CMF Phone 2 Pro Challengers: iQoo Z10, Poco X7, More
CMF Phone 2 Pro Challengers: Nothing’s budget brand CMF has unveiled the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the successor to last year’s CMF Phone 1. Staying true to its industrial, modular design, the new phone is Nothing’s slimmest yet at 7.8mm and weighs just 185g. It retains the signature removable dial, silver screws, and now features a distinctive triple rear camera setup with two large lenses and a silver-accented design.
The Phone 2 Pro boasts a 6.77-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 3000 nits peak brightness. It’s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chip, paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage (expandable to 2TB). There’s no 3.5mm jack or stereo speakers.
Camera-wise, it packs two 50MP sensors (main + telephoto) and an 8MP ultrawide on the back, with a 16MP selfie shooter in front. While there’s no OIS, the camera setup is rare in this price segment.
The phone houses a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging, and for the first time, includes a charger and case in the box. Running Android 15 with Nothing OS, it offers 3 years of OS and 6 years of security updates. It also includes an IP54 rating and the Essential Space button for quick-access tasks.
All of this for Rs 18,999 for the 8 GB/ 128 GB variant and Rs 20,999 for 8 GB/ 256 GB version (you can also purchase accessories like camera lenses, back covers, and more at an additional cost), makes the CMF Phone 2 Pro a top contender in its price segment.
But despite its specs and design, the CMF Phone 2 Pro faces tough competition. Here are five smartphones that can out-Pro the CMF Phone 2 Pro:
iQoo Z10: Master Of Specs
Price: Rs 21,999 onwards
The iQoo Z10 is a spec monster and outshines the CMF Phone 2 Pro in many areas. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, which compares favourably with the one on the Phone 2 Pro, and to make matters more competitive, the iQoo Z10 comes with up to 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
It has a 6.77-inch quad-curve AMOLED full HD+ display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a very impressive peak brightness of 5,000 nits. The phone features a dual camera setup on the back consisting of a 50 megapixel Sony IMX882 main sensor with OIS (something the Phone 2 Pro lacks) and a 2 megapixel bokeh camera. While it misses out on better secondary sensors on the back, it boasts an impressive 32 megapixel selfie camera on the front ,which comes with support for 4K video.
But the biggest USP of the device is its massive 7,300 mAh battery, which can see you through multiple days of smartphone-ing.
Not just this, it comes with support for 90W charging and brings a charger in the box. And this is an impressive 7.9 mm slim, premium-looking design with a curved display and circular camera unit.
The phone runs on Android 15 with Funtouch OS 15 on top, and comes with a number of AI features like Circle to Search, AI Note Assist, AI Erase and AI Photo Enhance. All in all, the iQoo Z10 has the potential to make life difficult for the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
Poco X7: A Worthy Challenger
Price: Rs 18,999
The Poco X7 brings a good spec sheet. It has a 6.67-inch 3D curved AMOLED full HD+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 3000 nits peak brightness. Powering the phone is a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset, which comes with 8 GB RAM and 128GB and 256 GB storage options. There is a triple camera set up on the back of the Poco X7, made up of a 50 megapixel main sensor, which is paired with an 8 megapixel ultrawide and a 2 megapixel macro one.
But it has a higher megapixel count on the front with its 20 megapixel selfie sensor. It has a bigger 5,500 mAh battery with support for faster 45W charging as compared to what you get with the Phone 2 Pro. It also has dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
Although it comes with Android 14 out of the box with Xiaomi’s HyperOS on top, the phone brings features like IP68/ 69 rating, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the front, and a premium design. All of which make the Poco X7 a very different offering from the CMF Phone 2 Pro, but still a very competitive one.
Motorola Edge 60 Stylus: Stylus In Budget
Price: Rs 22,999 onwards
A stylus is an add-on feature that one only associates with high-end (read Samsung) smartphones. That has changed with the launch of the Motorola Edge 60 Stylus. As the name suggests, the phone comes with a stylus that not only lets users scribble their way through the day but also helps the phone stand out from the usual smartphone crowd.
The Motorola Edge 60 Stylus comes with some solid specs too. The phone has a 6.67-inch pOLED super HD+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness, and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is powered by the capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, which is coupled with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
The phone’s triple camera arrangement comprises a 50 megapixel main, a 13 megapixel ultrawide and an auxiliary lens, while it brings an impressive 32 megapixel sensor on the front. It runs on a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 68 W fast charging, but unfortunately has no charger in its box. It runs on Android 15 and comes with a promise of two years of major and three years of security updates.
The phone has dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, a 3.5 mm audio jack, an IP68 rating and Military Grade Protection Certification. A feature-packed competitor, this.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite: Well-Rounded Specs and Features
Price: Rs 18,999 onwards
One of the phones standing in the way of the CMF Phone 2 Pro comes from its co-founder's previous venture, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, which brings downright solid specs to the table.
It features a 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate. Running the phone is the job of the old but still efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, which is paired with 8 GB RAM and comes in two storage variants– 128 GB and 256 GB. The phone features a dual camera setup on the back with a 50 megapixel main sensor and a 2 megapixel secondary one, with a 16 megapixel selfie sensor in front.
The phone is powered by Android 14 out of the box, which is a bit disappointing, but it can be upgraded to Android 15 and comes with OnePlus’ Oxygen OS 15 as well. The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is backed by a big 5,500 mAh battery, which comes with 80W fast charging support and has a charger in the box too.
The phone also comes with IP54 rating, stereo speakers and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite might not shine in one particular department, but it is a well-rounded competitor.
Redmi Note 14: Note-able Competitor
Price: Rs 17,999 onwards
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is in the mid-segment, so it naturally faces a Redmi Note - the Redmi Note 14. The phone comes with a 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra processor, which is a very competent chipset, and this is paired with 8 GB RAM, with two storage options: 128 GB and 256 GB, which can be expanded using a microSD card.
The triple camera setup on its back comprises a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS, an 8 megapixel ultrawide and a 2 megapixel macro, while a 20 megapixel camera in front takes care of selfies and video calls.
It comes with a 5,110 mAh battery, which has 45W charging support, and the phone brings a charger in the box too. The presence of Android 14 out of the box might put off some, but it is paired with Xiaomi’s new HyperOS and comes with a 2+4 years of update promise (major + security). The Redmi Note 14 has dual speakers with Dolby Atmos, an IP64 rating and a 3.5 mm audio jack and an IR blaster in its anatomy as well.
Not a mind-blowing spec sheet by any means, but it is certainly good enough to ruffle some CMF feathers.
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