Nothing’s CMF Label Brings Swappable Camera Lenses to Its $279 Modular Smartphone

Nothing’s budget-friendly CMF sub-brand is back with its sophomore smartphone, continuing their pledge to offer thoughtful tech that thinks outside the box. In a cluttered smartphone market, the Phone 2 Pro is a genuinely exciting release that manages to blend cool design, impressive specs, and useful modularity, all with a $279 price tag.

The Budget Game-Changer

Admittedly a bit pricier than the sub-$200 introductory model from last year, the Phone 2 Pro justifies the hike. For starters, the latest generation is the slimmest and lightest smartphone that’s come from the Nothing umbrella at just 7.8mm thick and 185g (~6.5oz), while also offering their largest display to date, a 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen that can push 3,000 nits of brightness when you need it.

Modules and More

Just like with the Phone 1, the main selling point with the Phone 2 Pro (aside from its price) is its modular setup. But unlike the Phone 1, which let you swap the entire backplate, the 2nd-gen version requires a screw-on universal cover (sold separately, unfortunately) that serves as a base for additional accessories. From there, you can attach a cool wallet/kickstand combo, a lanyard for drop protection, or, what we’re most excited about, interchangeable camera lenses including fisheye and macro options. Likewise, the phone’s impressive IP54 rating (up from IP52 on the Phone 1) against dust and water suggests the new approach helps to better protect against the elements.

Obviously, you’ll need to budget extra for these accessories (ranging from $25 to $65 for various bundles), but our biggest gripe is the inexplicable lack of availability for these attachments in the United States. And while this will undoubtedly turn off many curious buyers, the Phone 2 Pro does seem to serve its purpose as a budget Android device nevertheless, giving you impressive results from its phone capabilities alone.

Camera Capabilities

Nothing has clearly focused on photography with the CMF Phone 2 Pro, offering a substantial upgrade over its predecessor. The four-camera system — including a 50MP main shooter with a large 1/1.57″ sensor, a 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom (which the Phone 1 lacked), an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 16MP selfie camera — captures 64% more light than the Phone 1. There’s a bit of AI wizardry happening too, with their TrueLens Engine 3 handling image processing duties.

While we haven’t had hands-on time with the device, photos from the brand’s website suggest it delivers impressive results for the price point.

Power to Spare

Under the hood, the Phone 2 Pro packs MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300 Pro processor with an 8-core CPU that hits speeds up to 2.5GHz, claiming to be approximately 10% faster with 5% better graphics performance. That’s paired with up to 16GB of RAM (with their RAM booster feature) and a hefty 5,000mAh battery that Nothing claims will give you 47 hours of voice calls and 22 hours of YouTube viewing. For storage, the model is loaded with either 128GB or 256GB. Although, in the U.S., only the 256GB version is available.

The phone also now includes NFC connectivity for contactless payments, a feature the Phone 1 didn’t have. We’re also particularly intrigued by the Essential Space feature, activated via a dedicated side button, which uses AI to organize screenshots and voice notes into an easily accessible hub.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Available in black and white, and eventually orange and mint, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is available for pre-order now starting at $279 for the 256GB model.

Recap

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro

Nothing’s budget-friendly CMF label returns with its second smartphone, featuring 4 camera lenses that are now swappable and a $279 price tag.

Learn More: Nothing