The smartphone market in India is buzzing with options, especially in the budget and mid-range segments. Two devices that have caught everyone’s attention are the CMF Phone 2 Pro and the Nothing Phone 3a. Both phones come from the same parent company, Nothing, but cater to slightly different audiences. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is a budget-friendly option, while the Nothing Phone 3a sits in the premium mid-range category. If you’re wondering which one to buy or whether the CMF Phone 2 Pro is worth your money, this article will break it all down for you. We’ll compare their design, display, performance, camera, battery, software, and more to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality: Stylish but with Trade-offs
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Bold and Customizable
The CMF Phone 2 Pro stands out with its unique design. It’s slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, the CMF Phone 1, and even the Nothing Phone 3a. CMF (Color, Material, Finish) lives up to its name by offering customization options. You can choose between dual-tone (orange and white) and single-tone (light green and black) variants. The orange dual-tone variant is particularly eye-catching, with a reflective glass-like bottom and a matte finish at the top. The light green and black variants have a frosted glass texture, paired with a plastic frame that mimics metal.
The exposed screw design gives it an industrial, grunge vibe, which is rare for a budget phone. However, the slim screws can be tricky to handle and may wear out over time. The phone also introduces individual camera rings, which look sleek and allow for attachable lenses (macro and fisheye) via a universal cover. While this adds functionality, the universal cover feels cheap and requires extra effort to install. Accessories like a wallet-plus-stand and lanyard loop are available but sold separately.
Unfortunately, the push for a slimmer design has compromised build quality. The plastic frame and mono speaker setup feel like a step down compared to the CMF Phone 1. The IP rating is also basic, offering only splash resistance.
Nothing Phone 3a: Premium and Polished
The Nothing Phone 3a takes a more premium approach. It features a glass back and front with a plastic frame, making it feel sturdier than the CMF Phone 2 Pro. The iconic Glyph Interface—three LED strips on the back—adds a unique touch, lighting up for notifications, calls, and more. The Phone 3a also has a better IP64 rating for dust and water resistance, which is a step above the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
The stereo speakers on the Phone 3a deliver richer sound compared to the mono speaker on the CMF Phone 2 Pro. At 201g, it’s slightly heavier, but the build feels more solid and premium. The Essential Key, a new feature introduced with the Phone 3a series, is also present on the CMF Phone 2 Pro, but we’ll discuss its functionality later.
Verdict
If you love bold, customizable designs and don’t mind a slightly compromised build, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a great choice. However, the Nothing Phone 3a feels more premium with its glass build, better IP rating, and stereo speakers.
Display: Almost Identical, with Minor Differences
Both phones sport the same 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1080×2392 resolution, and 3000 nits peak brightness. This flexible AMOLED panel allows for slimmer bezels and a smaller chin, giving you more screen real estate. Whether you’re watching videos or scrolling through social media, the display is vibrant and smooth.
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Bright but Slightly Off
The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s display is a standout for its price. It supports HDR10+ and delivers excellent brightness, especially outdoors. Interestingly, it gets slightly brighter than the Phone 3a when playing HDR videos on YouTube. However, color tuning is a weak point. The Alive mode makes colors overly vibrant, while the Standard mode isn’t neutral enough, resulting in slightly inaccurate colors.
Haptics on the CMF Phone 2 Pro are improved over the CMF Phone 1, feeling tight and precise. The in-display optical fingerprint scanner is fast but placed a bit low for comfort.
Nothing Phone 3a: Better Tuned
The Nothing Phone 3a’s display is nearly identical but has better color calibration. Colors look more natural, making it ideal for those who prioritize accuracy. Haptics are also superior, offering a more premium feel. Like the CMF Phone 2 Pro, it supports HDR10+ but lacks Netflix HDR certification.
Verdict
Both phones offer fantastic displays for their price, but the Nothing Phone 3a edges out slightly with better color tuning and haptics. If display quality is your top priority, you won’t be disappointed with either.
Performance: Snapdragon vs MediaTek
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Decent but Not the Best
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro, paired with LPDDR4X RAM (8GB) and UFS 2.2 storage (128GB or 256GB). This chipset delivers solid performance for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and casual gaming. Games like BGMI run smoothly at 120fps, but heavier titles like Genshin Impact struggle at high settings.
Benchmarks like AnTuTu and Geekbench show that the Dimensity 7300 Pro is on par with other budget phones but lags behind the Phone 3a. The phone also throttles more during extended CPU-intensive tasks, indicating less stability.
Nothing Phone 3a: A Step Ahead
The Nothing Phone 3a uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, a more powerful chipset. Paired with up to 12GB RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, it offers better performance across the board. It scores higher on AnTuTu and Geekbench, and its GPU handles graphics-intensive games better, delivering higher frame rates in titles like Genshin Impact. CPU stability is also superior, making it a better choice for multitasking and gaming.
Verdict
For casual users, the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s performance is more than adequate. However, if you’re a gamer or need a phone for heavy multitasking, the Nothing Phone 3a’s Snapdragon chipset is worth the extra cost.
Camera: Hardware vs Software Tuning
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Great on Paper
The CMF Phone 2 Pro boasts a triple camera setup:
- 50MP main sensor (1/1.57-inch, no OIS)
- 50MP 2x telephoto
- 8MP ultra-wide
- 16MP selfie camera
On paper, this is impressive for a phone under ₹20,000. The main sensor is large, promising good light capture, and the 2x telephoto is a rare feature in this segment. However, poor software tuning lets it down. Images are oversharpened, and colors are inaccurate, often appearing too cool or washed out. Skin tones look unnatural, and HDR performance is decent but not great.
The telephoto lens performs well but suffers from inconsistent color tuning compared to the main sensor. The ultra-wide camera is average, with soft details. Selfies lack sharpness, and low-light performance is subpar. Video recording at 4K 30fps is possible but lacks stabilization and detail compared to the Phone 3a.
The attachable fisheye and macro lenses are a unique selling point. They work well, especially the macro lens when paired with the main sensor, but the universal cover’s quality is a drawback.
Nothing Phone 3a: Better Execution
The Nothing Phone 3a has a similar camera setup:
- 50MP main sensor (with OIS)
- 50MP 2x telephoto
- 8MP ultra-wide
- 32MP selfie camera
Thanks to the Snapdragon’s superior image signal processor (ISP), the Phone 3a delivers better results. Photos are sharper, with accurate colors and natural skin tones. The portrait mode offers better edge detection, and the ultra-wide camera performs better in most scenarios. Selfies are more detailed, and low-light shots are cleaner.
Video recording is a clear win for the Phone 3a, with better stabilization, exposure handling, and audio quality at 4K 30fps.
Verdict
The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s camera hardware is impressive for its price, but poor tuning holds it back. The Nothing Phone 3a’s cameras are better optimized, making it the better choice for photography and videography.
Battery and Charging: Similar but Not Equal
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Good Enough
The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. In India, it comes with a charger and a transparent silicone case in the box, which is a nice touch. Battery life is solid, offering around 8 hours of screen-on time or 1-1.5 days of moderate use. However, charging takes longer compared to the Phone 3a.
Nothing Phone 3a: Faster Charging
The Nothing Phone 3a also has a 5000mAh battery but supports 50W fast charging. This results in quicker top-ups, with a full charge taking around 56 minutes. Battery life is similar, offering 8 hours of screen-on time.
Verdict
Both phones have excellent battery life, but the Nothing Phone 3a’s faster charging gives it an edge. The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s in-box charger is a bonus for budget buyers.
Software: Nothing OS Shines
Both phones run Nothing OS 3.2 based on Android 15, with a promise of 3 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches. Nothing OS is clean, bloatware-free, and visually unique with its dot-matrix design. Features like quick settings on the lock screen, large widgets, and customizable icons enhance the user experience.
The Essential Key is a standout feature, allowing you to take screenshots, record voice notes, and create AI-generated summaries or reminders. A recent update lets you capture screenshots through the camera app, adding more utility.
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Minor Hiccups
The software experience on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is smooth but not flawless. Occasional stutters, especially when opening or closing the camera app, are noticeable. These are likely due to the MediaTek chipset’s optimization.
Nothing Phone 3a: Smoother Animations
The Phone 3a offers a more polished experience, with smoother animations and no noticeable stutters. The Snapdragon chipset likely plays a role here.
Verdict
Both phones offer a premium software experience, but the Nothing Phone 3a feels more refined.
Specifications Comparison Table
| Feature | CMF Phone 2 Pro | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.77″ AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080×2392, 3000 nits | 6.77″ AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080×2392, 3000 nits |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB/128GB or 256GB (LPDDR4X, UFS 2.2) | 8GB or 12GB/128GB or 256GB (LPDDR4X, UFS 2.2) |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP main, 50MP 2x tele, 8MP ultra-wide | 50MP main (OIS), 50MP 2x tele, 8MP ultra-wide |
| Front Camera | 16MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 33W charging (charger included) | 5000mAh, 50W charging |
| Software | Nothing OS 3.2 (Android 15) | Nothing OS 3.2 (Android 15) |
| Build | Plastic frame, glass back, IP52 | Plastic frame, glass back/front, IP64 |
| Speakers | Mono | Stereo |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Price (India) | ₹18,999 (8GB/128GB) | ₹23,438 (8GB/128GB) |
Should You Buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro or Nothing Phone 3a?
CMF Phone 2 Pro: Worth It for Budget Buyers
At ₹18,999, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a solid choice for those on a tight budget. Its bold design, customizable options, and excellent display make it stand out. The triple camera setup and attachable lenses are unique, and Nothing OS 3.2 is a delight to use. However, compromises like poor camera tuning, mono speakers, and average build quality hold it back. If you prioritize affordability and don’t mind waiting for software updates to fix camera issues, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a good buy.
Nothing Phone 3a: Worth the Extra Spend
Priced at ₹23,438, the Nothing Phone 3a feels more premium. Its better build quality, stereo speakers, faster charging, and superior camera performance make it a compelling option. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 ensures smoother performance, especially for gaming and multitasking. If you can stretch your budget, the Phone 3a offers better value in the long run.
Final Verdict
- Choose the CMF Phone 2 Pro if you want a stylish, affordable phone with a great display and unique features like attachable lenses.
- Choose the Nothing Phone 3a if you prioritize premium build, better cameras, and smoother performance.
Both phones are excellent, but the Nothing Phone 3a’s refinements make it the better overall package if you can afford it.
Conclusion
The CMF Phone 2 Pro and Nothing Phone 3a are two sides of the same coin, offering impressive features for their respective price points. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is a bold, budget-friendly option with some compromises, while the Nothing Phone 3a delivers a more polished experience. Your choice depends on your budget and priorities—whether it’s affordability and style or premium features and performance. Let us know in the comments which phone you’d pick and why!
