The CMF by Nothing Phone 2 Pro is a mid-range smartphone that aims to deliver premium features at an accessible price point. With its unique design, advanced camera system, and intuitive Nothing OS, it seeks to stand out in a crowded market.

Design and Build Quality
The CMF Phone 2 Pro boasts a distinctive, industrial-inspired design that celebrates raw craftsmanship. At just 7.8 mm thick and weighing 185 g, it is the slimmest and lightest smartphone in Nothing’s lineup to date. The device features a sleek chassis with detachable stainless steel screws and an aluminum camera surround, enhancing both durability and aesthetic appeal.

An accessory point allows for the attachment of functional add-ons, such as macro and fisheye lenses, a universal cover, or a wallet/stand, adding a layer of modularity that is rare in this price segment. The phone is available in vibrant colours such as two-tone orange (reviewed here), two-tone white, and black. Its IP54 rating for splash, water, and dust resistance ensures moderate protection. The design is both functional and eye-catching, making it a standout choice for users who value individuality.

Camera
The CMF Phone 2 Pro features a versatile triple-camera system at the back, a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the CMF Phone 1. The setup includes:

• 50 MP Main Camera (f/1.88, 1/1.57” sensor, EIS, PDAF): Captures 64% more light than the Phone 1, delivering sharp, detailed images with vibrant colors, particularly in well-lit conditions.
• 50 MP Telephoto Camera (f/1.85, 2x optical zoom, up to 20x digital zoom): A rarity in budget phones, this lens excels at portraits and distant shots.
• 8 MP Ultra-Wide Camera (f/2.2, 119.5° field of view): Ideal for landscapes and group photos, though performance in low light is less impressive.

You also get a 16 MP front camera, suitable for selfies and video calls, offering decent detail. The TrueLens Engine 3, powered by advanced Ultra XDR algorithms, enhances image quality with professional-grade light and shadow rendering, ensuring true-to-life captures across various lighting conditions.

Features like AI-powered stabilisation, night mode, burst shot modes, and creative portrait effects add versatility. While the main and telephoto cameras perform admirably, the ultra-wide struggles in low-light scenarios, with some graininess and loss of detail. Overall, the camera system is a strong contender for budget-conscious photographers, as seen in the samples below:

Performance and Internal Specs
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G processor, an 8-core CPU clocked at up to 2.5 GHz, co-engineered with TSMC’s 4nm process for improved efficiency. Compared to the CMF Phone 1, it offers a 10% faster CPU and a 5% faster GPU, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking.

The phone comes with 8GB of RAM (expandable to 10GB via RAM Booster) and storage options of 128GB or 256GB, with a microSD card slot supporting up to 2TB for additional storage, which is sort of a rarity in other smartphones out there on the market. Connectivity is robust, with 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC support for wireless payments—a notable improvement over the Phone 1, which lacked NFC.

Nothing OS
Nothing OS 3, based on Android 15, powers the CMF Phone 2 Pro, offering a clean, intuitive, and highly customisable user experience. The interface prioritises functional customisation, eliminating bloatware and focusing on user efficiency. Key features include:

• Dot Engine: Offers hundreds of bespoke animations, icons, and fonts for a personalised look.
• Customisable UI: Adjust Quick Settings, home screen, and lock screen with custom shortcuts and widgets.
• Smart Drawer: Automatically organises apps by category, prioritising frequently used ones.
• Shared Widgets: Enables direct reactions and responses to contacts’ lock screens, fostering meaningful connections.
• Privacy Focus: Minimises distractions and enhances user control over data.

The OS is buttery-smooth, with a monochromatic aesthetic and gorgeous widgets that rival stock Android’s simplicity while adding flair. Nothing commits to three years of Android updates and six years of security patches, ensuring long-term reliability. The software’s thoughtful design makes it ideal for users seeking a mindful, distraction-free smartphone experience.

OS Performance
Nothing OS 3 delivers exceptional performance, with fluid animations and responsive interactions thanks to the 120 Hz refresh rate and 316% higher touch sampling rate compared to the CMF Phone 1. The absence of preloaded bloatware ensures efficient resource allocation, allowing apps to load quickly and multitasking to feel seamless. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset complements the OS, handling demanding tasks like gaming and video editing with ease. Users report a polished experience that feels premium, though some note the lack of stereo speakers as a minor drawback.

Essential Space
The CMF Phone 2 Pro introduces the Essential Space feature, activated via a dedicated physical key, a concept borrowed from the Nothing Phone (3a) series. Essential Space acts as a “second memory,” leveraging AI to store and organise screenshots, audio clippings, and other data, generating to-do lists and suggestions based on this content. This feature is particularly useful for professionals, students, and content creators who need quick access to organised information without sifting through apps.

Its privacy-focused design ensures data remains secure, making it appealing for users who prioritise efficiency and data protection. However, its utility depends on how frequently users rely on AI-driven organisation, and some may find it underutilised if their workflow doesn’t align with its capabilities.

Battery and Charging
The phone houses a 5000mAh battery, supporting 33W fast charging and 5W reverse charging. Nothing claims up to 22 hours of YouTube playback or 10 hours of gaming. The battery retains at least 90% of its capacity after 1,200 charge cycles, indicating excellent longevity. However, no charger is included in the box, which may inconvenience some buyers.

Charging from 0 to 100% takes approximately 60–70 minutes depending on settings and environmental factors. The absence of wireless charging is a minor letdown but expected at this price point. Overall, the battery life is robust for daily use, catering well to heavy users.

Performance
The CMF Phone 2 Pro excels in delivering a cohesive experience, blending stylish design, solid performance, and a refined software package. The 6.77-inches FHD+ AMOLED display, with 1.07 billion colours, 1,300 nits typical brightness, and 3,000 nits peak brightness, offers vibrant visuals and HDR10+ support, protected by Panda Glass.

The modular design, enhanced camera system, and NFC inclusion address key shortcomings of the CMF Phone 1. While the IP54 rating and single speaker are limitations, the phone’s performance in gaming, photography, and daily tasks is impressive for its class. The combination of Nothing OS 3’s efficiency and the Dimensity 7300 Pro’s power ensures a fluid, reliable experience.

Value for Money
Priced at AED 799 for the 8/128GB model and AED 10490for the 8/256 GB variant, the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers exceptional value. Its premium features—AMOLED display, versatile camera system, long software support, and modular accessories—rival those of more expensive mid-range phones.

The inclusion of NFC, a microSD slot, and a clean UI further enhances its appeal. Compared to competitors, it stands out for its software polish and camera versatility, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking style and substance.

Verdict
The CMF by Nothing Phone 2 Pro is a triumph in the budget smartphone category, offering a unique design, a capable four-camera system, and a polished software experience that punches above its price. Its slim build, vibrant AMOLED display, and long-term software support make it a future-proof option, while Essential Space adds value for productivity-focused users. For those seeking a stylish, performant, and customisable smartphone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a top contender, redefining what a budget phone can achieve.

Price: AED 799

Photography and sample images by Ryan Chris

With an incredible AI camera, innovative AI features, display, and powerful hardware, HONOR 400 built to lead (more…)

The Honor 400 Pro 5G, a premium offering in Honor’s latest lineup, is engineered to deliver a flagship-level experience with a strong emphasis on advanced camera capabilities, powerful performance, and cutting-edge AI features. This smartphone combines sophisticated design, a high-resolution camera system, and a robust battery with rapid charging, all driven by a top-tier Snapdragon chipset.

Design and Build Quality
The Honor 400 Pro 5G exhibits a premium feel with its refined design and robust build. Measuring 160.8 x 76.1 x 8.1mm and weighing 205 grams, it maintains a comfortable yet substantial presence in hand. The design language is sleek, featuring a modern aesthetic that includes a distinctive geometrical camera bump in the shape of a trapezium. Unlike the standard model 400 5G, the Pro version showcases three prominent lenses in the camera module, and a pill-shaped cutout on the front face for the selfie camera.

In terms of durability, the Honor 400 Pro 5G boasts an impressive IP68 and IP69 rating for dust and water resistance. This means it offers superior protection against dust ingress and can withstand immersion in water, making it exceptionally well-suited for various environments and providing excellent peace of mind. The device also features a 5-star Premium Performance Certification for Drop & Crush Resistance from SGS, indicating its resilience against accidental drops. Available colourways include Tidal Blue, Midnight Black, and the one reviewed here, the Lunar Grey.

Camera Features
The Honor 400 Pro 5G truly shines in its camera department, featuring a flagship-level 200MP Ultra-clear AI Main Camera. This primary sensor boasts a large 1/1.4-inch size with an f/1.9 aperture, complemented by both Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for superior stability in photos and videos. To capture the full detail of the 200MP sensor, you can use the dedicated “HIGH-RES Mode.”

Beyond the main sensor, the Pro model elevates the photography experience with a 50MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4, OIS) offering 3x optical zoom, allowing for detailed close-ups without significant loss of quality. An additional 12MP Ultrawide Camera (f/2.2, 112˚ field of view) is included for expansive landscape and group shots.

For selfies and video calls, the device features a high-resolution 50MP Portrait Selfie Camera (f/2.0 aperture), enhanced by Honor’s advanced portrait and AI algorithms for vivid and high-quality results. Video recording capabilities are robust, supporting 4K and 1080p at 30fps for both front and rear cameras, with gyro-EIS providing effective stabilization.

AI Features
Honor brings in a wide range of AI-powered photography tools for the 400 Pro series, aiming to simplify complex editing tasks and enhance creative output directly on the device. These features are designed to be human-centric and intuitive:

• AI Image to Video: Converts still images into short, dynamic videos, bringing static moments to life. This feature allows users to transform old family photos into lively clips, creating a sense of stepping back in time.
• AI Erase Passers-by: Automatically removes unwanted moving people or objects from the background of photos with a single tap, ensuring clean and distraction-free compositions.
• AI Upscale: Improves the resolution and clarity of lower-resolution photos without losing detail, breathing new life into older or lower-quality images.
• AI Outpainting: Extends the boundaries of a photo, intelligently filling in the expanded areas to create a wider scene, perfect for adapting images to different aspect ratios or wallpapers.
• AI Eye Open: A highly practical feature that can fix closed eyes in group shots, saving otherwise perfect moments.
• AI Portrait Snap: Utilizes AI blur calculation and intent recognition to capture sharp and detailed portraits, even of moving subjects, with natural background blur, ensuring every expression is beautifully captured.
• AI Super Zoom: Allows for significant digital zoom (up to 50x on the Pro model) while attempting to maintain clarity, enabling users to capture distant details.
• HD Moving Photo: Enables effortless sharing and instant social moments by allowing users to select, edit, and share dynamic photos.

Battery and Charging
The Honor 400 Pro 5G is equipped with a substantial 6000mAh silicon-carbon battery, designed to provide exceptional all-day power and endurance. This large capacity ensures worry-free usage even for demanding users.

Charging performance is a major highlight, with the Honor 400 Pro supporting 100W wired SuperCharge and 50W wireless SuperCharge. The 100W wired charging is incredibly fast, capable of boosting the battery by 50% in just 15 minutes and achieving a full charge in a remarkably short time. This rapid charging capability significantly reduces downtime, making it convenient for users on the go. The inclusion of 50W wireless charging further adds to its versatility and premium appeal.

Internal Specifications
Under the hood, the Honor 400 Pro 5G is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. This cutting-edge octa-core chipset, built on a 4nm process, delivers top-tier performance for even the most demanding applications, gaming, and multitasking. It is paired with an Adreno 750 GPU, ensuring exceptional graphics rendering.

The device comes with generous memory and storage configurations, featuring 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. The Honor 400 Pro 5G runs on Android 15 with Honor’s custom user interface, MagicOS 9.0. A significant commitment from Honor is the promise of up to six major Android updates and security updates through 2030, ensuring long-term software support and a future-proof experience. The device also supports Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, along with features like Google Lens and Circle to Search.

Camera Performance
The Honor 400 Pro 5G’s camera system is truly flagship-level. The 200MP main camera, combined with its large sensor, OIS, and AI RAW Large Model, consistently delivers ultra-clear images with incredible detail and dynamic range, especially in good lighting conditions.

The dedicated 50MP telephoto lens provides excellent optical zoom capabilities, making it versatile for various photographic scenarios, from distant subjects to stunning portraits. Low-light performance is robust, with the AI portrait mode excelling at enhancing facial textures and capturing beautiful details even in challenging lighting.

The 50MP selfie camera ensures high-quality self-portraits, and the extensive suite of AI-powered editing tools (such as AI Erase Passers-by, AI Image to Video, and AI Upscale) significantly enhances the post-capture workflow, offering users unparalleled creative control and convenience. The AI-powered features like AI Portrait Snap and AI Super Zoom further elevate the overall photography experience, making it easier to capture professional-looking shots in diverse situations.

Battery and Charging Performance
The 6000mAh silicon-carbon battery in the Honor 400 Pro 5G provides excellent endurance, easily lasting a full day, even with heavy usage. This large capacity, combined with the efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, ensures that the device can keep up with demanding tasks.

The charging performance is also a standout feature. The 100W wired SuperCharge is incredibly fast, allowing for quick top-ups and minimising downtime. The addition of 50W wireless charging further enhances convenience, making the Honor 400 Pro 5G one of the leading devices in its class for both battery capacity and charging speed.

Device Performance
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Honor 400 Pro 5G offers truly exceptional performance. It handles everything from demanding games and intensive multitasking to complex AI computations with remarkable fluidity and speed. The Adreno 750 GPU ensures a smooth and immersive gaming experience, further optimized by the GPU Turbo X Game Engine.

MagicOS 9.0, running on Android 15, provides a refined and intuitive user interface, complemented by AI features such as Magic Portal, AI Writing Tools, and Live Translation, all contributing to a highly personalised user experience. The long-term software support commitment (6 years of Android updates) adds significant value and longevity to the device.

Verdict
The Honor 400 Pro 5G is a awesome device that positions itself as a strong competitor in the flagship smartphone segment. Its luxurious design, top-tier build quality with IP68/IP69 water resistance, and an incredibly versatile 200MP AI camera system make it a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts. The combination of a massive 6000mAh battery and ultra-fast 100W wired and 50W wireless charging sets a high bar for power management.

With the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor at its core, the Honor 400 Pro 5G delivers uncompromising performance across all applications, ensuring a smooth and responsive user experience. The extensive suite of AI features, coupled with Honor’s commitment to long-term software updates, further enhances its appeal, offering a smart, capable, and durable device built for everyday use and beyond. For users seeking a premium smartphone that excels in camera, performance, and battery life, the Honor 400 Pro 5G is an excellent investment.

Price: AED 2499

Photography and test images by Ryan Chris