Carl Pei’s Nothing has always marched to the beat of its own transparent drum, and its sub-brand CMF initially turned heads with the unapologetically plastic and modular Phone 1. Remember unscrewing the back to slap on a kickstand or lanyard? That was the kind of playful ingenuity that made it stand out. Now, CMF is back with the Phone 2 Pro, and while the specs have seen a bump – a snappier processor, better cameras, including telephoto and ultrawide, and a bit more battery – something feels… different.

The Phone 2 Pro looks solid, feeling lightweight and thin. The screen is bright, and Nothing OS 3.2 runs smoothly. They’ve even added a physical “Essential” button for AI smarts. But the modular magic of the Phone 1 seems to have taken a hit. While some Nothing Phone 1 accessories still work, the cool card case and backplate swaps are out. The good news? Those four signature screws remain, opening the door for the DIY crowd to 3D print their own add-ons.

For a budget-friendly $279 (via Nothing’s Beta program) and launching May 6, the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers a capable package, especially with its upgraded triple-lens camera system. It’s a decent phone with a bit of that Nothing flair, but the loss of some of that original modular charm might leave some early adopters scratching their heads. Still, Nothing continues to offer a compelling alternative for those craving something different from the smartphone sea of sameness.

In other tech news, check out the OnePlus 13T.