Nothing’s cool and trendy sub-brand CMF recently unveiled the CMF Phone 2 Pro, which succeeds last year’s modular CMF Phone 1. The smartphone comes with a host of improvements and refinements over last year’s model, including a brighter display and improved cameras. With the advancements, though, the CMF Phone 2 Pro has also seen a price increase, putting it squarely in competition with Nothing’s own Phone (2a). Both smartphones from the same company, in effect, are available for around Rs. 20,000, with the Nothing Phone (2a) getting a price cut after the launch of the Nothing Phone (3a).
One would assume the newer CMF Phone 2 Pro is better than a year-old phone, but things are not clear-cut. After using both these phones, my opinion is that Nothing Phone (2a), which was launched earlier, makes for a better buy and is overall a more rounded smartphone.
| Device | Variant | Price |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | 8GB + 128GB | Rs. 19,999 |
| 8GB + 256GB | Rs. 21,999 | |
| 12GB + 256GB | Rs. 23,999 | |
| CMF Phone 2 Pro | 8GB + 128GB | Rs. 18,999 |
| 8GB + 256GB | Rs. 20,999 |
This is not an objective spec-by-spec comparison of the two phones but more of a personal opinion. Here are four reasons why I believe the Nothing Phone (2a) makes for a better buy than the CMF Phone 2 Pro:
Why the Nothing Phone (2a) Is My Pick
Industrial-Cyberpunk Design
The CMF Phone 2 Pro lacks Nothing’s signature transparent back panel with the Glyph light interface. The Glyph lights look striking and help the Nothing Phone (2a) stand out from the sea of similar-looking rectangles. They also lend a very industrial cyber-punk feel to the phone. The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a dual-tone rear panel, but lacks swappable back panels, which was a standout feature of the CMF Phone 1. I feel that this is rather disappointing and dulls the phone’s personality.
One aspect of the design that does not matter much to me but is worth noting anyhow is the fact that the Phone (2a) uses Gorilla Glass 5 for the front panel while the CMF Phone 2 Pro makes do with inferior Panda Glass. Most people I know use a screen guard, but if you like using a phone without one, the Nothing Phone (2a) is a better choice.
Flashy Lights Make Everything Better
The Glyph lights are not just for show, either. There are certain cool features like Glyph Progress, which shows you how long a Zomato rider or an Uber cab would take to reach you using the Glyph lights at the back. You can also check the volume level, set a timer, and chart the progress via the lights. The overall usefulness of the Glyph lights might be questionable in the long run, but it’s a cool feature to have and helps the phone feel unique and premium.
Camera Numbers Aren’t Everything
On paper, it would seem that the CMF Phone 2 Pro has a better rear camera setup than the Nothing Phone (2a) – three cameras are obviously better than just two, right? Well, it is more nuanced than that.
If you love taking close-up shots and want a telephoto sensor, then the new CMF Phone 2 Pro is the phone of choice, as the Phone (2a) lacks a telephoto sensor altogether. But for me, a telephoto sensor is not a must-have; what I would rather have is Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), which is present on the Nothing Phone (2a)’s 50-megapixel primary rear camera. OIS uses a gyroscope to detect and compensate for camera movement, resulting in more stable images and videos. It is particularly useful during low-light scenarios and while taking shots of moving objects, like my hyperactive dog.
Also, I find an ultra-wide sensor far more useful than a telephoto, as I love taking wide landscape shots. The Nothing Phone (2a) has a better ultra-wide sensor, both in terms of resolution and sensor size, than the one found on the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
Two Ears, Two Speakers – Simple
Another aspect that holds the CMF Phone 2 Pro back for me is the lack of stereo speakers. In today’s world, where most of our media consumption—for better or for worse—takes place on smartphones, stereo speakers are a must, and the lack of them on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a letdown. As someone who is not a big fan of sticking earbuds in my ears, good stereo speakers are a must for listening to audiobooks or watching YouTube videos in bed.
Nothing Phone (2a) vs CMF Phone 2 Pro: Where They Overlap
There are certain commonalities between the Nothing Phone (2a) and the CMF Phone 2 Pro:
- Both have Nothing’s clean-and bloat-free take on Android, which has no pre-installed apps and no spammy ads or unwanted notifications. The Nothing Phone 2a does miss out on the Glyph features as it lacks the hardware.
- The IP54 rating is present on both phones. So they are rated for water and dust resistance, which is fine for a splash of water or two, but will not protect the phones from major spills.
- The Nothing Phone (2a) is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro, while the CMF Phone 2 Pro uses the newer 7300 Pro. Frankly, both phones will not leave you wanting in terms of day-to-day performance, and the differences are subtle. The 7200 Pro is better for GPU-intensive tasks like gaming, and the 7300 Pro is more efficient and offers slightly better multi-core performance. I only play casual games like Solitaire and Wordament, and the other strengths of the Nothing Phone (2a) easily outweigh its slight CPU trade-off.
- Both have a 5,000mAh battery, with the Nothing Phone (2a) offering 45W fast charging and the CMF Phone 2 Pro 33W. As I am not a huge fan of fast charging, the slightly higher speeds offered by the Nothing Phone 2 Pro here are just a bonus.
Why the CMF Phone 2 Pro Might Be the Right Choice for You
To be fair, here are four areas where the CMF Phone 2 Pro wins over the Nothing Phone (2a), which might not be as important to me, but might sway the decision for you:
- Both smartphones have a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, but the one on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is brighter with 3000 Nits of peak brightness, vis-a-vis 1300 Nits. As I (sadly) mostly use my phone indoors, shuttling between work, multiplexes, and coffee shops, this does not matter as much to me, but it may matter to you.
- With the Nothing Phone (2a), you will have to spend extra to get a fast charger if you do not have one already. With the CMF Phone 2, Nothing is bucking the trend of ‘minimal’ retail boxes by bundling a fast charger and case in the box. As someone who charges his phone overnight and is not a fan of quick charging, I am completely indifferent regarding this.
- As mentioned above, the Dimensity 7300 Pro on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a more efficient processor than the 7200 Pro on the Nothing Phone (2a) and offers slightly better performance. You will also get an additional Android update with the CMF Phone 2 Pro – it will be updated to Android 18, while the Phone (2a) will only reach Android 17. For me, this is not a big deal, as I will probably get a new phone after three years, but for those who plan on using their phone for longer, this might be an important distinction.
- The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom, a feature the Nothing Phone (2a) lacks. If a telephoto sensor is a must, congratulations, the choice between the two phones is very simple for you.
