CMF Phone 2 Pro: the entry-level phone that wants to do it all… does it deliver?

Manuel R.R

📱 By Manuel Rodríguez Ramos
The Nothing & CMF Fan Hub

Being an entry-level phone in 2025 is no easy task. You’re up against Xiaomi, Motorola, Samsung, Realme… and if you’re part of the Nothing ecosystem, even your own siblings — the Phone (1) and the Phone (2a) — become direct rivals.

But CMF has decided to enter the game with personality. And it shows.

I’ve been testing the CMF Phone 2 Pro for several days, and while it’s not perfect, it offers more than enough to make it a very compelling option. Here’s what stands out — both the good and the not-so-good.

✅ What it gets right

1. Modular and unique design
No doubt about it — it stands out. The oversized camera bump isn’t just for looks; it also supports interchangeable lenses, wallet attachments, and straps, thanks to a screw-in backplate. In a sea of generic slabs, this design actually brings something fresh.

2. AMOLED display that punches above its weight
We get a 6.7-inch panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and up to 1,300 nits of peak brightness outdoors. It’s also HDR10+ certified. In short: content looks great, even in bright sunlight.

3. Surprisingly solid performance
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro keeps things smooth in everyday use, and even handles casual gaming with ease.
Here’s the best part: in a direct benchmark test against the Phone (1) and the Phone (2a), the CMF Phone 2 Pro outperformed the former, and came just behind the latter.
But most importantly, it was the most stable of the three — with no major thermal throttling or performance dips.

4. NFC — finally!
Yes, CMF has finally added NFC support. There’s a small catch: it’s only available in the European version.
To balance that, the Indian variant includes both a case and an official charger in the box — a thoughtful move to combat counterfeit accessories.

5. Optical zoom on the main camera
Two-times optical zoom at this price point? Unheard of. The 50 MP main sensor delivers solid results, while the 8 MP ultra-wide does its job. The 16 MP selfie camera also shoots at 1080p and 60 FPS — more than enough for video calls and casual content.

6. Essential Key and Essential Space
This customizable side button isn’t just a shortcut — it unlocks a smart workspace where you can take screenshots, add voice notes, get automatic transcriptions, and organize everything by category. It’s not just a gimmick — it has real potential if Nothing invests in it.

❌ What could be better

1. No stereo speakers
Disappointing, honestly. There’s only a bottom-firing mono speaker, and many cheaper phones already offer stereo audio. It feels like a missed opportunity.

2. Fast charging… isn’t that fast
The 5,000 mAh battery is fine — great, even. But charging caps at 33 W, and as expected in the EU, the phone ships without a charger. On the bright side, you do get a case and screen protector included.

3. No eSIM support
eSIM is slowly becoming a standard, even in entry-level phones. This one doesn’t have it.
That said, you do get a microSD slot supporting up to 2 TB — a rarity in 2025.

4. Selfie camera could use work
It’s okay, but tends to overly smooth skin. Portrait mode also struggles a bit with edge detection. Nothing major, but something to keep in mind.

📌 Final thoughts

The CMF Phone 2 Pro isn’t perfect. But considering its price, modular design, clean software, and extras like optical zoom and the Essential Key… it’s easy to recommend.

It’s not here to compete directly with the Phone (2a), but rather to offer a more creative, personal and — dare I say — fun alternative in the entry-level space.

Got questions or want to know more about the specs? Drop a comment in the thread or message me through the community.

Ealesy101

This was a lovely review, thanks for taking the time Manuel 👏🏼

It’s great to see it broken down into easily to follow pros and cons.

How do you see the future of CMF Accessories with Phone 2 Pro and it’s interchangeable lenses? - I would love to see more than the Fish Eye and the Macro! 👀

Manuel R.R

Ealesy101

Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the review, breaking it down clearly was the goal, so that means a lot! 🙌🏼

And yes, the interchangeable lens system is such a cool idea, but it feels like just the beginning. I’d love to see CMF go wild with it: Imagine a telephoto lens, a CPL filter for reflections, or even a low-light enhancer for night shots 👀

But here’s a thought I can’t get out of my head… What if they made a rear accessory with an extra battery + grip for mobile creators? Something like a slim camera handle that clicks right into the modular mount and adds both power and stability even a cold shoe mount on top for a mic! 🎤

There’s so much potential here. If CMF dares to dream a little bigger, this could turn into something really special 👌

Ealesy101

Manuel R.R - an entire suite of telephoto lenses would be wonderful! Making that great 50MP main sensor have an optical option for 2x, 3x, 5x, heck even a 10x would be amazing! The versatility from a Mobile Device would be awesome! 👀

I do love the idea of having accessories to make the CMF Phone 2 Pro a bit of a creator’s swiss army knife. Accessories to pair up and make a fun creator rig 🔥

Bim_T

Nice review. Myself a first time CMF / Nothing phone user. CMF phone pro 2 was really a no brainer at current price point. For everyday use (not much of a phone gamer) it ticked all the boxes. Would prefer the screen to be a tad smaller but Carl Pei mentioned their reason for this screen size on YT so more of a personal preference for myself.

Not seen any mentions of it just yet… The included silicone case doesn’t have any cutout on the bottom left corner to access the screw dial. Am I the only one that uses a case and want access to that dial to attach a stand or lanyard? Or does Nothing not expect people to use cases anymore? Maybe a design oversight?

Manuel R.R

Bim_T

I think it is because they consider that the base user of the phone in its vast majority, will never use the modular back. I hope in the future they make cases with this hole, I am the first one who misses it 😅

Bim_T

Manuel R.R - That might be correct. I don’t see myself getting the back plate or those additional lenses. Just a shame they went out to provide a free case but not thought of that. The only accessory I was thinking about getting was the screw on stand from CMF phone 1 but don’t seem to be an option at current with the case on.

adbo

Nice review Manuel! Always great to see a highly detailed written review split into concise points, and with a video to accompany it too! Thanks for sharing 🙌

Manuel R.R

adbo Thanks <3

CMF1_hacker

I always liked ya Manuel.

I read a lot about the CMF1 before buying and have a few counterpoints that might be applicable if the CMF2 is the same quality as the CMF1:

The monospeaker if fine for us as it is quite loud and we watch a fair but of streaming TV/live broadcasts (F1 as an example) and the speaker is LOUD and clear. (We don’t game or play music. Sometimes podcasts) and don’t hear a big difference between the CMF1 and a OP12.
The charging is correct (30W+) and I find that 10 mins if enough to throw on 20-30%. A full charge on my thrid-party adapter is around 35-40mins for a full charge. But with a huge battery and miser SoC, I get 10-12h SoT and two-day of usage, do I really need faster charging?
eSIM support, I travel a lot and haven’t needed it (I get global roaming with my stadard SIM - 56 days per year).
I do AGREE that the cameras were rubbish on the CMF1 until a very recent update and now they’re much better that I would expect on a £169 phone. I expect that the CMF2 is much better.

Anyhow, nice review and thanks for taking the time to write it.