CMF Phone 2 Pro review in 5 points: Meaningful upgrades over CMF Phone 1 make it an easy recommendation

India Today

22-05-2025

Phones under Rs 20,000 often make many compromises. The CMF Phone 2 Pro makes a few, too, but it still gets the basics right (meaning that it has a good display, clean software, dependable battery life, so on and so forth), while putting in a few extras that together make it a strong contender in its price range. I tested the CMF Phone 2 Pro for two weeks and I believe that it is one of the most well-rounded smartphones you can get below Rs 20,000 today. You can read our full review of the CMF Phone 2 Pro here. Here, we give you a more concise take on why it could – and should – be your next smartphone.advertisementCMF Phone 2 Pro: Key specificationsBefore I summarise my experience with the CMF Phone 2 Pro, here is a quick look at the key specifications of the smartphone.Display: 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000nits peak brightness
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 ProStorage and RAM: 8GB RAM, up to 256GB storageRear camera: 50-megapixel primary sensor, 50-megapixel telephoto lens (2x optical zoom and up to 20x ultra zoom), 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens with a 119.5-degree field of viewSelfie camera: 16-megapixelBattery: 5,000mAh with 33W fast charging supportOS: NothingOS 3.0 based on Android 15
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CMF Phone 2 Pro review in 5 points-Design and ergonomicsNothing says that the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the slimmest phone it has made so far. At 7.8mm, its sleek profile stands out. The phone is light and easy to handle even with one hand. Basically, it is a big-screen phone that doesn't feel bulky.Nothing sent us the mint green variant, which is a nice departure from the usual colour palette we typically see in this price range, and the shimmer finish adds a playful touch while maintaining a premium quality.The signature back panel design of the CMF Phone 1 is continued on the CMF Phone 2 Pro with screws and a small dial to attach accessories. However, swappable panels are no longer part of the product offering.-DisplayThe CMF Phone 2 Pro's display is quite bright, which means you will never find yourself struggling with legibility even under direct sunlight. The display's colours are punchy, and scrolling or gaming feels smooth and responsive. Compared to the CMF Phone 1, bezels on the CMF Phone 2 Pro have been trimmed down, and the large bottom chin is almost gone. There is room for some more refinement, but this screen is among the best you'll get in this segment.advertisement-Performance and UIPowered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset, the CMF Phone 2 Pro can handle day-to-day tasks like calling, multitasking, and social media, effortlessly. Even with heavy use, the phone does not lag while switching between multiple apps.Gaming on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is also mostly fine, though the phone struggles a bit in sustaining peak performance during particularly with demanding titles.What really stands out, just like all Nothing phones, is the clean and ad-free software. The CMF Phone 2 pro runs NothingOS 3.0, which is based on Android 15. It is intuitive and easy to get used to. Even my 60-year-old mother-in-law had no trouble adapting to it. Nothing promises three years of Android updates and six years of security patches.
-Battery performanceThe CMF Phone 2 Pro has excellent battery life. I regularly got a full day of use even with 5G and heavy usage. On lighter days, it could stretch even beyond a day. Nothing's software optimisation plays a big role here, and it shows in how it performs in the real world. This is a phone you can depend on to keep up with your routine without hunting for a charger towards the end of the day.advertisement-The debut triple-camera setupThe CMF Phone 2 Pro's camera is a major upgrade. The company has debuted a triple camera system on the CMF-branded phone with the Phone 2 Pro. And the phone is able to largely deliver on the hype it created around it. Photos come out sharp, with accurate colours and decent background blur in portrait mode when you give it lots of light. Low-light shots aren't perfect (you can notice some noise and dynamic range doesn't go very wide) and the shutter can be a bit slow. Regardless, it performs better than most phones in this range. Nothing also offers swappable lenses for those who want to experiment a bit more with photography.CMF Phone 2 Pro: Quick verdictThe CMF Phone 2 Pro feels like a sensible step up from its predecessor. It does not overwhelm you with gimmicks. Instead, it focuses on the things that matter – display, performance, battery, and usability. At a starting price of Rs 18,999, and the promise of long-term software support, the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers great value for money. If you are looking for a dependable daily driver that also looks good, it should be on your list.