CMF Phone 2 Pro Review: the (almost) perfect budget phone

Once again, Nothing proves it can build fun and original budget smartphones while the competition churns out uninspired devices.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro improves on its predecessor with better performance and retains unique features like modularity. While you can’t unscrew the back anymore, a new screw-in case brings fresh possibilities: attachable lenses, a MagSafe wallet, or a kickstand accessory.

Even without the modular add-ons, this is a well-built budget phone with a large screen, solid battery life, and-most importantly-snappy performance, which is rare in this price range.

As with previous CMF models, U.S. buyers can only get the Phone 2 Pro through the Beta program on Nothing’s website.

Design and Display

In a market full of identical-looking devices, Nothing stands out with its unique aesthetic.

The screws and playful camera layout make the CMF Phone 2 Pro instantly recognizable. The phone feels solid and slim in the hand but uses plastic materials, so it doesn’t aim to feel premium.

Modularity

While the original CMF phone allowed you to swap the back cover entirely, the new version introduces a screw-on magnetic cover. You can attach a MagSafe wallet, optional lenses (like fisheye and macro), a lanyard, or a kickstand.

Despite its 6.8" screen, it’s lighter than rivals like the Galaxy A26. Another notable feature is the “Essential” key-tap to screenshot, hold to record voice notes, or access the AI-driven Essential space for organizing thoughts and content.

Available colors include orange, white, and black.

The unboxing feels premium for the price: no charger included (understandable for the budget segment), but you do get a clear case, USB-C cable, orange SIM tool, and manuals.

The 6.8" OLED display offers 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Bezels are surprisingly thin-comparable to pricier phones like the Pixel 9a.

Camera

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has three actual rear cameras-no fake macro sensors here.

Is it the best budget camera phone? Possibly. It outperforms expectations, with a camera score of 125 (higher than Galaxy A26’s 122), thanks to a better main sensor and upgraded zoom. Video is a step behind the A26 but still respectable.

Video

The phone supports 4K recording with decent stabilization and detail.

Software

Running Nothing OS 3.2 on Android 15, the software experience is clean, fast, and smooth. It’s better optimized than most $300 phones, which often lag.

You get three major Android updates (to version 18). While the Galaxy A26 promises six, update delays on budget phones often make that promise less meaningful.

Battery

Equipped with a standard 5,000mAh battery, the phone performs well in internal battery tests (exact numbers not provided).

Audio and Haptics

Performance and display impress, but audio falls short. Speakers sound harsh and weak-even YouTube playback suffers.

If one thing could be improved, it’s the speaker quality.

Haptics, however, are sharp and precise, avoiding the cheap buzzing feel of other budget phones.

Should You Buy It?

The CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers excellent value-double the storage at a lower price than rivals, clean and optimized UI, and smooth day-to-day performance.

Modularity feels more like a gimmick, but the overall design and user experience are strong. If you can tolerate weak audio, this could be the top budget phone of 2025.