The Nothing CMF Phone 2 Concept Imagines a Budget Beast with Swappable Back Panels and Big Personality

The Nothing CMF Phone 2 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing budget phones of the year—and if recent leaks and concept renders are anything to go by, it might just bring back some much-needed flair to the smartphone scene. A new concept by designer Sergey Popovich reimagines the upcoming CMF Phone 2 as not just a wallet-friendly device, but one with serious personality and a modular twist.

Leaked images floating around the web have already hinted at a triple rear camera system and a fresh, contoured design aimed at better grip. The CMF Phone 2, which recently popped up on India’s BIS certification list under the model number A001, looks set to make its debut in the Indian market—possibly as early as next month, or sometime in May. Based on the original CMF Phone’s July launch last year, that timeline seems very likely.

But here’s where things get interesting: Popovich’s concept design adds a customizable layer to the device. Think swappable back panels and attachable accessories—yes, actual hardware customization in a phone that won’t cost you a fortune. The design shows a two-part rear cover that users can unscrew and swap out, allowing you to mix and match colors, textures, or even clip-on modules for added functionality. If Nothing plays its cards right, this could be a low-cost answer to the old-school Moto Mods—with a style-first twist.

Despite rumors of a smaller display, this concept sticks with a 6.7-inch 120Hz panel and a generous 5,000mAh battery. And while most leaks have pointed to a Snapdragon Gen 3 chip, Popovich imagines a MediaTek Dimensity 7350 5G powering the device, paired with a surprising 20GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (expandable to 1TB). That’s more than enough juice to push its dual 50MP main + ultrawide cameras and the 32MP front-facing sensor to their limits.

Customization also extends to physical elements like button textures and body colors—meaning the CMF Phone 2 might let you tweak the look and feel of your daily driver in a way few phones do these days. The IP54 rating promises basic splash and dust resistance, while Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15, is expected to ship with two years of Android updates and three years of security patches.

Sure, it’s all conceptual for now—but if the real deal lands anywhere close to what’s been imagined here, the CMF Phone 2 could be the most fun you’ll have with a budget phone in 2025. Bold design, thoughtful modularity, and a spec sheet that punches up? Sign us up.

via Yanko Design/ Sergey Popovich

About 
Passionate about design, especially smartphones, gadgets and tablets. Blogging on this site since 2008 and discovering prototypes and trends before bigshot companies sometimes