CMF by Nothing has returned in style. After winning over budget-conscious users with the bold, modular CMF Phone 1, the company has now launched the CMF Phone 2 Pro in India.
Available at ₹18,999 for 8GB + 128GB and ₹20,999 for 8GB + 256GB, the new model blends polished design, clever AI, and dependable performance. But can it hold its own in the highly competitive under-₹20,000 space? Let’s find out.
Design
The Phone 2 Pro builds thoughtfully on the quirky foundation of its predecessor. It’s slimmer, lighter, and feels more refined—despite sticking to a plastic shell. Weighing 185 grams and just 7.8mm thick, it’s ergonomic and well-suited for prolonged use. CMF also brought in fresh colourways: White, Black, Orange, and Light Green.
The Orange and White have distinct finishes—glossy metallic and matte, sandstone-like textures—while the Green and Black keep it minimal. I used the Light Green version, which stood out in a low-key, stylish way.
The exposed screws and accessory ports are still here, but the beloved swappable backs are gone. Replacing them is a Universal Cover that lets users attach accessories like MagSafe wallets, lenses, or lanyards.
While it maintains some modularity, it doesn’t quite replicate the fun of switching entire back plates. For me, the Universal Cover is useful—but I still miss the tactile joy of a proper panel swap.
As for durability, the IP54 rating is a slight bump from last year’s IP52 but still trails behind rivals offering IP67 or even IP69 protection. That said, the device feels solidly built, with no flex or hollowness despite the plastic frame.
Display
Up front, there’s a flat 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED panel with Panda Glass, 120Hz refresh rate, and a staggering 3,000 nits peak brightness. It’s bright, colourful, and sharp enough to handle bright outdoor environments easily.
This time around, 10-bit colour and HDR10+ are also onboard—making video content from Netflix or YouTube feel vibrant and immersive.
You can now lock the 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and navigation, and the 480Hz touch sampling ensures lag-free inputs during fast interactions. But while the visuals shine, the single mono speaker does not. In 2025, where stereo speakers are increasingly common, the down-firing speaker here feels underwhelming and lacks depth.
Software
Running on Nothing OS 3.2 over Android 15, the software experience sticks to CMF’s clean and bloat-free philosophy. The UI retains its minimalist flair with dot-matrix fonts, monochrome icons, and a suite of 24 custom widgets for essentials like music, weather, and calendar.
The big addition is Essential Space—a smart productivity hub accessed via a button below the power key. A single press takes a screenshot, a long press starts a voice note, and a double tap opens the full feature.
It also includes AI-generated image descriptions. While it’s genuinely clever, it leans more toward productivity lovers than casual users. Personally, it didn’t change how I use my phone much—but I can see its appeal.
Performance
Under the hood, the CMF Phone 2 Pro runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Day-to-day use is smooth—app launches, switching between tasks, and general usage all feel snappy. It’s only a modest step up from the Dimensity 7300, but the optimised software makes it count.
Gaming is manageable as long as you dial down the graphics. BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile run fine at low to medium settings. Thermal control is also good, with barely any heating during extended sessions. For casual users juggling social media, browsing, and light gaming, performance holds up well.
| Test | CMF Phone 2 Pro | Galaxy A26 | Vivo T4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu v10 | 6,91,275 | 6,08,318 | 7,80,665 |
| Geekbench 6 (Single) | 1013 | 1013 | 1120 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi) | 2928 | 2932 | 3043 |
| 3DM Wild Life | 3148 | 2805 | 3924 |
| GFXBench T-Rex | 60 | 98 | 109 |
Cameras
Cameras are where this phone really delivers. You get a 50MP main camera, a rare 50MP telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultra-wide. True Lens Engine 3 helps with better photo processing. In daylight, the main sensor captures crisp, balanced shots—though sometimes a bit on the processed side.
The telephoto lens impresses with sharp detail and good background separation, even in portraits. It’s rare to see a proper telephoto shooter at this price point. The ultra-wide, unfortunately, lags behind—colors appear washed, and detail is just average.
Low-light photography is handled well by the main and telephoto lenses, with the telephoto sometimes even outperforming the primary in sharpness and contrast. The ultra-wide again struggles with soft, noisy output.
Video recording tops out at 4K 30fps on the main lens, while the ultra-wide is capped at 1080p. Lack of OIS is noticeable during movement, but colors and sharpness are on point.
The 16MP front camera performs well in good lighting, offering realistic skin tones and solid edge detection. There’s also a neat bokeh adjustment slider in portrait mode for some added control.
Battery
The 5,000mAh battery remains unchanged from the Phone 1, but with better optimisation this time, endurance improves. You can easily get a full day’s use and around six hours of screen-on time without pushing it too hard.
In our HD loop test, it clocked in at 20 hours and 15 minutes—an excellent result. Charging is handled by 33W SuperVOOC, with the brick included in the box (a rarity now). It charges to 24% in 15 minutes, 47% in half an hour, and hits full in around 1 hour and 20 minutes. It’s not blazing fast, but it’s more than serviceable.
Verdict
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is a smart refinement of the original. It doesn’t try to reinvent anything but improves where it matters. With a bright, sharp AMOLED screen, a practical telephoto camera, clean software, and a distinct design, it covers most everyday needs well.
Yes, the mono speaker, slow-ish charging, and the underwhelming ultra-wide lens are trade-offs—but they don’t overshadow the overall package.
In a crowd full of contenders like the Oppo K13, Poco X7, and Realme Narzo 80 Pro, the CMF Phone 2 Pro holds its own. If you’re looking for a stylish, reliable phone with standout features and clean software under ₹20,000, it’s well worth a serious look.
FAQs
Is CMF Phone 2 Pro waterproof?
It has IP54 splash resistance but not fully waterproof.
Does CMF 2 Pro support fast charging?
Yes, it supports 33W SuperVOOC fast charging.
Can I swap rear panels like CMF Phone 1?
No, rear panels aren’t swappable. Accessories use a universal cover.
Does it support 4K video recording?
Yes, 4K at 30fps is supported on the main sensor.
Is Essential Space useful?
It’s helpful for notes and organization but not for everyone.
