The CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers what flagships promise in a phone under ₦500k

2025 has been an exhilarating year for smartphone lovers, especially with the launch of powerful yet budget-friendly contenders like the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Nothing has found its winning formula and refined it to perfection: take what works, make everything better, and keep the price sensible.

This approach served the Nothing Phone 2 well when it polished the original’s transparent design while upgrading core features. Now, Nothing’s sub-brand applies the same philosophy to the CMF lineup. CMF is the low-cost division of the UK-based tech company that’s been quietly building a reputation with affordable but stylish personal gadgets—from smartwatches to earbuds. While cheap phones get better every year, with devices like Motorola’s $300 Moto G Power 2025 offering gorgeous designs and wireless charging, CMF goes a step further in three crucial areas: performance, cameras, and software.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro exemplifies this approach perfectly. It takes last year’s surprise hit and systematically improves every aspect that mattered: a much better camera system, brighter 10-bit display, faster processor, and added NFC—all while keeping the distinctive modular design that made the original special.

At just ₦430,000 / $279 (under $300), the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers flagship-sized specs in a budget package that’s particularly compelling for African consumers seeking innovation without the premium price tag. But can this methodical approach to improvement translate into real-world performance in diverse markets? Let’s find out.

Key Specs: Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro

• Starting price: £219 / $279 / ₦430,000
• Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED, 120Hz adaptive
• Cameras: 50MP main, 50MP 2x telephoto, 8MP ultrawide, 16MP selfie
• Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB / 256GB, expandable up to 2TB
• Battery and Charging: 5,000 mAh, 33W wired
• Operating system: Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.2
• Water/dust resistance: IP54
• Weight: 185 grams
• Colours: Black, white, orange, light green

Design and Display

The CMF Phone 2 Pro doesn’t stray far from the visual identity of its predecessor, and that’s a smart choice. The exposed screws are back, along with the corner Accessory Point, now a bit slimmer and less obtrusive. The overall design still leans toward the functional and modular, but it feels more refined this time around.

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Build-wise, it’s lightweight at 185 g and impressively slim at 7.8 mm—even with a 5,000 mAh battery inside. The plastic back has a textured finish that varies by color: the Black and Light Green options aim for a frosted glass-like look, while the Orange version has a metallic tone and the White uses a panelled sandstone texture. You don’t just get different colours—you get different tactile finishes. And no, the back isn’t meant to be popped off like last time. Attempting to do so could damage the IP54 rating, which is an upgrade from the IP52 of the previous model.

Instead, the modularity now comes through a new universal cover system that supports attachable accessories like lenses and lanyards. It’s a shift in how Nothing is thinking about modular design—more focused, arguably more useful.

The button layout remains familiar, with the volume rocker on the left and power on the right, but there’s now an extra programmable button, the Essential Key. The front is nearly all screen, thanks to a slightly thinner chin bezel and a flat panel framed by a subtle chamfered edge, which makes edge swipes feel more natural.

That display is one of the phone’s biggest strengths. You’re looking at a 6.77-inch AMOLED with 1080 × 2392 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 10-bit colour. The jump from 8-bit to 10-bit is a real visual improvement—gradients are cleaner, colours are more accurate, and the screen looks far better overall. Peak brightness hits 3,000 nits, which is a noticeable step up from the 2,000 on the first CMF phone. It holds up outdoors, even under harsh sun, and it’s one of the brightest panels you’ll find in this price range.

There’s also Panda Glass on top—a more affordable alternative to Gorilla Glass. It should help with scratches, but it’s not invincible. There’s a screen protector pre-applied and a TPU case in the box if you want to play it safe.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro keeps the same practical style that worked before, but refines it with smarter materials, better durability, and a significantly improved display. 

Performance (Gaming, Audio, Storage)

The CMF Phone 2 Pro runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro, a 4nm chip paired with 8GB of RAM, and the performance reflects that. Multitasking is smooth, apps open quickly, and day-to-day tasks don’t feel like a chore. You’re looking at a setup that handles casual use effortlessly and still keeps up when you throw in something more demanding.

In gaming, the phone holds its own. Titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty play fine on medium to high settings without major stutters. Genshin Impact is a bit of a stretch—you’ll need to drop to the lowest graphics preset to hit a consistent 30fps—but even that’s notable for a phone in this price range. Thermal management helps too. After extended sessions, it stays warm but not uncomfortably hot.

As for the chip upgrade, Nothing says it delivers 10% better processing and a 5% bump in graphics compared to the previous model. The difference shows more in benchmarks than real use, but that’s typical. Most users won’t feel a drastic change unless they’re jumping between demanding tasks constantly.

Audio is a bit underwhelming. There’s still just one speaker, and while it’s clear enough for calls or casual YouTube watching, the sound leans thin and lacks depth. It’s functional, but not what you’d turn to for immersive playback. Maybe it’s a subtle nudge toward picking up Nothing’s earbuds.

Storage is generous: you can go for either 128GB or 256GB, and both come with the same 8GB RAM. For anyone who needs extra room, there’s a microSD card slot that supports up to 2TB—rare even on pricier phones. And yes, the addition of NFC is a welcome one. You can finally tap to pay using Google Wallet, which wasn’t possible on the first CMF model.

All in all, the phone is fluid in everyday use, decent in gaming support, and has enough space to keep everything you need.

Cameras (Selfie, ultrawide, low-light, main)

This is where CMF made the biggest leap. Last year’s model had just one solid camera; now you get three that actually pull their weight: a 50MP main shooter, a 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide. No gimmicky depth sensors this time.

The main camera uses a large 1/1.56-inch sensor, which is rare in this price range. That extra size gives it an edge in low-light shots and helps create a natural background blur when you’re up close. It handles most situations reliably and is your best bet for clear, balanced photos, even for macro shots.

The telephoto lens is a nice touch. At 2x optical zoom, it gives you tighter framing for portraits or details without stretching the image. It kicks in by default when you switch to Portrait mode, and the results look clean with less distortion than you’d get from the wide main lens. You can digitally zoom up to 6x, though image quality starts to dip past 4x.

One thing to note: the camera app tends to default to the main lens for close-ups, even when the telephoto might be a better fit. If you’re trying to force that look, Expert mode gives you more control.

The ultrawide doesn’t hold up as well. It’s usable in good light, but details get lost, and images can look soft or overly processed. At night, it really struggles—so for shots you care about, it’s better to stick with the main sensor and just step back.

Up front, there’s a 16MP selfie camera. It’s fine for casual use, and portrait mode here feels more polished than in earlier Nothing or CMF phones.

For video, the main and telephoto cameras can shoot in 4K at 30fps, while the ultrawide tops out at 1080p. The selfie cam also does 1080p, but goes up to 60fps. Stabilisation isn’t flagship-grade, but for everyday clips and social posts, it’s good enough.

Overall, this setup brings a level of versatility you don’t often see on budget phones. It’s not perfect, but the step up is hard to miss.

Battery life and Charging

The CMF Phone 2 Pro sticks with the same battery and charging setup as the last model: a 5,000 mAh battery paired with 33W wired charging. On paper, Nothing says it should now last about an hour longer than before, thanks to software-level power efficiency. But in independent testing, it actually outperformed that claim. On the PCMark battery test, it ran around two hours longer than the original CMF Phone.

In day-to-day use, the battery still delivers solid performance. You’re looking at a full day of use without stress, and in many cases, ending the day with 30 to 40 percent left. If you’re not pushing it hard, stretching it into a second day is entirely doable.

Charging is decent, not blazing fast but comfortably quick. With a third-party charger, the phone might get to nearly 60% in about 30 minutes. There’s no charger in the box unless you’re buying it in India, but a USB-C cable with CMF’s signature orange touch is included. If you’re going for the full matchy-matchy setup, the brand’s own 65W GaN charger is available, though it costs an extra £39, which feels steep next to the phone’s $279 price tag.

There’s still no wireless charging, but that’s not unusual in this price range. Only a few phones, like the Moto G Power, offer that at this level, and it’s more the exception than the rule. Overall, battery life here feels reliable and efficient, especially for anyone who needs something that just keeps going without constant top-ups.

Software 

One of the standout things about the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the software: simple, clean, and refreshingly light. It runs on Nothing OS 3.2, a customised version of Android 15 that feels more considered than most skins in this price range. The design is deliberately minimal, with options to turn icons monochrome, and a set of customisable widgets that actually feel useful instead of just flashy.

There’s no preloaded junk. No random games, no third-party apps you didn’t ask for. That’s still rare in the premium budget space, where brands often cut corners by stuffing in bloatware. So if you care about a tidy, distraction-free interface, that’s a win.

A newer feature here is Essential Space, tied to a physical Essential Key on the side of the phone, first seen on the Nothing Phone 3a. Press it, and it opens up a place to store screenshots, voice notes, and clippings. The idea is to let AI sort and surface things like reminders, task lists, or key info from what you save. It works well for quick memos, and voice note transcription is surprisingly fast. But if you’re hoping to sync any of that with your laptop or tablet, you’re out of luck for now—it’s locked to the phone.

Still, for a budget phone, long-term support matters just as much. CMF is promising three years of Android updates and six years of security patches. That easily puts it ahead of most rivals at this price, and gives the phone a longer runway than what Motorola or even Infinix currently offer.

The software’s not perfect. The app organisation could use more flexibility. Moving icons around one by one is tedious, and it’s strange how that’s still a thing in 2025. But overall, if you’re after a clean interface, some smart features, and updates you can count on, this phone checks those boxes easily.

A single press to the Essential Space Key remembers everything, except how to share it.

Accessories

CMF has simplified its approach to accessories this time. The wallet and kickstand are now combined into one magnetic attachment, and there’s still a lanyard that connects via the phone’s corner Accessory Point.

New this year is a modular lens kit featuring fisheye and macro adapters, sold together for £35. These attach through the Universal Back Plate, which adds lens threading and MagSafe-style magnets. That plate is required for all magnetic accessories, including third-party ones, though wireless charging isn’t supported.

The lenses add some versatility to the camera system, even though there’s no included pouch for carrying them. Accessories from the original CMF Phone aren’t compatible with the Phone 2 Pro, and back plates aren’t interchangeable either.

Availability is another limitation. Nothing currently doesn’t sell these accessories in the US, with official stock limited to the UK and Europe.

Alongside the phone, CMF introduced three wireless earbuds. The Buds 2 ($59) offer 48dB ANC, Spatial Audio, and up to 55 hours of battery. The Buds 2 Plus ($69) steps up to 50dB ANC, LDAC audio, and 61.5 hours of battery life. For basic needs, the Buds 2a ($49) include 42dB ANC and a 35.5-hour battery total. All models are water-resistant and come in a mix of grey, green, blue, and orange.

Pricing & Availability

In Nigeria, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is selling for around ₦430,000 for the 128GB model and up to ₦600,000 if you’re going for the 256GB option. It’s already showing up through online vendors and some authorised retailers, though you’ll likely spot it through importers first.

Now, about that charger. Officially, the phone ships with a 33W fast charger, USB-C cable, case, and screen protector, but that’s mostly guaranteed if you’re buying it in India. In other markets, including Nigeria, what you get in the box really depends on who you’re buying from. Some units still ship without the charger, which might explain why CMF’s separate 65W GaN charger is floating around for about £39. Whether that’s worth it is up to you, but it’s something to consider.

As for accessories like the modular add-ons (back plates, wallet clips, or screw-on lenses) those are still hard to find locally. CMF is entering African markets slowly, and the accessory ecosystem hasn’t quite caught up here. If you’re eyeing the full setup, just know you might have to look beyond your usual stores.

Should you buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro?

Yes, if what you want is a phone that looks good, runs smoothly, and doesn’t waste your time or money.

You get a bright 120Hz AMOLED display, solid daily performance from the Dimensity 7300 Pro chip, and a clean, responsive OS with three years of Android updates. It also throws in extras like a 2x telephoto lens, NFC, and microSD support—rare for the price.

Battery life is dependable, fast charging is there, and some markets include a charger, but not all, so it’s worth confirming. The modular accessories are fun but still hard to find in Nigeria and similar regions.

Low-light photos aren’t great, audio is average, and the IP54 rating covers splashes, not full protection.

But when you weigh the specs, design, and long-term support, it stands out. If you’re not locked into a brand and just want something fresh that works, this is a strong pick.