Nothing CMF Phone 2

[Shahmatt]

For me? No to a certain extent. I do admit OS plays an important part of user experience of a phone. Cos the specs will affect how long can you use a phone without changing it due to slow downs

For me, the single firing speaker and the ufs 2.2 is a let down. Simi era liao still ufs 2.2 and single firing speaker

This is utter bs to me. When apps are getting bigger in size, or transferring files to and from the phone, you tell me ufs 2.2 is faster than ufs 4.0? Benchmark numbers plays a part. It does not matter now, but 2 years down the road? Where games or applications are getting more and more demanding, and it takes a longer time to load on a ufs 2.2 than a ufs 4.0, this is for sure.

It is like u are saying harddisk is faster than ssd, and is the OS that matters. When u install applications, loading applications etc, there is this much OS can do.

CMF can optimize the OS for sure, but I don't think they can optimize the mobile apps?

I don't mind a single firing speaker as long as it is loud. My previous Mi 9T had a single firing speaker and it was sufficient for me. Unfortunately I read it is not very loud in the CMF though.

For the UFS, the video I posted compares 2.2 and 3.1, for many different scenarios - file transfers, large/small app opening times etc. It seems the CMF (phone 1 at least) does a good job.

For me, as mentioned before, I like that the CMF has a proper AOD as this is quite useful for me, and the feature only appears in the Xiaomi range with the Poco F7 pro. Even the Mi15T does not have a true AOD - ridiculous!

I also like that it has RAW image capability with a bigger primary sensor (1/1.5") compared to the Poco F7 (1/2.0")(and also my current Poco F5). I don't know what lens the camera uses, but with RAW you could post process the photos on desktop PC or even with some Android apps, and maybe get a very nice image rivalling flagships. But because RAW processing is an additional step and effort, and not ready-made, I think many reviewers have avoided talking about this.

The last time I post processed with RAW was with my Fuji S6500FD and Samsung NX10, 10+ years ago, but with family taking up my time I gave up photography as a hobby, and have come to accept "mediocre" photography using my phone.

You also get a telephoto 2x camera, as I understand a 50mm wide lens, which is quite a useful portrait FOV. More useful than what is in the Poco F7.

Right now my Poco F5 freezing problem seems to have lessened, so I won't upgrade. But I do find the CMF features quite interesting.

 

[KeYoKe]

I don't mind a single firing speaker as long as it is loud. My previous Mi 9T had a single firing speaker and it was sufficient for me. Unfortunately I read it is not very loud in the CMF though.

For the UFS, the video I posted compares 2.2 and 3.1, for many different scenarios - file transfers, large/small app opening times etc. It seems the CMF (phone 1 at least) does a good job.

For me, as mentioned before, I like that the CMF has a proper AOD as this is quite useful for me, and the feature only appears in the Xiaomi range with the Poco F7 pro. Even the Mi15T does not have a true AOD - ridiculous!

I also like that it has RAW image capability with a bigger primary sensor (1/1.5") compared to the Poco F7 (1/2.0")(and also my current Poco F5). I don't know what lens the camera uses, but with RAW you could post process the photos on desktop PC or even with some Android apps, and maybe get a very nice image rivalling flagships. But because RAW processing is an additional step and effort, and not ready-made, I think many reviewers have avoided talking about this.

The last time I post processed with RAW was with my Fuji S6500FD and Samsung NX10, 10+ years ago, but with family taking up my time I gave up photography as a hobby, and have come to accept "mediocre" photography using my phone.

You also get a telephoto 2x camera, as I understand a 50mm wide lens, which is quite a useful portrait FOV. More useful than what is in the Poco F7.

Right now my Poco F5 freezing problem seems to have lessened, so I won't upgrade. But I do find the CMF features quite interesting.

It is definitely interesting for CMF. Just the price does not justify.

I look things at the long run especially when it comes to the specs. I don't deny nothingOS is interesting. I myself like it for sure. But I just can't get past the fact that I'm paying a premium just for the OS. And the fact that dimensity 7300 is 3 times slower than a dimensity 8400 found on a poco x7 pro

If you tell me some sacrifices are made for the nothingOS, sure, I am ok with it. But a single firing speaker, single band gps, 3 times slower processor, and ufs 2.2 storage, these are too much to be ignored imho.

 

[Tsurugi_Matsuda]

Luckily I got the better designed phone in CMF Phone 2 Pro, especially after Nothing unexpectedly made a "clone" of it in it's main lineup called Nothing Phone (3a) Lite just released yesterday. Shockingly bearing the exact same specs as the CMF Phone 2 Pro right down to the processor, with the ONLY advantage being the Main 50MP Camera keeping the OIS functionality that all Nothing main Phones in the 3 Series have as standard.

Why I call it a "clone" is due to the Model Number of the (3a) Lite being "A001T" (CMF Phone 2 Pro has the Model Number "A001" btw!) instead of a variant of "A059" (Phone (3a) btw) there.

 

[KeYoKe]

Luckily I got the better designed phone in CMF Phone 2 Pro, especially after Nothing unexpectedly made a "clone" of it in it's main lineup called Nothing Phone (3a) Lite just released yesterday. Shockingly bearing the exact same specs as the CMF Phone 2 Pro right down to the processor, with the ONLY advantage being the Main 50MP Camera keeping the OIS functionality that all Nothing main Phones in the 3 Series have as standard.

Why I call it a "clone" is due to the Model Number of the (3a) Lite being "A001T" (CMF Phone 2 Pro has the Model Number "A001" btw!) instead of a variant of "A059" (Phone (3a) btw) there.

If u realized, everything is the same. They just change the back to nothing's design only.

Even the camera orientation is exactly the same, and the single firing speaker

Camera is a slight downgrade la. Use the budget for a glass back. Tbh I prefer nothing phone 3a lite design than CMF. But I doubt it will be cheap

 

[DesilDesil]

Luckily I got the better designed phone in CMF Phone 2 Pro, especially after Nothing unexpectedly made a "clone" of it in it's main lineup called Nothing Phone (3a) Lite just released yesterday. Shockingly bearing the exact same specs as the CMF Phone 2 Pro right down to the processor, with the ONLY advantage being the Main 50MP Camera keeping the OIS functionality that all Nothing main Phones in the 3 Series have as standard.

Why I call it a "clone" is due to the Model Number of the (3a) Lite being "A001T" (CMF Phone 2 Pro has the Model Number "A001" btw!) instead of a variant of "A059" (Phone (3a) btw) there.

We still don't know for sure if the main camera has stablizer. Alot of preliminary spec site often get small details like this wrong since they often misinterpret press release EIS and PDAF as OIS

Either that or it's really the very smelly case of CMF Phone 2 Pro having OIS on its main cam but is disabled by software(which then get reenabled now for 3a lite) to make their other phones more competitive. Because honestly didn't make sense a GN9 sensor comes without one and they used it for 2a and 3a. Much less reason they would specially go manufacture a new batch of lens just for the lulz

 

[Tsurugi_Matsuda]

We still don't know for sure if the main camera has stablizer. Alot of preliminary spec site often get small details like this wrong since they often misinterpret press release EIS and PDAF as OIS

Either that or it's really the very smelly case of CMF Phone 2 Pro having OIS on its main cam but is disabled by software(which then get reenabled now for 3a lite) to make their other phones more competitive. Because honestly didn't make sense a GN9 sensor comes without one and they used it for 2a and 3a. Much less reason they would specially go manufacture a new batch of lens just for the lulz

Also discovered unconfirmed news about Nothing Phone (3a) Lite being targeted at markets that does not have CMF Phones sold there from the start.

If proven true, markets like SG and MY would not be getting the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite (which mixes the cameras of CMF Phone 1 and Phone 2 Pro) sold there at all since these customers would rather choose the CMF Phone 2 Pro instead.

 

[Fellowes]

Also discovered unconfirmed news about Nothing Phone (3a) Lite being targeted at markets that does not have CMF Phones sold there from the start.

If proven true, markets like SG and MY would not be getting the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite (which mixes the cameras of CMF Phone 1 and Phone 2 Pro) sold there at all since these customers would rather choose the CMF Phone 2 Pro instead.

They are quite similar in spec less the camera and back cover material/design. Does the 3a Lite have UFS2.2 and mono speaker too?

 

[Tsurugi_Matsuda]

They are quite similar in spec less the camera and back cover material/design. Does the 3a Lite have UFS2.2 and mono speaker too?

Won't be surprised if they end up being the same, but have to wait for channels like JerryRigEverything to give us the forensic answer.

 

[Tsurugi_Matsuda]

Quick question; does the CMF Phone 2 Pro work with all local Telco's 5G SA? I am considering it as a replacement. To a certain extend, I am "forced" to change phones since my pixel 6a & iPhone 12 won't work with any local 5G SA.

By the way, any idea if Oneplus Nord 4 (or 5) will work with our Telco's 5G SA? This is another of my consideration.

Adding on to the answer since my 4G plan got upgraded yesterday.
The 5G Plan works nicely with the CMF Phone 2 Pro without any issues, but SA needs to be manually enabled in Settings to work properly (just need to do this once only).

 

[KeYoKe]

Adding on to the answer since my 4G plan got upgraded yesterday.
The 5G Plan works nicely with the CMF Phone 2 Pro without any issues, but SA needs to be manually enabled in Settings to work properly (just need to do this once only).

OnePlus will work with SA 5G

 

[Fellowes]

Won't be surprised if they end up being the same, but have to wait for channels like JerryRigEverything to give us the forensic answer.

Review said is the same as PHONE 2 Pro, so it’s mono speaker. Same same but slight different