CMF Phone 2 Pro: Nothing squanders an opportunity

The CMF Phone 2 Pro is the global successor to the CMF Phone 1, originally only intended for India. It now supports NFC worldwide, while eSIM is only available in Japan. Positive features include expandable storage via microSD and the bright OLED display with good color reproduction, even if the PWM frequency is less than ideal at low brightness.

The triple camera provides optical zoom, but comes without optical image stabilization. The front camera is solid, but somewhat limited when recording videos. The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300, which delivers decent performance but can falter under more demanding apps. The battery life is impressive and easily lasts for two days. Other plus points include good biometric security, a reliable haptic motor and a wide range of Bluetooth codecs. The software is based on Android 15 with NothingOS 3.2 and is expected to receive six years of updates.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a modern plastic casing with visible screws, but is less modular than its predecessor. While the screws can be removed, the back is not designed to be removed or replaced, which is a step backwards compared to the CMF Phone 1. It would have been more practical to make the battery removable or perhaps even the camera modules. That said, we would have liked to see Nothing show more initiative in matters of sustainability here.

Nevertheless, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a solid mid-range smartphone with a strong overall set of features, even if it makes compromises in some areas.