CMF Nothing’s Cellphone 2 Professional May Be the Most Thrilling Price range Cellphone of the Yr

When all smartphones are big slabs that appear to be iPhones, tech corporations really want to go arduous with eye-catching designs. Carl Pei’s Nothing has been turning heads with its transparent phones and wireless earbuds since 2021, and final 12 months the company’s sub-brand, CMF, shocked everybody with its unapologetically plastic and modular Cellphone 1.

The truth that I can’t keep in mind a rattling factor in regards to the Cellphone 1’s tech specs however vividly recall how enjoyable it was to unscrew the again plate to put in a card case, kickstand, and neck lanyard ought to inform you what CMF prioritized for the finances cellphone.

Almost a 12 months later, CMF is again with the Cellphone 2 Professional. I’ve solely had the gadget for a weekend, so not sufficient time for a full overview, however you’ll be able to anticipate it on Gizmodo within the coming days. CMF beefed up the specs—a barely quicker processor, higher-resolution cameras together with telephoto and ultra-wide lenses, extra battery life— and even added the bodily Important button for accessing what’s mainly an AI reminiscence that was launched on the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro. However I really feel just like the Cellphone 2 Professional has misplaced a few of the modular attraction that made the Cellphone 1 so memorable.

The very first thing I did after unboxing the Cellphone 2 Professional was see which of CMF’s official Cellphone 1 equipment labored. Each the kickstand and the neck lanyard screwed into the Cellphone 2 Professional’s spherical wheel with out situation. Nonetheless, the cardboard case pockets, which requires attaching a particular magnetic plate that additionally secures into the spherical wheel, didn’t. And since the Cellphone 2 Professional’s again is sealed and not detachable, any Cellphone 1 again plate “circumstances” aren’t suitable, both. 

If you happen to personal further Cellphone 1 again plates or the cardboard case pockets, you’re shit out of luck. It’s not utterly unhealthy information… in case you personal a 3D printer. Because of CMF retaining the 4 simply detachable screws, you’ll be able to nonetheless design and 3D print your individual equipment or buy them from makers off marketplaces like Etsy. I wouldn’t be shocked if the flourishing DIY neighborhood is why CMF is breaking compatibility with some Cellphone 1 equipment so quickly.

The Cellphone 2 Professional is a decent-looking cellphone that feels stable—refreshingly light-weight (185g) and skinny (7.8mm) in comparison with different telephones with a similar-sized show. The display screen is greater than shiny sufficient, and Nothing OS 3.2 (Android 15) is responsive due to the 120Hz refresh price. 

Nothing despatched me the sunshine inexperienced that you simply see in these pictures. It has a satin-like sheen when seen at totally different angles. However the cellphone additionally is available in white, black, and orange. The latter has a two-tone design that appears one of the best of the lot, in my view. 

As I discussed earlier, the Cellphone 2 Professional is extra highly effective below the hood—it’s simply all very incremental. The show is a barely bigger 6.77-inch AMOLED versus the Cellphone 1’s 6.6-inch display screen, the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Professional 5G chip is 10% extra highly effective, and regardless that the battery capability is identical 5,000mAh, CMF says it ought to final an additional hour.

Probably the most noteworthy improve is the rear cameras. Whereas the Cellphone 1 had a single 50-megapixel important digicam (and a controversial and largely ineffective 2-megapixel “depth digicam”), the Cellphone 2 Professional has a correct no-bullshit triple-lens digicam system consisting of a 50-megapixel f/1.88 important lens, a 50-megapixel f/1.85 telephoto lens, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens. Photograph and video high quality should wait till I can snap sufficient pictures to make an analysis, however on the very least, you may get extra zoom attain and a wider discipline of view in your pictures.

I admit I wasn’t anticipating to seek out the Important key beneath the right-side energy button. I assumed Nothing would gatekeep it for its dearer telephones, however maybe I shouldn’t have been shocked, since Nothing plans to charge a subscription to make use of the AI characteristic within the close to future. Gotta get the button onto as many telephones as doable in case you wanna flip it right into a subscription enterprise!

Presently, the button works precisely prefer it does on the mid-range Nothing Cellphone (3a) and (3a) Professional gadgets. Press it as soon as to take a screenshot, to which you’ll then add a textual content word or connect a voice recording for extra context. Press and maintain the Important key, and also you’re taken to the Important Area, the place all of your screenshots reside, but additionally the place generative AI organizes and helps make sense of all these captures. The AI would possibly provide a abstract of textual content or describe pictures, create calendar occasions or reminders, transcribe voice memos, or make job recommendations. It’s a nifty thought for a “second mind” or “reminiscence recall” operate the place you’ll be able to simply dump every part into the Important Area and let AI type all of it out, however its usefulness is fairly restricted proper now. There isn’t even a method to search your screenshots (but).

For a finances cellphone, the CMF Cellphone 2 Professional packs in rather a lot whereas nonetheless retaining some modularity. Nothing’s primarily concentrating on India and Europe with this cellphone: £219 within the UK, €249 in Europe, and ₹18,999 for 8GB of RAM + 128GB of storage. A Cellphone 2 Professional with the identical RAM and twice the storage (256GB) will go for £249 within the UK, €279 in Europe, and ₹20,999 in India. Like at all times, U.S. customers can get the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage mannequin—the one variant transport to America—by way of Nothing’s Beta program for $279.

CMF can also be promoting a number of official Cellphone 2 Professional equipment, and for some purpose, completely and in restricted portions within the UK and Europe. There’s a “common cowl” for attaching different equipment (£25 / €25), interchangeable fisheye and macro lenses (£35 / €35), and a pockets/stand ( £35 / €35). There may also be two bundles: one with a canopy and selection of pockets/stand or lenses for £45 / €45, and one other with a canopy and each the pockets/stand and lenses for £65 / €65. You’ll must convert the forex your self in case you plan to import them, since they gained’t be accessible within the U.S. or India. I’ve not tried any of those equipment, so your guess is nearly as good as mine as to how good they’re. Pre-orders begin as we speak, April 28, and official gross sales directly from Nothing and choose retailers on Could 6.