instead, the exposed screws are used for attaching accessories only, likely due to the new IP rating.

I have the Light Green model in for testing, and it feels a touch more premium than the matte black CMF Phone 1 that I tested previously. It is still made from plastic, but it’s much harder to tell. While I quite liked the fingerprint-resistant matte finish of the older model, it felt like it could get scuffed up easily, and this new finish seems like it will fare better in the long term.

it feels a touch more premium than the matte black CMF Phone 1 that I tested previously

The Accessory Point cap has been slimmed down on this model, and it doesn’t stick out as much as it did on the original CMF Phone. It makes the overall look a little more cohesive, but it also makes it harder to remove. This could be a good or a bad thing. I never had trouble with the cap loosening on its own, but it’s easy to imagine that happening – the slimmer version seems like it’ll stay put much better.

Aside from the dimension change, the Accessory Point itself is unchanged. I was able to use the same lanyard accessory with both models without issue. As for the other accessories, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try them myself, but the functionality is pretty similar. Rather than a wallet and a kickstand, the two accessories have been combined, and there’s now a wallet that can act as a kickstand, of course, there’s and the aforementioned lanyard, too.

There are a couple of new accessories that have been added to the roster this year. You can now attach either a fisheye or macro lens adapter. I haven’t tried these, so I can’t speak to the quality, but the two lenses will be sold as a set for £35, and could be worth investigating if you want to add variety to your shots and can’t afford something like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

It’s worth noting that both the lenses and the wallet stand require the Universal Cover to be attached, which is a slim external cover that bolts on, adding lens threading and MagSafe-style magnets to the phone. Currently, the accessories are sold as a bundle with all the required kit.

With these big exposed screws staring at me, I couldn’t resist whipping the back off, despite Nothing’s recommendation that you leave it in place. It’s a lot harder to remove the rear casing this time, and I had to grab a spudger to separate it, but it’s way easier to get inside than your typical glued-shut glass slab. That said, I’m not confident my unit is as waterproof as it once was, as there’s some adhesive that pulls apart in the process.

Once inside, the battery is readily accessible – it’s no longer shielded under additional panelling. It’s not hot-swappable, and you’ll still need some expertise to perform the operation, but if you ever need to replace the battery, this will still be a lot easier to repair than your average handset.

The Essential Key that debuted with the Phone (3a) series has arrived here, too

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has the same button layout as the rest of the Nothing family, with the volume rocker on the left side and the lock button on the right. However, this time around, you get an extra button. The Essential Key that debuted with the Phone (3a) series has arrived here, too, and we’ll talk more about what it does later on.

When it comes to durability, I’ve already mentioned the IP54 rating, which is an improvement over the IP52 rating of its predecessor. But you also get Panda Glass on the screen, which is a more affordable Chinese-made alternative to Gorilla Glass. 

It should do a decent job at protecting the screen from scratches and cracks, but the Phone (3a) has the same glass, and I’ve already managed to make some light scratches on that, so your mileage may vary.

If you like to err on the side of caution, there’s a basic plastic screen protector applied that you can leave in place, and you also get a basic transparent TPU case for added peace of mind.

Screen & Speakers

• 6.77-inch, 1080 x 2392, OLED, 120Hz
• 3000 nits peak brightness
• Single speaker

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a slightly larger screen than its predecessor, but the difference is tiny. I think it’s mainly due to the slimmer chin bezel, but in any case, just like last year, this is a big, spacious display that’s great for watching content and gaming.

There are two key differences that make this an improvement on the older model. The first is that it now supports 10-bit colour, rather than 8-bit. This makes a big difference, not only in colour accuracy, but it also drastically reduces the appearance of colour banding when there’s a gradient being displayed.

The second change is that the screen is brighter, now boasting a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits, while the older model maxed out at 2000 nits.

almost certainly one of the best screens in this price bracket.

To be honest, I didn’t have many complaints about the screen on the original, but when viewing them side by side, the improvement is plain to see. It’s a very welcome upgrade, and almost certainly one of the best screens in this price bracket.

The display is fully flat, but there’s now a subtle chamfered trim around the edge. I’m especially pleased to see this, as the CMF Phone 1 had a tiny raised lip around the edge.

It’s a very minor change, but it’s a change for the better, and gesture controls feel much smoother when you swipe from the edge.

Unfortunately, the audio situation hasn’t really improved. You still only get a single speaker, so there’s no stereo effect. And while the sound is very clear, it lacks low-end response, so it sounds a little more tinny than I’d like. It’s far from the worst speaker around, but don’t get your hopes up.

Perhaps Nothing is angling for you to buy a pair of its earbuds.

Specs & Performance

• MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB storage

The CMF Phone 2 Pro runs on an upgraded version of the same chip that powered the Phone 1. At its core, it’s the same efficient 4nm chip, but Nothing says you can expect 10% faster processing as well as a 5% improvement in graphics performance.

The phone is available in two different configurations, both have 8GB of RAM, but you can choose either 128- or 256GB of storage. I have the larger capacity model for testing, but in terms of performance, both should deliver the same results.

It’s also worth noting that there’s a microSD card slot, which is a rare find these days. So, in any case, the storage can be expanded up to a whopping 2TB.

the change in gaming performance is slight – it’s better, but not enough to make a tangible difference.

I’d be lying if I said I could notice a difference between the two processors in real-life usage, but in benchmark scores, it’s more apparent. Indeed, as Nothing claims, the processing power has clearly been bumped up a notch, but the change in gaming performance is slight – it’s better, but not enough to make a tangible difference.

Just as I found with the previous model, day-to-day performance was perfectly adequate. The phone never feels slow, even while multitasking, and it’s only when performing a system-wide search that you can feel the difference between this and a higher-end chip. It just takes a moment longer to populate the results.

Gaming is great on less graphically intensive titles, but if you push the limits with something like Genshin Impact, you’ll need to use the lowest preset to get a stable 30fps. Still, it’s impressive that a phone this affordable can play such a demanding game in the first place, and it doesn’t get too hot in the process.

Another big change with the CMF Phone 2 Pro is that it now supports NFC, so you can make contactless payments with Google Wallet. I’m really pleased to see this, as it was one of the biggest drawbacks to the original model.

CMF Phone 2 Pro benchmarks

Cameras

• 50 Mp f/1.88 main camera
• 50 Mp f/1.85 2x telephoto
• 8 Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide
• 16 Mp, f/2.45 selfie camera

The camera system is arguably the biggest upgrade on the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Last year, we only got one usable lens on the rear, joined by a depth sensor that seemed to mostly exist for aesthetic reasons.

Now, though, there are three proper cameras: a 50Mp main, an 8Mp ultrawide and a 50Mp 2x telephoto.

It’s not just extra cameras that have been added here, the main camera has been significantly upgraded, too. It now has a 1/1.56-inch sensor, one of the largest sensors you’ll find in this price category. That means it’s much more capable in low-light conditions and can create some authentic bokeh when you get up close.

As usual, the main sensor does the heavy lifting, and if you want the best-looking shots, it’s the safest bet. It’s also the best for macro photography. That said, the telephoto lens is almost as impressive.

Personally, I would have loved to see a slightly longer reach, but 2x is just enough to give a different vibe to your shots. It’s the default lens when you switch into Portrait mode, and it looks great for that, with much less distortion than the wide main sensor. 

You also get options to digitally zoom further in Portrait mode, with 4x and 6x buttons in the UI. It’s an unexpected addition, and a useful one, but you’ll see a slight loss in quality if you zoom further.

When it comes to longer digital zooms, I found that pushing it up to around 6x yielded usable results, but any further would turn images into a pixellated mush. So, it’s not the best for super telephoto shots, but given the price, these results are nothing to sneeze at.

I really like the way close-ups look on the telephoto, the longer focal length creates some compression with smooth bokeh in the background. Unfortunately, the camera app is a little aggressive with switching to Macro mode (which uses the main lens). I found I needed to switch into Expert mode to force the phone to use the telephoto for close-ups, but the results looked great when I did.

The ultrawide camera is by far the weakest of the trio. The images lack detail with a muddied, over-processed look to them, and it only gets worse at night. Sure, it’s better than not having one, but for photos that you really care about, you should switch to the main camera and take a few steps back if you can.

The selfie camera is very decent, too. It’s not going to blow your mind with its quality, but it’s certainly good enough for a casual snap. I feel like Nothing has been working on its portrait effects lately, and they’re much more reliable and convincing than they were on previous models.

For video shooting, you can capture at up to 4K/30fps on both the main and telephoto cameras. The ultrawide is limited to 1080p/30fps, while the selfie camera can shoot 1080p at up to 60fps.

Don’t expect flagship-level stabilisation, but the CMF Phone 2 Pro does a decent enough job, especially at 1080p. For social media posts, it gets the job done nicely.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 33W wired charging
• No charge in the box

The battery and charging specs are unchanged from the previous model, which means you get an ample 5000mAh cell and 33W wired charging. However, according to Nothing, the CMF Phone 2 Pro should last for about an hour longer than its predecessor.

Presumably, this is all thanks to software-based efficiency gains. In our standard PCMark Battery Life test, the CMF Phone 2 Pro actually did a lot better than that, it kept going for about 2 hours longer than the previous model. 

if I was careful, I could make it last two days between charges

In reality, though, the battery performance felt about the same with my normal use. Most days, I’d go to bed with 40% or more charge remaining, and if I was careful, I could make it last two days between charges.

In any case, the battery will last long enough to get even the heaviest users to the end of the day.

As before, there’s no charger in the box (unless you live in India), but you do get a rather fetching Nothing-branded USB-C cable. If you like your gear to match, you could always pick up the CMF 65W GaN charger for £39, but that’s quite a pricey add-on for a £219 phone.

I used my Ugreen Nexode Desktop charger for testing, and I found the phone was able to charge up to almost 60% in half an hour. It’s not the fastest we’ve seen, but it’s certainly quick enough as not to feel like a hassle.

Software & Apps

• Nothing OS 3.2, based on Android 15
• Essential Space
• 3 years of Android updates, 6 years of security patches

The CMF Phone 2 Pro runs Nothing OS 3.2, Nothing’s latest customised version of Android 15. It’s the same software that you’ll find on the rest of the Nothing lineup, and from an aesthetic standpoint, it’s by far my favourite Android skin.

Of course, such a heavily stylised OS won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you appreciate Nothing’s hardware, I think it’s safe to say you’ll like the way the software looks, too. I love having the ability to make my apps monochromatic for a slick, minimal look.

Arguably, the best thing about this software, though, is that it’s free from bloatware

Arguably, the best thing about this software, though, is that it’s free from bloatware. That’s something almost impossible to find in this price bracket, where brands usually load up devices with junk to offset the hardware costs. Yet somehow, Nothing has managed to deliver a bloat-free experience yet again.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the one thing I really don’t like about Nothing OS is that I can’t move my apps in bulk. Nothing isn’t the only brand to lack this ability; Google Pixels are surprisingly the same, for example, but it makes keeping your homescreen organised a real chore, and I’ll keep moaning about it until the feature is added.

Nothing may introduce a paid subscription plan in the future

What’s new this time is the Essential Space (which debuted with the (3a) series), as well as the dedicated hardware button to access it. In essence, this feature allows you to collect screenshots and voice notes as way to quickly remember things. Then, AI will summarise the contents of your screenshots and automatically organise them, generate to-do lists and make them searchable.

It’s a pretty handy feature, and one I could see myself using a lot if I were a full-time Nothing phone user. However, there’s a rather large shortcoming. It’s not cross-platform, and there’s no way to access it from a desktop, so your important notes are constrained to your phone only. It might not matter to some, but for me, that’s a bit of a dealbreaker.

And that’s before we get to the cost. It’s currently completely free to use, but word on the street is that Nothing may introduce a paid subscription plan in the future. Unless the feature set is greatly expanded, I can’t imagine too many people being onboard with the paid plan. If it comes into effect, I sincerely hope the Essential Key becomes remappable.

The software support terms have been increased, too. Nothing is now promising 3 years of Android OS upgrades and 6 years of security patches, up from 2 years of Android updates and 3 years of security patches. It might not rival the latest flagship devices, but for a budget handset, these terms are very competitive, and I love to see it.

Price & Availability

The CMF Phone 2 Pro goes on sale 6 May, and it’s available via Nothing’s website to pre-order now. You’ll also be able to buy it from Amazon and other selected retail partners.

It’s launching in most regions, but if you’re in the US, you’ll only be able to access the 256GB model via the Nothing Beta Program.

The base model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will sell for £219 in the UK and €249 in Europe. The 256GB model will go for £249/€279/$279.

Two accessory bundles will be available exclusively on the Nothing website in the UK and Europe. One bundle comes with a cover, and either a wallet stand or lenses for £45 / €45, and the other bundle includes all of the above for £65 / €65.

Check out our list of the best budget phones for more options.

Should you buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro?

I loved the CMF Phone 1, and it has been the top Tech Advisor budget phone recommendation since launch. With the launch of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, Nothing has stuck to the same core concept and simply made everything better.

It costs an extra £10 (at MSRP), but that’s a small price to pay for a much better display, a faster processor and a much more versatile set of cameras. If you’re on board with the (admittedly divisive) styling – both physically and for software – and you’re looking for a phone in this price range, this is a wonderfully complete package.

Of course, it won’t be the perfect fit for everyone, and the right phone for you all depends on your priorities. If you’re a gamer and you can stretch the budget slightly, the powerful Poco F6 can currently be had for just £249, now it’s a year old. You might want the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G for class-leading software support.

Meanwhile, if you want something with more understated looks and you’re not too picky with your photos, the Motorola G85 might be a perfect fit.

For me, though, the fun modular design and quirky looks of the CMF Phone 2 Pro win out every time.

Specs

• Nothing OS 3.2, based on Android 15
• Display: 6.77-inch, 1080 x 2392, OLED, 120Hz
• Under-display optical fingerprint sensor
• MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB / 256GB storage
• Cameras:
• 50Mp main sensor
• 8Mp ultrawide
• 50Mp 2x telephoto
• 16Mp selfie camera
• Up to 4K @ 30fps rear video
• Single speaker
• Dual-SIM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 5000mAh battery
• 33W wired charging
• 164 x 78 x 7.8 mm
• IP54 certified
• 185g
• Colours: White, Black, Orange, Light Green

Best Prices Today: CMF Phone 2 Pro