Rating: 8.5/10
Nothing, as a brand, is known for going the extra mile when it comes to design. The entire transparent design language of the Nothing Phone series devices and the bold design language of the Nothing by CMF devices need no introduction.
Following the same trend, Nothing has launched the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the next instalment of the Phone 1. And it is not trying to be your next flagship. It’s not selling 200MP camera tricks, it doesn’t promise four years of OS updates, and it certainly doesn’t chase design minimalism the way its cousin, the Nothing Phone series, does.
Instead, it’s attempting something both riskier and arguably more interesting: it’s asking whether a phone in the sub-Rs 25,000 segment can stand out by offering solid fundamentals and just enough unique flavour to stay memorable.
Not to forget, the Phone 1 introduced the idea of affordable modular angle and Phone 2 Pro carries it forwards with even more attachments and accessories.
I have been using the CMF Phone 2 Pro for weeks now and have tried and tested multiple accessories too, including the two new camera lenses. Here’s a detailed review of the phone:
CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Design and modular accessories
CMF Phone 2 Pro – from the front – looks like any other smartphone with relatively slimmer bezels and a punch hole for the camera at the top. The story of the design starts at the back, with all the module design language. The Phone 2 Pro’s standout feature is its interchangeable back covers. Swapping them feels oddly retro.
Remember the face changing of Nokia phones? Yes, the experience is like that and then some more with the sense of physical interaction most modern phones lack. It’s not gimmicky in the way modular phones once were — you’re not replacing parts of the hardware. You’re just refreshing the aesthetic, choosing between CMF’s colour options, each with a different finish and grip profile. Interesting idea and functional too. The best part, you don’t need to worry about breaking the back panel or using it without a cover, as you can change it whenever you want. By the way, CMF has included a back cover in the box, in case you want one.
The rotary dial on the back is also an unusual addition. CMF calls it the “Accessory Port,” and it lets you attach a lanyard, stand, or cardholder. It is a good feature to have, but not a necessity, considering that not many accessories are available at this moment. But the lanyard addition is a handy thing for older people.
In the hand, the flat edges and boxy frame offer a reassuring grip. The plastic frame and back do show fingerprints on the darker colours, but the texture helps resist smudges somewhat. It’s lighter than it looks — and that’s a win when many phones in this price segment still lean toward weighty builds.
When it comes to additional accessories, there’s a small change this year. One that might make or break the way you look at modular phones. Last year, Nothing made it possible to swap the accessories right on top of the back covers; that’s not the case anymore. Now, you have a dedicated back panel – little flimsy, but feels sturdy once placed on the back using the screws. Now, your phone is ready to handle accessories like two additional lenses. Magnetic wallet or other accessories.
I have two different takes on this. Let’s talk about the bad aspect here. The additional slab adds to the thickness of the phone. Also, the panel is white in colour and adding it creates a different visual. But, on the plus side, it enables the phone to take a lot of other accessories, like MagSafe-supported ones, and everyone knows there’s no shortage of them.
So, there’s a plus and minus, but if you can live with the additional flap for accessories, then it is mostly a plus. In fact, you can find several third-party affordable accessories for CMF Phones.
Other parts, like ports, buttons, are functional and well within reach. Nothing to complain about them.
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Display
The 6.67-inch AMOLED display is flat, bright, and calibrated well for its class. It peaks at 2,000 nits outdoors, which makes it usable even in New Delhi’s early summer sun. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate and feels smooth while scrolling. The colours are well balanced with no over-sharpening or additional vibrancy.
CMF has used a centrally placed hole-punch for the front camera, with uniform bezels that are slimmer than expected. There’s no HDR10+ certification, but Netflix and YouTube playback at Full HD looked good enough for casual binging.
Performance and software
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 is at the heart of the Phone 2 Pro. On paper, it sounds like a mid-tier chipset, and that’s alright considering it is a mid-range phone. In practice, it gets the job done, not in benchmark bragging rights, but in consistent day-to-day use. App launches are snappy, memory management is tight (especially on the 8GB RAM variant), and there’s no noticeable lag while switching between apps. The credit for Nothing’s clean user interface is due for a long time. However, it is also responsible for overall smooth user experience.
What helps here is Nothing OS 2.6, a clean, bloat-free interface that doesn’t overload you with third-party apps or unnecessary animations. CMF has borrowed much of the visual language from its parent brand — the dot matrix font, the monochrome widgets, and the minimalist icon packs are all here. But it doesn’t feel forced.
What stands out is the attention to polish. The software doesn’t try to do too much, and that ends up working in its favour. There’s no heavy skinning, no duplicate apps, and no notification spam — a rarity in this segment. The promise of two years of Android updates and three years of security patches isn’t class-leading, but it’s still competitive.
In gaming, the Phone 2 Pro handles titles like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty Mobile without major frame drops at medium settings. Genshin Impact does strain the phone, but that’s to be expected in this price range. You can still play the game provided you tone down the settings a bit. Thermals are well-managed; even under extended gaming, the phone stays warm but not uncomfortably hot.
Audio is one place the Phone 2 Pro cuts corners. There’s no stereo speaker setup — just a single bottom-firing driver that gets loud but lacks depth. It’s serviceable for calls and alarms, but music sounds tinny, and games feel less immersive without stereo separation.
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Camera performance
Phone 2 Pro isn’t a slouch either when it comes to camera. The phone comes with an 8MP ultra wide sensor with 119.5 degree FOV, a 50MP main sensor with 24mm focal length and phase detection autofocus and there’s a telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom. There’s a 16MP front camera as well.
In daylight, it captures crisp shots with decent dynamic range. Colour science is tuned to be slightly warm, but not overly processed or saturated. Shadows retain detail, skies don’t blow out, and objects in the foreground stay sharp. This is some really good dynamic range handling.
Low-light performance is acceptable too. There’s a noticeable drop in sharpness, and while Night Mode helps recover some detail, it can’t mask the noise or the lack of optical stabilisation. However, the photos overall are more than acceptable with a good amount of colours, saturation and details.
Portrait mode works well too. Though the edge detection could have been slightly better in low light conditions, it is more than enough for most needs. And, most users won’t complain.
The selfie camera holds its own — skin tones look natural in most lighting conditions, and the processing isn’t too aggressive. However, HDR kicks in too late in backlit scenes, and indoor shots tend to soften detail.
There’s 4K recording support at 30fps on the rear camera, though it lacks the dynamic range of higher-end phones. The footage looks fine for casual clips but struggles with motion smoothing.
Battery life and charging
The phone is backed by a 5000mAh battery. This might feel a little small in the sea of 7000mAh phones, but the phone lasts a full day — and then some in a single charge.
With screen-on time averaging 6 to 7 hours, and a mixed usage pattern (WhatsApp, camera, Spotify, a bit of YouTube, and light gaming), the Phone 2 Pro can comfortably push into a second day with moderate use. Standby drain is minimal — the battery sips power overnight, losing just 1–2%, which speaks to how well the software is optimised.
Charging is handled via a 33W USB-C charger, which takes the phone from 0 to 100 in just under 80 minutes. Nothing has also bundled the charger in the box.
Verdict
Revolutionary? No. Evolutionary? Yes.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is not trying to revolutionise the smartphone category. But in a crowded segment where phones are often defined by spec-sheet one-upmanship, this one leans into refinement, simplicity, and a few playful ideas.
The interchangeable back covers and accessory dial are unlikely to define how you use the phone day-to-day, but they give it character. The display is better than most competitors, the performance is stable, and the software experience is arguably among the cleanest you’ll find under Rs 25,000.
It doesn’t try to do everything — there’s no ultra-wide camera, no IP rating, no stereo speakers. But what it does, it mostly does right.
If you value clean software, good battery life, and a design that stands out without trying too hard, the Phone 2 Pro is worth considering. Just be clear on what you’re signing up for: it’s a mid-range phone that bets on fundamentals, not frills.
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