CMF Phone 2 Pro Review – A Budget Phone With Surprising Camera Performance

Budget smartphones often promise a lot for a little, offering everyday functionality at a fraction of flagship prices. The CMF Phone 2 Pro, priced at $280, is the latest offering from CMF by Nothing a sub-brand known for its unique design philosophy and accessory-focused approach. While its modular accessory system faced a shaky launch, the phone still offers surprising strengths in key areas like camera performance, display quality, and battery life.

Summary Table

Design and Build Quality

The CMF Phone 2 Pro features a lightweight plastic build, which inevitably sacrifices a premium in-hand feel for affordability. While plastic construction keeps the weight down, it also means the device feels less durable compared to glass or metal smartphones.

One notable design change from its predecessor is the removal of the modular backplate. The Phone 1’s customizable panels have been replaced with a glued-on back, despite the presence of visible screws. The “light green” color variant leans more toward blue or silver, which may disappoint those expecting an accurate shade based on the name.

Modular Accessories – The Missed Opportunity

A major differentiator for the CMF brand is its focus on modular accessories. At launch, the Phone 2 Pro was set to support:

• An attachable lanyard

• Additional camera lenses (fisheye and macro)

• A universal cover for attaching items

• A magnetic wallet mount

Unfortunately, due to a manufacturing issue with the universal case essential for attaching accessories these features could not be tested at launch. This setback undermines one of the phone’s most unique selling points.

Display Quality

The CMF Phone 2 Pro is equipped with a 6.77-inch AMOLED display offering a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and an impressive peak brightness of 3,000 nits. This results in smooth scrolling, vibrant colors, and excellent outdoor visibility. The high refresh rate ensures responsive navigation, whether browsing, editing photos, or streaming content.

Camera Performance

The device boasts a triple-lens setup:

• 50MP main sensor

• 50MP telephoto

• 8MP ultrawide

For its price, the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers unexpectedly strong camera results, especially in terms of brightness. The main sensor is optimized to capture more light, making even cloudy outdoor shots appear vibrant.

However, there are trade-offs:

• Slightly soft image quality with less sharpness around edges

• Noticeable shutter delay (up to two seconds) when shooting in 50MP mode

• Default resolution set to 12MP, requiring manual adjustment for maximum detail

Despite these issues, the camera performance sits above most sub-$300 competitors.

Performance and Software

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is not a performance powerhouse but handles everyday tasks with ease. The only slowdown observed was during photography in high-resolution mode.

The phone runs on Nothing OS, which offers a clean Android experience with subtle visual enhancements like monochrome app icons. Users can easily switch back to a stock Android look if desired.

Battery Life and Charging

The CMF Phone 2 Pro houses a 5,000mAh battery, lasting around two days on moderate use. Charging is limited to 33W wired, slower than some mid-range competitors but still acceptable for the price range. Notably, the phone includes:

• NFC for mobile payments

• 5W reverse charging, useful for powering accessories like wireless earbuds

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Impressive camera brightness for the price

• High-quality AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Long-lasting 5,000mAh battery

• NFC support and reverse charging

• Affordable $280 price tag

Weaknesses

• Accessories unavailable at launch

• Soft image sharpness in photos

• Shutter delay in high-resolution mode

• Plastic build feels cheap

• Loss of modular backplate customization

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Does the CMF Phone 2 Pro support 5G?

A. Yes, it supports 5G connectivity.

Q2: Can I use the modular accessories now?

A. At launch, accessory availability was limited due to manufacturing delays. Check the official website for updates.

Q3: Is the camera good enough for social media use?

A. Yes, the camera performs well for casual photography, especially in well-lit environments, but has some sharpness limitations.

Q4: Does the CMF Phone 2 Pro have water resistance?

A. No official IP rating is provided, so caution is advised around water.

Q5: How long does it take to fully charge?

A. With 33W charging, it takes around 70-80 minutes to reach 100%.

Verdict

The CMF Phone 2 Pro is a strong contender in the budget smartphone market, offering above-average camera performance, a great display, and long battery life. Its accessory ecosystem could have made it a standout, but early manufacturing issues held it back. Still, for under $300, it delivers more than expected in key areas, making it a solid choice for value-seekers.

For More Information Click HERE