Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: A Deep Dive into Battery, Performance, and Value

The Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro arrives as a strong contender in the mid-range, challenging established players like Samsung's Galaxy S23 FE. While the S23 FE aims for a flagship experience at a slightly lower price, the CMF Phone 2 Pro prioritizes longevity and efficiency. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right phone for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing all-day battery life and efficient performance, the Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro is the clear winner, offering a remarkable 53:56h endurance. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE provides a more polished camera experience and broader regional availability, making it a strong choice for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, April 282023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, May 05Available. Released 2023, October 05
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions164 x 78 x 7.8 mm (6.46 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
Display
ProtectionPanda Glass, Mohs level 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - InternationalOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - USA
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - USA
GPUMali-G615 MC2Xclipse 920 - InternationalAdreno 730 - USA
OSAndroid 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.2Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF 50 MP, f/1.9, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.88", PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.0"10 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoUnspecified
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired 5W reverse wired25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Type5000 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsWhite, Black, Orange, Light GreenMint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine
ModelsA001SM-S711B, SM-S711B/DS, SM-S711U1, SM-S711U, SM-S711W, SM-S7110, SM-S711N
Price€ 199.00 / ₹ 18,299$ 219.95 / C$ 327.90 / £ 248.99 / € 272.00 / ₹ 34,999
SAR-0.80 W/kg (head)     0.72 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.76 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
EU LABEL
Battery53:56h endurance, 1400 cycles-
EnergyClass A-
Free fallClass C (90 falls)-
RepairabilityClass C-

Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life (53:56h endurance)
  • Efficient Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset
  • Brighter display (1255 nits)

  • Slower charging speed (33W)
  • Limited camera details available

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

  • Versatile camera system (photo/video)
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Faster charging with PD3.0

  • Significantly shorter battery life (8:28h active use)
  • Chipset performance varies by region (Exynos vs Snapdragon)

Display Comparison

The Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1255 nits compared to the S23 FE’s 985 nits, making it more usable outdoors. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the display brightness difference impacts visibility under direct sunlight. Neither phone specifies refresh rate or panel type, but the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s higher peak brightness provides a noticeable advantage for HDR content and overall clarity. The S23 FE, however, benefits from Samsung’s established display calibration expertise, potentially offering more accurate colors out of the box.

Camera Comparison

Samsung traditionally excels in camera technology, and the S23 FE is no exception, though specific sensor details are missing from the provided data. The S23 FE’s camera system likely features a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensors than the CMF Phone 2 Pro. The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s camera capabilities are not detailed, but the absence of specific sensor information suggests it may not compete directly with the S23 FE in image quality or features. The S23 FE’s inclusion of photo and video capabilities implies a more versatile camera experience, likely with features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and advanced shooting modes. The 2MP macro camera on many phones in this segment is often a marketing gimmick and unlikely to deliver significant improvements.

Performance

The chipset choice is a key differentiator. The Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro, a 4nm chip with an octa-core configuration (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes in two variants: the Exynos 2200 (International) and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA), both also on a 4nm process. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 generally outperforms the Exynos 2200, both are older generation flagships. The Dimensity 7300 Pro, while not as powerful in raw benchmarks, is designed for efficiency, contributing to the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s superior battery life. The S23 FE’s CPU configuration (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) offers higher peak performance, but at the cost of increased power consumption. The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s architecture prioritizes sustained performance over short bursts.

Battery Life

The Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro dominates in battery endurance, achieving a remarkable 53:56h of total usage and 14:38h of active use. This is significantly better than the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE’s 8:28h of active use. The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s 33W wired charging is slower than the S23 FE’s 25W charging with PD3.0 (claiming 50% in 30 minutes), but the superior battery life mitigates this. The S23 FE also offers 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the CMF Phone 2 Pro. The CMF Phone 2 Pro’s reported 1400 battery cycles suggest a longer lifespan and sustained performance over time.

Buying Guide

Buy the Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro if you need exceptional battery life, a clean software experience, and value long-term usability over absolute peak performance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you prefer a more established brand, a versatile camera system with advanced features, and the convenience of wireless charging and a wider range of software optimizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 in the S23 FE suffer from overheating issues?
The Exynos 2200 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load. While Samsung has implemented optimizations, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant (available in the USA) generally performs better in terms of thermal management. The Dimensity 7300 Pro in the CMF Phone 2 Pro is designed for efficiency and is less prone to overheating, contributing to its longer battery life.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the CMF Phone 2 Pro slow compared to the competition?
While 33W is slower than the S23 FE’s 25W with PD3.0, the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s exceptional battery life means you’ll likely need to charge it less frequently. The difference in charging speed is less significant when considering the overall time spent plugged in.
❓ How does the Dimensity 7300 Pro handle demanding games like PUBG?
The Dimensity 7300 Pro is capable of running PUBG, but may require slightly lower graphics settings compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or even the Exynos 2200. However, its efficiency will result in less throttling and more consistent frame rates during extended gaming sessions.
❓ What is the real-world benefit of 1400 battery cycles on the CMF Phone 2 Pro?
The 1400 battery cycle rating indicates that the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s battery is designed to retain a significant portion of its capacity even after numerous charge cycles. This translates to a longer overall lifespan for the battery, meaning you’ll be able to use the phone for years without experiencing a noticeable decline in battery performance.