The recently launched CMF Phone 2 Pro is a budget smartphone that aims to deliver premium features at an affordable price. Priced under $300 (and under Rs 20,000 in India), it offers a unique modular design, a vibrant AMOLED display, and a clean software experience.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is one of the rare devices in its segment that offers an optical zoom telephoto lens. I have been using the CMF Phone 2 Pro for nearly a month now, and here is my comprehensive review. The guide will be enough for you to conclude the gadget.
CMF Phone 2 Review: What’s good about the New Phone?
Starting with the good part of the phone, the CMF Phone 2 carries a similar modular design to the CMF Phone 1. However, the design has been polished so much so that it feels very comfortable to hold in hand, even for a longer duration.
The device is also light, as it weighs around 185g. However, this comes at a cost; the back panel cannot be replaced anymore. And per me, this is a good let go, as in-hand feel is something that should typically matter more than changing the case every day.
You do get a universal back cover, using which one can attach and use a dedicated macro lens and some accessories to the device. Though there is no official word on the availability of these accessories yet.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro carries the same display as the expensive Nothing Phone (3a). You get a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with up to 1300-nits of HBM (High Brightness Mode) and up to 3000-nits of peak brightness. There’s the support of a 120Hz refresh rate as well. And yes, you do get the symmetrical bezels around the panel. The display is, no doubt, very good. The colors are nice, and the outdoor brightness is good.
That said, to achieve symmetrical bezels, the brand had to settle for thicker borders overall. As a result, all four sides of the display end up with chunky bezels. I think they could have skipped the symmetry and gone for slimmer bezels on three sides, even if it meant keeping a slightly thicker chin. But hey, that’s just a design choice in the end.
The NothingOS 3.2 is another positive side of the CMF Phone 2 Pro. It’s clean, fast, and reliable. The animations are nice, and there is almost a negligible amount of issues in the software. However, just like its elder brothers, there’s a lack of some core software features and multi-tasking features. But in this segment, the software is an easy plus.
The Phone 2 Pro packs a 5,000mAh battery, which might seem modest now that we’re seeing insane 7,000mAh beasts in this segment. But here’s the thing: this phone absolutely nails battery optimization. Even with heavy gaming, I consistently pulled over 8 hours of screen-on time.
So, unless you’re comparing it to those battery monsters, the CMF easily stays at the top when it comes to efficiency.
What’s not so good about the CMF Phone 2 Pro?
Let’s talk about the performance first. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset. While there is a ‘Pro’ in the name, the chipset is exactly the same as Dimensity 7300 with no hardware changes whatsoever. The company says that they are calling it ‘Pro’ because of the better integration between Nothing and MediaTek.
While the chipset is good for someone who does not game a lot on their device, it falls short when it comes to performance-intensive tasks. During my usage, there was a considerable amount of lag while using the camera for a longer duration. The gaming is not something its best part either.
I took the Phone 2 Pro for a spin with BGMI (India’s PUBG Mobile), and here’s the deal: any phone can handle the game smoothly if you’re just looting or wandering around. And as a regular player, avoiding intense fights isn’t an option, and a real test of the device happens only when you engage in fights, as those are the situations where the processor has to go through tons of renders and server load.
During team clashes, I noticed noticeable frame skips and jitters, even on Smooth + 60 FPS settings. Sure, the phone technically supports 90 FPS and even 120 FPS gaming, but trust me, you’re better off sticking to 60 FPS if you want a playable experience.
Another not-so-good thing about the device is its microphone and speaker quality. It has a single bottom-firing speaker, and it’s not up to the mark. There’s a 150% volume mode in the system, but instead of making things better, it makes it even worse. The microphone also does not work up to the mark especially when you are under the fan or in a noisy environment.
Now coming down to the cameras, it has a triple rear camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 50-megapixel 2X zoom telephoto lens. Sure, the cameras are very versatile, but the optimization is subpar. Before anything, the lack of OIS is quite visible. The night images come out to be pretty useless.
Ones captured in the daylight are good, but there are several issues like highlight control and exposure management. And yes, this is the experience after a supposedly major update was rolled out to the device. In my opinion, they could’ve skipped the telephoto and included an OIS in the main lens and worked on polishing the overall camera system. You can read the full camera review of the device here:
CMF Phone 2 Pro Camera Review: It’s Not What You Are Expecting
The CMF Phone 2 Pro supports 33W fast charging, but the experience is underwhelming. The device adheres to the PPS charging protocol, which is overly aggressive with temperature management.
As a result, the charging speed dips noticeably just minutes after you plug it in. A full charge can take up to 1 hour and 50 minutes, sometimes even stretching to 2 hours. So while the battery life itself is decent, the sluggish charging speed really lets it down.
Final Verdict
The CMF Phone 2 Pro has solid hardware, but it’s one of the most puzzling budget phones I’ve used. The camera setup is capable, but is let down by poor software optimization. The chipset isn’t particularly powerful either. Battery life is decent, but charging speeds are frustratingly slow. It’s a mixed bag – one step forward, one step back – making it hard to pinpoint who this phone is really for.
That said, if you’re a fan of NothingOS and its clean, bloat-free experience, and you’re willing to overlook these compromises, the Phone 2 Pro might still be worth considering.
PROS
- Good software experience for the price.
- Display is vibrant, colorful, and fast.
- The modular build quality gives it a unique look. It is comfortable to hold as well.
- Good battery optimization.
CONS
- Inconsistent camera performance with lacklustre highlight control and HDR.
- Lack of OIS can be bothersome.
- Gaming performance is not up to the mark.
- Mediocre charging speed.
CMF Related:
- Does CMF Phone 1 have NFC Support?
- CMF Phone 2 Pro Camera Review: It’s Not What You Are Expecting
- CMF Phone 2 Pro – Top Tips & Tricks You Need to Know
- We Tested GCam on the CMF Phone 2 Pro – Here’s How It Performed
- CMF Phone 2 Pro Initial Impressions: Does It Deserve the Pro Tag?
- Download the official CMF Phone 2 Pro Wallpapers in high quality
