As soon as Nothing came into the smartphone scene, it showed the other companies that it’s possible to be unique and very different, yet still make sales. That hasn’t quite inspired the others to break the mold design-wise, but it shows that a formula like Nothing’s can work, and it gives consumers a few more options.
CMF by Nothing, its sub-brand, launched the CMF Phone 1 last year. At only $199, it was shocking how much of a standout the phone is, and needless to say, it sold like hot cakes. Before the end of this month, Nothing has confirmed a sequel is coming, but it won’t be a direct sequel. Instead, it’ll be the CMF Phone 2 Pro, without a Phone 2 anywhere yet.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro Has Been Teased and Is Coming on April 28th
The CMF Phone 1 came out last year, in July, as the first smartphone attempt from the design-focused Nothing sub-brand. With a removable back panel, a special accessory system, and a design that was a lot more eye-catching than other phones at its price point, it isn’t surprising that the device was a pretty good hit. CMF did a lot right (though not everything since the phone notably omits NFC).
This year, we heard rumors that the CMF Phone 2 was coming, and it seemed like we might have been able to forgo the usual pinch of salt. Well, today, we know that the CMF Phone 2 lineup is going to commence later this month, but what makes it unusual is that the CMF Phone 2 Pro is what’s coming. To make that clear, there’s no regular CMF Phone 2 to succeed the Phone 1 yet. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is confirmed for launch on April 28th.
Now, why isn’t CMF releasing the regular Phone 2? No one can say, and perhaps the OEM is waiting until later in the year before releasing it. However, since it has chosen to go Pro right now, we can tell that the spec sheet is going to be a little more intense than the Phone 1. Unfortunately, that also means that you can expect the pricing to be on the higher end. I wouldn’t be surprised to see $299 or $349.
What Do We Know About the CMF Phone 2 Pro Specs?
The rumor we reported on earlier, which we assumed was the CMF Phone 2, was likely the Phone 2 Pro. That would explain CMF planning to add an extra camera to the mix. While a 50MP primary and 2MP depth sensor was enough for the original budget device, a Pro model will need to come in a little hotter. The third camera is very likely to be an ultrawide, likely of the 8MP variety.
In other departments, the device is expected to get the newer Dimensity 7400, a 6.3-inch 120Hz FHD+ OLED screen, and a 5,000mAh battery paired with 33W fast charging. That’s not a bad selection for a budget phone.
Interestingly, Nothing has given a little teaser showing the bottom corner of the phone. The screw is still there, so we can expect the removable back panel to remain a thing. However, Nothing mentions that the device is coming with a new finish, which it describes as “textured” and “tactile”. It looks sort of like frosted glass in the video, but I doubt the OEM will opt for such an expensive and fragile material at its price point.
