CMF Phone 2 Pro: Nothing's Budget Phone Breaks the Mold with Flagship Flair

Key Facts Summary

• Design & Build: A bold dual-tone design with visible screws and swappable back panel (via included screwdriver), staying true to CMF’s “Color, Material, Finish” ethos. It’s thinner (7.8 mm) and lighter (185 g) than its predecessor, with premium touches like an aluminum camera surround and stainless steel screws tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. New IP54 splash/dust resistance adds durability tomsguide.com, though the back cover is now sealed for water protection (no more easy tool-free swaps) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. An “accessory wheel” at the corner allows attaching modular add-ons like lanyards or tripod mounts.
• Display: 6.8-inch FHD+ (2392×1080) AMOLED display at 120Hz adaptive refresh tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. It boasts up to 3,000 nits peak brightness (≈800 nits typical, 1,300 nits outdoors) – roughly 50% brighter than Phone 1 tomsguide.com. Ultra-high 2,160 Hz PWM dimming is used to reduce eye strain at low brightness tomsguide.com, making it unusually advanced in the budget segment.
• Performance: Powered by a 4 nm MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset (octa-core, 4×2.5 GHz + 4×2.0 GHz) with Mali-G615 GPU notebookcheck.net. This is a slight upgrade over last year’s chip – Nothing claims ~10% faster CPU and 5% better graphics notebookcheck.net. It runs Android 15 (Nothing OS 3.2) with 8 GB RAM and 128/256 GB storage (plus microSD expansion up to 2 TB) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. In everyday use it’s snappy, though heavy 3D games or multitasking can still push the mid-range SoC to its limits notebookcheck.net.
• Cameras: Triple rear camera setup – 50 MP main (f/1.8, 1/1.57″ sensor), 8 MP ultra-wide, and 50 MP telephoto with 2× optical zoom (up to 20× digital) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. A true telephoto lens at this price is almost unheard of, replacing the trivial depth sensor on Phone 1 notebookcheck.net. The main sensor captures 64% more light than Phone 1’s, improving low-light shots tomsguide.com. There’s a 16 MP front camera for selfies tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Video recording reaches 4K at 30fps. (Notably no OIS stabilization, an understandable omission to hit the $279 price notebookcheck.net.)
• Battery & Charging: 5,000 mAh battery – enough for ~2 days of moderate use or around 15 hours of web browsing in reviews tomsguide.com. Despite the same capacity, software optimizations supposedly add about an extra hour of uptime over the last model tomsguide.com. It supports 33W fast wired charging (gets ~60% charge in 30 minutes) tomsguide.com. Charging brick is included in-box for some regions (India), a first for Nothing phones notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net – elsewhere you may need to use your own USB-C charger. No wireless charging, which is typical at this price.
• Price & Availability: Launched April 28, 2025, it’s priced aggressively at £219 (approx ₹22,999 or €249) for 8+128 GB and £249 for 8+256 GB in Europe tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The U.S. gets only the 256 GB model at $279 via Nothing’s “Beta Membership” direct sales program tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Open sales began May 6, 2025 tomsguide.com. Three matte color options at launch – Black and Light Green (with glossy “glass-like” backs), White (textured sandstone finish), and Orange (metallic finish) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com – each giving the phone a distinct look and feel.
• Software & Updates: Ships with Nothing OS 3.2 on Android 15. It introduces the “Essential Space” AI features (and a physical shortcut key below the power button to invoke them) inherited from the premium Nothing Phone 3a series notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Nothing promises 3 years of Android version updates and 6 years of security patches for the Phone 2 Pro tomsguide.com. While not class-leading (Google’s Pixel 9a offers 7 years of updates), this level of support is better than many budget rivals and even beats Nothing’s own higher-priced Phone (2a) series on paper reddit.com. NFC for contactless payments is now onboard – a critical feature that the first CMF Phone notably lacked notebookcheck.net.

Confirmed Specs and Features

The CMF Phone 2 Pro takes aim at the upper end of the budget spectrum by offering specs that wouldn’t look out of place on a mid-range device. Under the hood, it’s running the new MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro – essentially a tweaked version of the Dimensity 7300 in last year’s model notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. This 8-core chip (with four performance cores at 2.5 GHz) is roughly 10% faster CPU-wise and 5% faster in GPU tasks according to Nothing’s pre-launch teasers notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. In real-world use, that translates to a smooth everyday experience: swiping through Nothing OS feels fluid and apps open quickly. The 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM is ample for multitasking at this price, and the OS aggressively optimizes performance to avoid lag wired.com wired.com. For storage, you get 128 GB or 256 GB (UFS 2.2), plus a microSD slot – a rare convenience as many phones now drop expandable storage phonearena.com phonearena.com. Power users can add up to a 2 TB microSD card if needed tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.

Battery life is another strong suit: with a large 5,000 mAh battery, the Phone 2 Pro easily lasts a full day or two on a charge. Nothing claims about one hour longer battery life than the outgoing model despite similar specs tomsguide.com. In fact, reviewers of the first CMF Phone were already impressed, getting two days of moderate use wired.com, and the 2 Pro continues that trend. In one test, it delivered nearly 14+ hours of web browsing and ~12 hours of gaming on a charge phonearena.com – excellent endurance for a $279 phone. Top-up is convenient with 33W fast charging (USB-C PD), which can refill roughly 60-65% in 30 minutes tomsguide.com. Unlike many competitors (and unlike Nothing’s own flagship series), the CMF Phone 2 Pro includes a charger in the box – at least in India notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. (Nothing’s co-founder Akis Evangelidis confirmed on X/Twitter that the Indian retail package will ship with a 33W brick, while other regions may not notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net.) Even without the in-box charger elsewhere, 33W isn’t hard to find and is far quicker than the 15-20W chargers common in this segment. Wireless charging isn’t supported, one of the few feature concessions – but at this price, wireless charging is extremely rare anyway.

On the software side, the Phone 2 Pro runs Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.2 at launch. The interface mirrors what you’d see on the pricier Nothing Phone (3) series – a clean, near-stock Android look with dot-matrix styling and some custom widgets. Notably, the phone gets the new “Essential Space” AI features that Nothing introduced in its 2025 models notebookcheck.net. This includes an Essential Key (a programmable button just below the power key) that can quickly pull up a notepad, voice recorder, or other AI-powered utilities to transcribe notes and organize ideas notebookcheck.net. It’s a welcome surprise to see these features trickle down to the budget line. Additionally, Nothing promises 3 years of major Android updates and 6 years of security updates for the CMF Phone 2 Pro tomsguide.com. That means it should get Android 16, 17, and 18, with security patches into 2031. While not as generous as Google’s latest update policy (the Pixel 9a gets 7 years of full support) tomsguide.com, it’s still longer support than many <$300 phones from Samsung, Motorola, or Xiaomi historically receive.

Connectivity and other features cover all the basics: you have 5G (sub-6 GHz) with a wide range of band support for global use phonearena.com phonearena.com, dual nano-SIM slots (with eSIM support in some regions like Japan) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net, and crucially NFC for Google Pay, etc. (The omission of NFC in the India-only Phone 1 was a sore point, so adding it for global models is significant notebookcheck.net.) The fingerprint reader is an optical in-display sensor, which has been reported as fast and accurate in reviews notebookcheck.net. There’s no 3.5 mm headphone jack (audio is via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.3), but the stereo speakers provide decent output – though some critics find them a bit tinny at max volume notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. The Phone 2 Pro also steps up to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) support, but due to likely having a single antenna, its Wi-Fi speeds are only on par with Wi-Fi 5 devices in practice notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. This is a minor technical nitpick; in everyday use, few will notice. GPS, Bluetooth 5.3, and other sensors (accelerometer, gyro, compass, ambient light, proximity) are all present as expected phonearena.com phonearena.com.

Overall, the spec sheet of the CMF Phone 2 Pro reads far above its price tag. On paper, you’re getting a 120Hz AMOLED screen, a high-res triple camera array, a 5G chip, big battery, fast charging, and even niceties like microSD and IP54 rating – all for well under $300. These confirmed features position the Phone 2 Pro as an exceptionally well-rounded budget device that doesn’t skimp on the essentials (or even some “nice-to-haves”).

Design and Unique CMF Elements

Nothing’s products have always drawn attention for their design, and the CMF sub-brand is no exception. The CMF Phone 2 Pro carries forward the playful, industrial design language established by last year’s model, while refining it for a more premium feel. At first glance, the phone immediately stands out with its exposed screws and two-tone back. In fact, the official teaser images showed the Orange and White models having a dual-tone back panel – a lighter shade on the top half and a darker hue on the bottom notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. This turned out to be an intentional design choice for all color variants. The Orange model has a metallic, almost anodized finish on part of its plastic back, whereas the White model uses a textured “sandstone” finish (reminiscent of the grippy OnePlus One back) on one section tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Meanwhile, the Black and Light Green versions feature a glossy, “glass-like” texture to their rear casing tomsguide.com. By mixing colors and materials, CMF is really living up to its name (“Color, Material, Finish”), delivering a phone that looks far more interesting than the typical monotone plastic slab in this price range. As one commentator put it, “the CMF Phone 2 Pro brings one forgotten notion back — phones can be and should be cool and fun.” phonearena.com phonearena.com

Beyond colors, the form factor is modern and comfortable. The Phone 2 Pro measures 164 × 78 × 7.8 mm and weighs 185 g phonearena.com phonearena.com, making it slightly slimmer and lighter than the Phone 1 (which was ~8.2 mm thick, 197 g). Nothing shaved off a bit of bulk despite adding new features, which is impressive. The frame and back are still made of polycarbonate (plastic), but you now get stainless steel screws dotting the back and an aluminum camera bump frame – small “flourishes” that elevate the build quality tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The camera module itself has a new layout: instead of two lenses, there are now three in a triangular arrangement that some have likened to an iPhone Pro style cluster notebookcheck.net. Surrounding that is an orange metallic ring (at least on certain colorways) that adds contrast and protects the camera edges. Overall, the device feels solid, though one reviewer did note that the materials still feel like plastic when held (since most of the shell is), commenting that it “feels cheap” compared to glass phones gizmodo.com – an almost inevitable trade-off to hit this price.

Modularity & Interchangeable Design: The hallmark of CMF’s phone design is its semi-modular nature. The CMF Phone 1 made headlines with its removable back cover secured by visible screws, allowing users to swap in custom-designed backs or attach accessories like a lanyard or kickstand via a special “Accessory Port.” The Phone 2 Pro continues this ethos, but with some adjustments. The four big screws on the rear are still present (one in each corner), and Nothing even encourages users by including a mini screwdriver in the box again notebookcheck.net. You can indeed unscrew and remove the back panel – initial teasers made it seem sealed, but it turns out it is removable with tools, and the mounting points for accessories (like the small circular socket in the lower right) remain in place phonearena.com phonearena.com. However, unlike the first-gen, the back isn’t really meant to be frequently swapped for style; it now houses the NFC antenna and water-resistant seals, so popping it off is more for repairs or serious customization rather than day-to-day mods. As one review noted, “the plastic casing with distinctive screws has a modern look, but is no longer removable. Too bad, CMF is squandering some potential here.” notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net In other words, the Phone 2 Pro is “less modular” than its predecessor in practice – a necessary compromise to achieve that IP54 rating (you can’t have people opening the phone at will if you want to keep water out).

Instead, Nothing has doubled down on modular accessories that don’t require removing the entire back. They developed a “Universal Cover” system: essentially a special back case/plate that can magnetically attach various add-ons phonearena.com phonearena.com. With this cover, you can snap on a range of first-party gadgets: for example, clip-on lenses (a fisheye lens for goofy wide shots or a macro lens for close-ups) that mount over the camera cluster phonearena.com phonearena.com. There’s also a wallet/stand attachment that clicks on – serving as a kickstand or card holder – reminiscent of Apple’s MagSafe wallet but purely mechanical phonearena.com phonearena.com. And the phone itself still has the built-in lanyard loop / accessory point: the little circular screw at the bottom corner can be unscrewed (now flush with the back when not in use) to hook a lanyard or other mount directly notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Nothing kept this “thumbscrew” idea from Phone 1, which some fans love as it gives the device a quirky, almost retro-utilitarian character (and even doubles as a fidget spinner when removed, as one reviewer joked last year wired.com wired.com).

The approach here is refreshingly analog. Unlike Motorola’s old MotoMods or LG’s modular experiment, there are no electronic pins, no Bluetooth connections for these mods – it’s all physical attachable gear phonearena.com phonearena.com. That means lower cost, easier compatibility, and no risk of bricking your phone with a bad mod. It’s fun – turning your phone into a fisheye camera or adding a wrist strap for festivals – and it’s exactly the kind of “cool and fun” factor Carl Pei’s team wanted to inject into the budget space phonearena.com phonearena.com. One PhoneArena editorial noted that “many brands have tried the modular smartphone idea… none of them got it right” until perhaps now, with CMF’s simple but effective take phonearena.com phonearena.com.

That said, the execution hasn’t been flawless. Early buyers and reviewers hit a snag: the key piece, the Universal Cover that enables most attachments, had a manufacturing delay. A Gizmodo reviewer lamented that “a manufacturing issue with the universal case… prevents me from testing this stuff out”, as the case wasn’t ready at launch gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. So initially, the Phone 2 Pro’s coolest mods were more promise than reality – a bit of a stumble in an otherwise strong debut. As of mid-2025, Nothing has been working to get those accessories into customers’ hands (in some regions they became available a bit later). Despite that hiccup, the design and modular philosophy have been well-received by the tech community. The phone’s look is widely praised for being distinctive and dynamic in a price bracket where most phones are bland black rectangles. As TechRadar put it during the launch, Nothing seems to be “aiming for greater sophistication” with Phone 2 Pro’s design, making it stand out in a sea of lookalike budget phones tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.

Camera Upgrades: A Pro-level Triple Lens in a Budget Phone

One of the headline features of the CMF Phone 2 Pro – and a key reason it earned the “Pro” moniker – is its dramatically improved camera system. Budget phones are notorious for having mediocre cameras or token multiple lenses (like 2 MP “macro” or “depth” sensors that don’t do much). Nothing has flipped that script by giving the Phone 2 Pro a set of cameras that wouldn’t be out of place on a device twice its price.

Rear Camera Array: There are three cameras on the back, up from the Phone 1’s dual-camera setup (which was actually just one real camera plus a depth sensor). The primary shooter is a 50 MP wide-angle camera with an aperture around f/1.8. Importantly, the sensor size is fairly large – about 1/1.57″ according to official specs notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net – allowing it to capture significantly more light than the previous model’s sensor. In fact, Nothing claims the main camera can intake 64% more light than the Phone 1’s 50 MP did tomsguide.com, which should greatly help in night and low-light shots. This main camera supports PDAF (phase-detect autofocus) but does not have OIS stabilization, likely to save cost notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Even so, early reviewers have noted it’s quite capable in challenging lighting – thanks to both the hardware and some improved image processing (more on that in a moment).

The second lens is an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, which lets you capture wide landscapes or fit big group shots in. Its specs (f/2.2 aperture, ~120° field of view) are fairly standard for an ultrawide at this tier – useful, though in low light its small sensor will be the limiting factor. The third, and most exciting, is the 50 MP telephoto camera providing 2× optical zoom tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. This is an unusual and welcome inclusion in a budget phone: virtually all competitors either skip telephoto entirely or use a low-resolution sensor if they do have one. Here, Nothing has given a high-resolution 50 MP sensor for zoom duties, allowing not just 2× optical but up to 10×–20× digital zoom with usable results tomsguide.com. While digital zoom beyond 2× is just cropping, having those extra pixels helps maintain detail. As NotebookCheck highlighted, a dedicated tele lens is “seldom found at this price point” and instantly sets the Phone 2 Pro apart from other ~$250 devices notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. In essence, CMF traded out the practically useless 2 MP depth sensor on the old model for two genuinely useful cameras (ultrawide + tele), a swap that “greatly improves upon its predecessor” in functionality notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net.

To justify the “Pro” name, Nothing heavily touted these camera upgrades pre-launch. An executive even shared the exact specs on social media prior to release – 50 MP main, 50 MP tele 2×, 8 MP ultrawide – saying “This alone should justify the ‘Pro’ tag on the CMF Phone 2 Pro.” notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. And indeed, the tech press took notice. Tom’s Guide wrote that a telephoto camera is “a rarity for this price point” and should provide a “massive upgrade in photo performance” over the depth sensor it replaces tomsguide.com.

Image Quality: All these specs sound great, but how do the cameras perform in the real world? Early reviews and sample shots suggest that the CMF Phone 2 Pro punches above its weight in photography. No, it won’t beat a true flagship – but for $279, it impresses. Gizmodo’s reviewer, for instance, was initially skeptical but came away saying the phone “exceeds your expectations” a lot of the time when it comes to photos gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. He noted that the camera was designed to capture more light and “it definitely succeeds in that” – even cloudy daytime shots came out bright and vibrant gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. Several samples showed the Phone 2 Pro producing images with good dynamic range and color, easily outclassing typical budget phone cameras that often struggle except in perfect lighting.

Of course, physics still apply: the lack of OIS means in very low light you have to hold steady or the images can blur. And while the cameras capture a lot of detail, some reviews mentioned that fine details can appear soft on close inspection gizmodo.com. This is likely due to noise reduction and the limitations of the mid-range image signal processor. “Pictures tend to look a little soft, with edges that can get a bit blurry,” the Gizmodo review observed gizmodo.com gizmodo.com – a reminder that if you’re coming from a high-end phone, you might notice the drop in processing finesse. However, in context, the photos are still more than good enough for social media or printing casual shots. The main camera in daylight produces 12.5 MP binned images by default, but you can force full 50 MP mode for extra detail – with the trade-off that processing a 50 MP shot is slow (it may take a second or two to capture) gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. The telephoto lens, at 2×, yields shots that are on par with the main camera’s quality (just closer). Pushing beyond 5× or 10× digital zoom will see quality degrade, but it’s there for a pinch-hit if you really need that reach. The ultrawide, while only 8 MP, does a decent job in good light, though it can’t match the color and detail of the main sensor (as expected).

On the video front, the Phone 2 Pro can record up to 4K at 30 fps, or 1080p at 60 fps phonearena.com phonearena.com. Without stabilization, 1080p30 with electronic stabilization might give the best results for walking videos. It’s not a videography powerhouse, but it’s on par with peers – for instance, many midrange Samsung A-series also cap at 4K30. The front camera remains a 16 MP shooter (f/2.45) carried over from Phone 1 tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. It’s perfectly fine for selfies and video calls, though nothing exceptional. One new software trick: Nothing added a “TrueLens Engine” in the camera software, which supposedly improves lens distortion correction and color tuning, and also new photo effect presets/filters to give shots a stylistic pop tomsguide.com. It’s part of making the camera experience feel a bit more special, though the fundamental quality comes from the hardware.

Overall, the camera setup is a huge win for this phone. By giving users a real ultrawide and a real telephoto, the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers genuine versatility in shooting – you can capture expansive scenes or zoom in on distant subjects, whereas most budget phones only simulate zoom by cropping. Tech experts have called this move “remarkably better than the CMF Phone 1” which had only one functional camera notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. In fact, in the budget segment right now, you’d be hard-pressed to find any direct competitor with an optical zoom lens. It brings the Phone 2 Pro closer to parity with mid-range and upper-mid-range phones in camera capability, even if the image quality in absolute terms is a step below flagships. For many buyers, having that flexibility and getting good photos without spending $800 is a very compelling proposition. As Tom’s Guide summed up in their review: “There’s a lot to like… brilliant looking screen, and the addition of a telephoto camera… [it’s] a fantastic value for anyone on a tight budget who wants a phone that punches above its weight.” tomsguide.com tomsguide.com

Expected Price and Release Date

Nothing officially announced the CMF Phone 2 Pro on April 28, 2025, at an online event showcasing the device alongside new CMF earbuds techradar.com techradar.com. This timing was a bit unusual, as the company skipped releasing a non-Pro “Phone 2” and went straight to the Pro model first techradar.com. (It mirrors Nothing’s strategy with the main lineup, where they launched Phone 3A models before a standard Phone 3.) The phone’s release date for first sales was May 6, 2025 in most markets tomsguide.com, with pre-orders/open sales going live through Nothing’s official website and select partners.

In terms of pricing, Nothing has positioned the Phone 2 Pro very competitively. The base model with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage is priced at £219 in the UK (including VAT) tomsguide.com, which roughly converts to about €249 in Europe or ₹22,999 in India (those were indeed the launch prices in those regions) phonearena.com phonearena.com. There’s also a higher capacity 8+256 GB model that comes at £249 in the UK. In the European Union it’s around €279, and in India around ₹24,999. For the United States, Nothing doesn’t yet have widespread carrier deals, so they sell via a direct “Beta” program – there, only the 256 GB variant is offered at $279 tomsguide.com tomsguide.com (before tax). U.S. buyers have to order from Nothing’s online store with a $99 refundable deposit as part of the Beta membership, since the phone isn’t officially through carriers – a slightly convoluted process, but it ensures enthusiasts can get their hands on it. Despite that hurdle, demand in the U.S. has been strong enough that the first batches sold out quickly (users reported the device went out of stock on the US site for days shortly after launch) reddit.com reddit.com.

At these prices, the CMF Phone 2 Pro significantly undercuts most rivals offering similar specs. For instance, Samsung’s new Galaxy A36 5G launched around the $399 mark, and even older midrange models like the Galaxy A26 (if available) don’t provide an OLED 120Hz screen or telephoto lens at sub-$300 prices. Google’s Pixel “a” series (the Pixel 9a in 2025) costs more – about $449 – but focuses on a great single camera and long software support, while lacking things like a telephoto or high-refresh AMOLED tomsguide.com. Chinese brands (Xiaomi, Realme, Motorola) do have strong contenders around $250, but typically you might get a high-refresh LCD or AMOLED and big battery, or a higher-res camera – not all of it together. It’s the combination of features that makes the CMF Phone 2 Pro stand out. As one journalist noted, other phones might match one or two aspects (say, “the Galaxy A26 comes with an amazing screen for $199”, or Moto offers a clean Android experience) but “you can’t get all of this in one phone. At least you couldn’t up to now.” phonearena.com phonearena.com The Phone 2 Pro basically forces very few compromises on the buyer despite its low price.

To sweeten the deal, Nothing also launched a family of CMF Buds 2 series earbuds alongside the phone, clearly aiming for an ecosystem play. There are three models of earbuds – ranging from $49 to $69 – meant to pair well with the Phone 2 Pro in style and function (with matching color options like orange and green) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. While earbuds are outside the scope of this phone review, it’s worth noting that Nothing’s strategy is to create a whole budget-friendly product line under CMF. Early buyers could even bundle the phone with earbuds or accessories for discounts. In India, the Phone 2 Pro was offered in limited flash sales initially (a common tactic there), and it reportedly moved a large number of units in short time – one unofficial stat was 17,000 units in 48 hours during the first sale, which signals strong interest. If those figures hold, the Phone 2 Pro could become one of the best-selling devices in its segment in 2025.

In summary, the value proposition here is exceptional. At $279 (or ~₹23k), you’re getting features that often would cost $400+. It’s no surprise that many reviewers immediately dubbed the CMF Phone 2 Pro as a front-runner for “budget phone of the year” tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The aggressive pricing also puts pressure on other manufacturers – consumers shopping in this range will likely be comparing every spec sheet to the Phone 2 Pro’s. Nothing’s move to include a charger (at least in some regions) is another savvy play to win over budget-conscious buyers, where even a $20 accessory saved can matter.

Comparison with Competitors in the Price Segment

The CMF Phone 2 Pro enters a hotly contested arena of mid-to-low range smartphones – roughly the $200–$300 bracket – where companies like Samsung, Xiaomi/Redmi, Realme, Motorola, and Nokia all compete. Here’s how the Phone 2 Pro stacks up and what makes it unique:

• Display & Design: Many competitors at ~$250 offer either an IPS LCD or a basic AMOLED around 60–90Hz. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy A24/A34 have 60Hz AMOLEDs in this range, and Motorola’s G series might use 120Hz LCDs. The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s 120Hz AMOLED with 1000 Hz touch response is class-leading notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net – even flagship phones only recently hit 120Hz OLED, and the fact that it’s 6.8″ with very high brightness means it outshines most rivals (literally). On design, competitors like Samsung’s A-series or Xiaomi’s Redmi Note tend to play it safe (plastic backs, muted colors). Nothing, by contrast, is delivering bright colors (orange, green) and an edgy aesthetic with exposed hardware. One could argue the only comparably distinctive budget phone design comes from something like the Poco phones or certain special editions – but even those don’t have the modular fun factor. As PhoneArena’s editorial pointed out, other brands have tried customizable designs (Moto’s wood/leather backs, for instance) but “none of them got it right” in terms of making it simple and fun phonearena.com phonearena.com. The Phone 2 Pro offers personalization (via swap covers or accessories) without needing technical know-how.
• Performance: In pure performance, the Dimensity 7300 Pro is a solid mid-tier chip, comparable to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 series. Most competitors in this price might use chips like Snapdragon 695 or 4 Gen 1, or MediaTek Helio G99 in cheaper models. The Phone 2 Pro likely edges out phones using Snapdragon 6 series chips. In practical terms, everyday apps and even games like PUBG/BGMI run well. In fact, Nothing bragged that Battlegrounds Mobile India can run at 120 FPS on this phone notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net – a claim that suggests the phone’s display and processor can handle high frame rates, albeit probably on lower graphics settings. Many budget phones can’t do that. That said, some higher-priced “budget flagships” like the Google Pixel 7a/8a (with Tensor chips) or a OnePlus Nord might beat the CMF in raw power or AI capabilities, but those cost significantly more. For the actual ~$279 competitors, the Phone 2 Pro holds its own; any performance difference is minor unless you’re really pushing the device with heavy 3D games or multitasking.
• Cameras: This is where the CMF Phone 2 Pro leapfrogs the competition. It’s rare to see even a single 50 MP camera that’s good in a $250 phone – many rivals use 12 MP or 48 MP main sensors of smaller size. And almost none offer a telephoto lens. The typical setup on a competitor might be a 48 MP main + 8 MP ultrawide + 2 MP macro (e.g., a Xiaomi Redmi Note 12). Those macro/depth lenses are there mostly for marketing. The CMF’s 50+50+8 configuration with a telephoto means in shootouts, it can capture shots other phones simply can’t. For example, trying to zoom on a Moto G or Samsung A phone will just be digital zoom from the main sensor, yielding muddy results beyond 2×. The CMF Phone 2 Pro at 2× is using an optical lens, giving a crisp image tomsguide.com. Reviewers have stated plainly that this camera setup “should provide a massive upgrade in photo performance” over typical phones in this class tomsguide.com. The only caveat: Google’s Pixel 9a (if we include that in the segment loosely) will likely produce better photos with its single camera and Google’s computational photography, especially in low light – but again, that phone costs much more. In the true budget class, CMF is in a league of its own for camera versatility.
• Battery & Charging: Many budget phones have 5,000 mAh batteries nowadays (it’s almost a standard), so CMF isn’t alone here. Where it edges out some is in charging speed – 33W is on par or slightly above average (Samsung A series often cap at 25W, for instance). The inclusion of a charger (in some regions) is actually a competitive advantage since Samsung, Apple, etc., never include chargers now, and even Xiaomi/OnePlus have started omitting them in Europe. It’s a small perk that saves the buyer ~$20. Also, the battery life optimizations in Nothing OS seem quite good; paired with the efficient 4nm chip, the Phone 2 Pro lasts longer than some phones that have bigger batteries but older 6nm chips.
• Software & Updates: A major differentiator can be software support. Here, Nothing is offering 3 years OS / 6 years security tomsguide.com, which outshines many Chinese competitors (often 1-2 Android updates, 3 years security). Samsung offers 4 years OS on some of its midrange phones now, which is better, and Google offers 5 years OS on Pixel 9a (the new gold standard) tomsguide.com. So, the Phone 2 Pro isn’t the absolute best in updates, but it’s fairly robust and certainly better than average for its class. Also, Nothing OS provides a clean, bloat-free experience, whereas some similarly priced phones (looking at you, Xiaomi/Redmi) come with heavy MIUI skins and adware. Enthusiasts will appreciate the near-stock feel of Nothing OS and the quirky design touches in the UI.

In short, the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s closest competitors are devices like: the Moto G series (e.g., Moto G75/G85) which have clean Android and big batteries but weaker cameras; Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 12/13 which might match the 120Hz AMOLED and battery but have no telephoto and heavier software; Samsung’s Galaxy A34/A54 (the A54 is pricier though) which have nicer software support and maybe OIS on main camera, but cost significantly more. There are also up-and-comers like the Realme 11/12 series or OnePlus Nord CE phones around $300, but again, none offer this exact mix of design flair and camera hardware. As one editorial summarized, “none of [the other phones] can match all of these features in one package… The CMF Phone 2 Pro is just a great value and a great package of all those things.” phonearena.com phonearena.com

It’s telling that tech reviewers are already comparing the Phone 2 Pro not just to budget phones but even using it to challenge higher segments. It “took the bar for cheap phones and just raised it,” as Tom’s Guide declared tomsguide.com. For consumers, it means you have a very strong option that didn’t exist before – a phone under $300 that doesn’t feel “cheap” or compromised in the key experiences. That competitive edge is likely to spur other manufacturers to respond, which is good news for everyone.

Official Statements and Leaks Leading up to Launch

In the months and weeks before launch, Nothing and its CEO Carl Pei were characteristically coy yet clever in drumming up hype for the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Here’s a quick timeline of notable official teases and credible leaks that shaped expectations:

• Late 2024 Rumors: After the surprise success of CMF Phone 1 in mid-2024, rumors began that a sequel was in the works. In December 2024, internal info hinted that Nothing’s 2025 lineup would include a new CMF phone alongside the Nothing Phone (3a) series notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Enthusiasts speculated whether it’d be called Phone 2 or 2 Pro, and what upgrades it would bring (camera was a popular wish).
• March 2025 – First Leaked Images: In mid-March, alleged hands-on photos of a “CMF Phone 2” prototype leaked on Reddit, showing an updated rear camera layout with three lenses notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. The images suggested a more iPhone-like camera arrangement and hinted the signature orange color would return. This leak got the community buzzing because it implied a telephoto or additional sensor was coming. The leak aligned with a cryptic teaser from Nothing’s Carl Pei who tweeted simply “👀📷+📷?” around that time – seemingly hinting at extra cameras.
• Early April 2025 – Official Teaser and Launch Date: On April 7, Nothing officially confirmed the existence of the CMF Phone 2 Pro in a social media post, announcing an event on “28 April, 2:00 BST” for the reveal techradar.com techradar.com. The teaser video showed an animation with four circles (two large, one medium, one small) which tech outlets immediately interpreted as symbolizing a triple camera plus flash techradar.com techradar.com. TechRadar noted this “looks a lot like the classic three-camera array you’ll find on any self-respecting Pro-tier smartphone” techradar.com – essentially confirming the triple-lens setup. Nothing also cheekily captioned it “New wonderful things” and highlighted that it’s “Phone 2 Pro, alongside a trio of buds – Buds 2, 2a, 2 Plus.” techradar.com techradar.com, deliberately skipping mention of any non-Pro phone 2.
• Mid-April 2025 – Spec Teases: In the weeks between the announcement and launch, Nothing execs and partner retailers dropped tidbits. Flipkart (India’s big online retailer) put up a landing page revealing key specs: it explicitly listed the 50 MP + 50 MP + 8 MP camera configuration and named the Dimensity 7300 Pro SoC, boasting it’s “10% faster” than the standard 7300 notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. This was essentially an official leak of the core hardware. Around April 16, a Geekbench benchmark result for “Nothing A001” surfaced, showing specs matching the Phone 2 Pro (8 GB RAM, Android 15, scores in line with Dimensity 7300) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Nothing’s official X (Twitter) account for CMF responded by confirming the chip, clarifying that it’s a 7300 Pro, and joking that those expecting a drastically different SoC might be disappointed notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net – a refreshingly transparent move to set realistic expectations.
• Camera Details Confirmed: On April 18, just days before launch, Nothing’s co-founder (Akis Evangelidis) tweeted the full camera specs (50 MP main with 1/1.57” sensor, 50 MP 2× tele, 8 MP ultrawide) along with sample shots notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. He tagged it with the phrase “Built for light, depth and detail,” emphasizing low-light (light), telephoto (depth), and overall clarity (detail) – effectively the camera’s selling points notebookcheck.net. This level of candor – giving away a major spec – signaled confidence that the camera would be a key highlight.
• Charger in the Box: In an interesting pre-launch revelation, Akis Evangelidis also confirmed on April 11 that the CMF Phone 2 Pro will include a charger in the box – but only in certain markets (India) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. He even posted a photo of the orange-colored retail box with a cutout for a charging brick. This was noteworthy because Nothing’s flagship phones do not include chargers (mirroring Apple/Samsung’s eco-friendly packaging stance). By doing this for CMF in India, Nothing clearly aimed to cater to local expectations and maybe score points with consumers who lament the trend of no included charger. Tech press took it as a sign that Nothing is willing to adapt its strategy by region for the sub-brand.
• Modular Design Teaser: Another teaser on April 9 focused on the design. The official CMF account posted close-ups showing the screw heads and a portion of the back, touting a “fresh take” on their Interchangeable Design approach notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Observers noted it showed the same rivet-like screws as Phone 1 but the panel looked different – fueling speculation about new materials (some thought it might even have a metal back or frame). NotebookCheck reported that CMF hinted at “new materials with a different look and feel” for the Phone 2 Pro, possibly higher-end than before notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. This turned out to be the dual-tone/textured finishes we discussed, rather than actual metal backs, but it generated excitement that CMF was upping their design game.

By the time April 28 arrived, most of the key details were either known or strongly suspected: triple camera with telephoto, 120Hz AMOLED, Dimensity 7300 Pro, 5,000 mAh, IP54, etc. The launch event mostly confirmed the leaks and filled in remaining info (pricing, availability). It’s worth noting that some expected a companion watch (a new CMF Watch) since last year they launched a Watch Pro with the Phone 1, but Nothing did not announce a new watch at that time techradar.com techradar.com – focusing instead on the phone and earbuds trio. This left some fans wondering if a watch is delayed, but given the phone’s importance, it rightfully took center stage.

Public and Tech Community Reception

Upon release, the CMF Phone 2 Pro was met with a mix of enthusiasm and cautious optimism in the tech community. Many remembered that the CMF Phone 1 was surprisingly good for its price – Wired even gave Phone 1 a 9/10 rating, calling it “the most perfect phone for the money” wired.com wired.com – so expectations for Phone 2 Pro were fairly high. Generally, the reception can be broken down into a few areas: praise for value, comments on execution (pros/cons), and the broader community response including sales.

Critical Praise (Value and Features): Almost every review highlights what a tremendous value the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers. Tom’s Guide, in their full review, concluded that “all things considered, [this] phone is still a fantastic value for anyone on a tight budget”, noting that it “punches above its weight” in many respects tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. They listed the premium design touches, long battery life, and telephoto camera as standout positives tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Similarly, Android Authority and GSM Arena (popular mobile review outlets) pointed out that the Phone 2 Pro delivers a package that often costs $100-$150 more elsewhere. A common refrain is that Nothing has essentially “raised the bar for cheap phones” tomsguide.com – the title of Tom’s Guide’s review literally stated “the bar for cheap phones just got higher” with this device. The phone’s display quality, in particular, received kudos – users and reviewers were impressed to see such a bright and responsive screen on a budget device, making media consumption and gaming a joy.

Notable Pros (per reviews and user feedback): The camera versatility got a lot of love. Tech vloggers on YouTube showed side-by-side comparisons of shots from the Phone 2 Pro and more expensive phones, and the differences were surprisingly small in many daytime scenarios. Quotes like “a nice camera for the price” were common gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. The battery life was also highlighted; one reviewer noted you can “easily get two days on a charge” which, even if you push it hard, still comfortably lasts a full day. The 90 Hz to 120 Hz display upgrade (Phone 1 had 120Hz too, but many coming from older budget phones felt the smoothness) makes everyday scrolling feel high-end. And adding NFC and IP54 removed two pain points from Phone 1, making the Phone 2 Pro feel much more complete for global users.

Constructive Criticisms: No product is perfect, and reviewers did point out a few shortcomings or trade-offs with the Phone 2 Pro. One of the most mentioned was the performance gap – despite the “Pro” chip, it’s still a mid-range SoC, and benchmarks put it roughly on par with last year’s model tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Tom’s Guide frankly said the processing performance was “lackluster” for something labeled Pro, and that the camera improvements, while good in hardware, did not dramatically improve image quality over the previous phone’s main camera tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. In other words, the telephoto adds capability but the general photo quality is in the same ballpark as before (which was already good, but “Pro” perhaps led some to expect a bigger leap). Materials and feel: Gizmodo’s review commented that “cheap-feeling materials” is one downside – the phone is mostly plastic, after all gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. They also noted that the fun of shooting full 50 MP photos is dampened by slow shot-to-shot time, and that without OIS you have to be mindful in lower light shots gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. Another criticism was about the modular accessories execution: as mentioned, at launch, the inability to actually get the Universal Cover and test the modular add-ons was disappointing gizmodo.com gizmodo.com. Some U.S. users also expressed frustration that those accessories aren’t being sold directly in the U.S., meaning if they imported the phone via the beta program, they had no easy way to get the lenses or wallet attachment (short of importing those too). It “removes a key part of the phone’s appeal for a large chunk of buyers,” Tom’s Guide noted of the U.S. situation tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.

Community Response and Sales: The general public response has been very positive. The phone quickly amassed fan communities on Reddit (r/NothingTech and r/Android) where users shared unboxing experiences, camera samples, and even 3D-printed accessory designs (Nothing encouraging open-source accessory making was a hit among the maker community) wired.com wired.com. In polls, a majority of voters reacted with “It’s great, I love it!” when asked their opinion on the CMF Phone 2 Pro phonearena.com phonearena.com – a PhoneArena poll showed over 77% positive vote, which is unusually high for any phone poll and indicates strong enthusiasm among techies.

In terms of sales, while official numbers haven’t been released for Phone 2 Pro yet (as of August 2025), early indicators are that it’s selling very well especially in India and parts of Europe. The first CMF Phone 1 was a smash hit in India – selling 100,000 units in just 3 hours during its debut sale phonearena.com phonearena.com – which underlined the huge demand for a stylish budget phone. The Phone 2 Pro seems to be continuing that momentum. Flash sales in India saw units gone in minutes, and Nothing’s CEO even tweeted that they were working to ramp up production to meet demand. In Europe, the phone made its way onto Amazon in some countries, where it briefly hit the top of the smartphone best-seller list in the sub-€300 category. U.S. uptake, while limited by the beta program approach, also exceeded Nothing’s expectations – the Beta membership slots sold out initially, and the company had to open a second wave of slots. On social media, the consensus from those who got the device was that it largely lived up to the hype of being a super value phone with a cool factor.

The tech press also sees it as a challenge to bigger brands: It’s showing that you can have a phone that’s fun, different, and affordable. This has generated a lot of positive buzz for Nothing. Reviewers like Mariyan Slavov at PhoneArena noted that big companies like Samsung and Apple often feel “detached” and don’t listen to what budget consumers want, whereas Nothing, by contrast, seems to be listening and delivering features people actually asked for phonearena.com phonearena.com (like the charger, the NFC, better cameras, etc.). That kind of goodwill and community trust is something OnePlus had in its early days and Carl Pei is clearly trying to replicate with Nothing/CMF.

In summary, public reception has been overwhelmingly positive regarding the Phone 2 Pro’s value proposition. It’s not without its flaws, but most agree those are minor quibbles in light of how much the phone gets right for the price. The device has been called “the budget phone to beat in 2025” by multiple outlets, and many users are simply happy that a phone exists which doesn’t make them feel like they’re missing out on cool features just because they didn’t spend $800. As one Tom’s Guide editor wrote, “everywhere else, CMF seems to have pulled out all the stops” on this phone, “upgrading elements like the cameras and the phone’s looks and durability”, which are areas often neglected in budget devices tomsguide.com. That encapsulates the community vibe – it’s seen as a device that genuinely tries to deliver a no-compromise experience for the budget buyer, and largely succeeds.

Strategic Significance for CMF and Nothing

For Nothing as a company, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is more than just another product – it’s a strategic linchpin in expanding their reach and solidifying their brand philosophy. When Carl Pei (Nothing’s founder) introduced the CMF sub-brand in late 2023, many were puzzled. After all, Nothing’s stated mission was already to bring good design and user experience to the tech world at reasonable prices. “Wasn’t Nothing supposed to do that initially? Why launch another brand for even more affordable gadgets?” phonearena.com phonearena.com some skeptics asked. The answer lies in segmentation and focus: Nothing likely realized that to crack the ultra-budget market (sub-$300) without diluting its main brand’s somewhat premium cachet, it needed a fresh identity. CMF by Nothing was created to “democratize good design and give it to the masses” phonearena.com phonearena.com – essentially, to push the design-forward philosophy of Nothing into price points that can attract a much larger audience, especially in markets like India, Southeast Asia, and South America where $200-$300 phones are the volume drivers.

The success of the first CMF Phone 1 validated this approach dramatically. Selling 100k units in 3 hours is no small feat phonearena.com, and it signaled that there is indeed a hunger for devices that are fun, different, and affordable. By all accounts, CMF Phone 1’s reception “worked” in proving the concept phonearena.com phonearena.com – it showed Nothing that they could capture budget-conscious buyers without cannibalizing their main Phone (1) or Phone (2) sales (since those cater to a slightly more premium $400-$600 tier). The Phone 2 Pro now takes that baton and runs further. Strategically, launching the “Pro” first (without a non-Pro) was a way to gauge interest at a slightly higher spec and price band (~$279 instead of Phone 1’s $199). If it’s successful, Nothing can later introduce a non-Pro CMF Phone 2 (perhaps around $199 again) to fill the lower slot, knowing the design and concept resonates.

From Nothing’s perspective, CMF serves as the volume driver and brand broadener. It can capture young customers or first-time smartphone buyers with flashy design and low cost. Those users might later “upgrade” to a higher-end Nothing device (creating a ladder within the ecosystem). Or they might stick to CMF for value, but either way they’re in the Nothing universe of products. It’s similar to how Xiaomi uses Redmi, or BBK uses Realme/Oppo – multiple brands to cover different segments. Carl Pei, coming from OnePlus, likely saw how OnePlus struggled to go truly budget (hence Nord sub-brand) and decided to pre-empt that by clearly delineating CMF vs Nothing mainline.

Another strategic angle is that CMF phones can experiment with ideas that might be risky for a flagship. The modular accessory concept, for instance, is something big brands wouldn’t bother with on a flagship because of cost and niche appeal. But on a quirky budget phone, it’s a selling point that generates free marketing (people talk about it) and creates an enthusiast community that designs 3D-print accessories, etc. wired.com wired.com. This community-driven innovation is gold for a new brand – it increases engagement and loyalty. In fact, Nothing publishing the 3D templates and encouraging DIY mods for Phone 1 was a brilliant move notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net, and continuing that with Phone 2 Pro keeps the momentum. Strategically, it positions Nothing/CMF as not just another budget phone maker, but almost a movement or trend-setter, which is exactly the image Carl Pei cultivates (as he did with early OnePlus).

Financially, the budget segment is where the volume is. The profit margins per device are thinner than a flagship, but if Nothing can sell millions of CMF phones, it gains economies of scale, brand recognition, and upsell opportunities for its ecosystem (earbuds, future services, etc.). Notably, by capturing the sub-$300 segment, Nothing is directly taking on companies like Xiaomi/Redmi and Samsung’s Galaxy A series in markets like India – a bold play. But by differentiating on design and user experience, they avoid purely spec-to-spec battles. It’s not just about having 8GB RAM or a big battery (everyone has those); it’s about the brand and experience. And it seems to be working – as one analyst put it, “the aim Carl Pei had… seemed far-fetched at first, but it worked.” phonearena.com phonearena.com The CMF products “were well-received by reviewers and the audience” and indeed filled a niche: people who wanted cool-looking gadgets but couldn’t afford something like an iPhone or even a Nothing Phone 2 phonearena.com.

For the Nothing brand overall, CMF’s success is a two-edged sword that they seem to be managing well. On one hand, there’s always a risk of brand confusion or overlap – but Nothing has kept the branding distinct (CMF by Nothing is clearly labeled, with its own color scheme and marketing style focusing on playfulness and affordability). Meanwhile, the main Nothing phones (like Phone 3) are trending more premium (Nothing Phone 3 and 3 Pro are rumored to push into upper-midrange pricing). This stratification lets Nothing compete on multiple fronts: CMF tackles Poco, Moto G, Samsung A3x series; Nothing mainline tackles Pixel, OnePlus, Samsung S-series lite models. And because the design language shares DNA (the transparent effects, the minimalist UI, etc.), there’s a synergy – a CMF owner might later get Nothing Ear (2) earbuds or a Nothing Phone for their next upgrade, feeling some brand loyalty.

The Phone 2 Pro’s launch also shows Nothing’s strategic responsiveness. For example, adding the charger back in India indicates they are willing to adapt to customer feedback in different markets (a very OnePlus-like move in the early days). Promising 6 years of security updates is another strategic decision – it costs them in support, but it builds trust and appeals to a more informed audience that keeps phones longer. It undercuts most of their Chinese rivals who drop support quickly, thereby attracting savvy buyers who might have otherwise chosen a Samsung for updates.

In the grand scheme, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a statement that Nothing Inc. is serious about the mass market. It’s not just a boutique brand making niche transparent gadgets; it wants to disrupt the budget segment by proving that you don’t have to choose between price and personality. This phone’s strong reception could very well push other companies to spice up their budget offerings – perhaps we’ll see Samsung do a fun special edition Galaxy, or Xiaomi focus more on software and updates – which ultimately benefits consumers. But in the meantime, Nothing has carved out a growing fanbase. One year ago, it was “can this new brand survive?” Now, with devices like the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the question is more “how far can Nothing go with this momentum?” The strategic significance is clear: CMF Phone 2 Pro cements Nothing’s dual-brand strategy and establishes it as a formidable new player from entry-level to mid-range, carrying forward Carl Pei’s vision of tech that is both accessible and boldly designed.

In conclusion, the CMF Phone 2 Pro by Nothing has proven to be an impressive follow-up that combines flagship-like flair with budget-friendly pragmatism. It’s a phone that ignites excitement in a segment often dismissed as boring. With confirmed robust specs, a fresh design, and an aggressive price, it has been extremely well received by users and critics alike. More importantly, it serves as a cornerstone for Nothing’s strategy to “democratize good design” in tech – showing that the company can execute on that promise at scale. As the tech world watches how established players respond, one thing is certain: Nothing (and CMF) have significantly raised the expectations for what a sub-$300 phone can and should be in 2025 phonearena.com phonearena.com.

Sources: The information and quotes in this report are drawn from a range of reviews and news from reputable tech outlets, including Tom’s Guide tomsguide.com tomsguide.com tomsguide.com, TechRadar techradar.com techradar.com, PhoneArena phonearena.com phonearena.com, NotebookCheck notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net, Gizmodo gizmodo.com gizmodo.com, and others, as cited throughout. These provide a comprehensive and up-to-date (as of August 2025) view of the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s features, reception, and significance in the market.