Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro is now available in India
Overall, the CMF Phone 2 Pro feels like a phone cleaning up last year’s mistakes rather than redefining the segment.
After winning fans last year with the CMF Phone 1’s fresh looks and strong value, Nothing’s budget-friendly sub-brand is back with the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
Launching in India at ₹18,999 ($223), the CMF Phone 2 Pro tries to refine what worked in the first model while patching up a few complaints. But whether it’s enough to really stand out in a crowded field of sub-₹20K (sub-$230) phones is another story.
On first impressions, the design is a win. It's the slimmest CMF phone yet at 7.8mm, and the light-green colourway is genuinely eye-catching without feeling like a gimmick. Plus, Nothing finally put a 33W charger in the box, fixing one of the biggest criticisms from last year — something brands like Xiaomi and Motorola still sometimes skimp on even in this price range.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro's performance is solid too. Its MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chip keeps things smooth for daily apps and games like BGMI, but it’s not a big leap over the Phone 1’s Dimensity 7300 chip. Phones like the iQOO Z9, powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset, edges out slightly in raw performance and at a lower price point.
On paper, the CMF Phone 2 Pro's triple-lens camera setup (50MP main + telephoto sensors) sounds impressive. But in practice, the story’s mixed. Daylight shots might look sharp enough, but selfies still suffer from over-smoothing, and low-light photography feels flat compared to something like the Realme Narzo 70 Pro. The good news though, is Nothing has a decent track record of improving cameras over time with updates.
Meanwhile, its battery life and software are more straightforward. The 5000mAh cell easily lasts a full day, and Nothing OS 3.2 brings thoughtful features like Private Space. Plus, its three years of Android updates and six years of security patches is better than many competitors at this price, though it would’ve been nice to see longer Android version support too.
Overall, the CMF Phone 2 Pro feels like a phone cleaning up last year’s mistakes rather than redefining the segment. It’s more polished, sure — but in a market where rivals are pushing harder on performance or camera quality, this feels more like a safe bet than an exciting one.
Kelechi Edeh
