The CMF Watch 3 Pro seems to be the most sophisticated low-cost smartwatch that the Nothing sub-brand has produced to yet. It boasts a huge, well-specced display, a battery life that approaches the finest available, and an excellent appearance. It costs more than its predecessor, though, and does not provide many significant improvements. The competition is fiercer at this price point, and although the CMF Watch 3 Pro is still a fantastic buy, you may find that you get more for your money with watches like the Amazfit Active 2. No, that is not a typo: Nothing's newest low-cost smartwatch is the CMF Watch 3 Pro. Strangely, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is the replacement for the CMF Watch Pro 2, and the naming scheme has altered slightly.
Putting naming ambiguity aside, the most recent CMF watch has some improvements. The screen has smaller bezels, is somewhat brighter, and has been raised from 1.32 to 1.42 inches. Additionally, it now has a slightly larger battery, pairs with the new Nothing X app, and has dual-band GPS for better workout monitoring. But the news is not entirely positive. Although the screen is easier to operate due to its greater size, some wrists may find it too big, as there is only one size available. On this model, nothing has done away with the replaceable bezels, and regrettably, the price is also higher.
All in all, it is a fashionable smartwatch with lots of functions, excellent software, and a very long battery life. Even with the higher MSRP, it is still incredibly cheap. This one can be difficult to sell unless you are a major lover of the CMF look, as the competition is more fierce due to the increased price.
If you already have the CMF Watch Pro 2, it does not seem worth purchasing, but if you are switching from the original CMF Watch, this is a significant improvement. Although it is not flawless, I have had a great time using it.
With an MSRP of £99/$99, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is £30 more costly than the Watch Pro 2, which debuted last summer for £/$69. Given that the value proposition was one of the main selling factors of earlier versions, that rise might be difficult to accept.
Nevertheless, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is currently on sale for £79 in the UK, and given its recent release, you might anticipate that price difference to narrow even further in the months ahead. In any case, for a watch with so many features, it is still incredibly reasonably priced.
The 1.43-inch circular AMOLED display on the CMF Watch 3 Pro is a significant improvement over the 1.32-inch display on the previous iteration. Additionally, it features thinner bezels and is marginally brighter—rated at 670 nits instead of 620 nits. This increase in size has two drawbacks. On the one hand, it improves the display's aesthetics and ease of use. However, it also makes the watch incredibly big.
Although it is a hefty device, it is nonetheless incredibly light—47 grams with the strap connected. Although I think it looks well on my wrist and I am a very big person, I would not want to get any bigger. You do not have to apply if you have delicate wrists.
In contrast to the original CMF Watch, the CMF Watch Pro 2 underwent a significant overhaul; nonetheless, the third iteration's design is remarkably similar. It still features a single rotating crown on the right side that may be pressed like a button, giving it a simple circular look.
However, one change is that the bezel can no longer be switched, therefore it is important to choose the style you like most when you purchase it. Both a more curved and a flatter, more angular bezel are available, just as previously. The textured curved bezel on the Light Gray model I am testing should help prevent scratches on the screen, and it also looks really good.
Although the watch's case and, I believe, the bezel are made of aluminum, they have a somewhat plasticky appearance and feel, which takes away from the otherwise high-end experience.
Regarding the display itself, it is excellent. With a refresh rate of 60 Hz, it appears sufficiently fluid when navigating the operating system, and although the majority of the screen is black, white, and orange, colors pop when they do appear. Even though it is not the brightest display available, I never had any problems reading it, and considering the low price, I believe the performance is respectable.
However, the brightness of the always-on display was one thing I did not particularly enjoy. Since I do not have to lift my wrist to check the time, I typically prefer to keep the always-on display turned on. But this one is so dim and difficult to read that it does not seem worth draining the battery.
The Watch 3 Pro, like its predecessor, is water and dust resistant with an IP68 classification. This indicates that it has good dust protection and can be completely submerged in freshwater, but nothing suggests swimming or the ocean.
Like earlier models, the CMF Watch 3 Pro runs Nothing's proprietary software and operates essentially in the same manner. Like the previous models, the OS is infused with Nothing's own design language, and fans will adore the collection of simple, monochrome watch faces.
The companion app is now different. Instead of the previous CMF Watch app, the CMF Watch 3 Pro pairs with the Nothing X app. Although I think the app looks better and the experience is more refined, there is not much of a difference in terms of functionality. The fact that there are now more choices for health monitoring pleased me. You may now select how often the sensor measures your heart rate instead of just turning on or off all-day heart rate tracking.
There are already 131 distinct activity tracking modes available on the watch, and nothing has been done to add more. This includes extremely niche activities like parkour and parachuting, as well as some sports I've never even heard of, like sepak takraw (a volleyball-like game from Southeast Asia). Whatever you are interested in, it is probably here.
I could not get Essential News, a new feature, to work. It is meant to use AI to read you a daily overview of the news topics you are interested in. Unfortunately, even though it seems like a wonderful feature, I tried it on a few different phones and it would constantly say "Playing" without doing anything.
Another new feature is recording transcription, which fortunately worked. In essence, a voice memo can be recorded on your watch and then sent to your phone for transcription into text.
Although it appears to be quite accurate, I am not entirely clear what its goal is. Although I believe that very few people would find this function beneficial, I suppose you might utilize it if you have a great idea when you are not near your phone.
Another minor change is that album artwork is now displayed on the music controller, which is a great addition. But keep in mind that this watch has no built-in storage, so in order to use it, you will need to pair it with your phone.
The Watch 3 Pro's dual-band GPS instead of single-band is one of its most significant functional upgrades. Where you train will determine how important this is to you, but you should be able to benefit from more dependable GPS tracking whether you are in the densely populated city streets or deep in the woods.
The GPS was incredibly reliable in my experience, primarily when it came to tracking walks and bike rides. When I zoomed in on the map, it was actually so accurate that it recognized which side of the street I was on. Other than that, the array of sensors performs the same as earlier CMF releases, notwithstanding possible hardware updates.
My average and maximum BPM appeared to be accurate based on the heart rate readings from my other watches. But occasionally, mainly when I was wearing the strap a little loose for comfort, the reading seemed completely inaccurate. To get the best tracking results, I believe you need to turn this down.
The battery life is actually the main attraction here. Nothing claims that it can run for up to 13 days when charged or about 4.5 days when the always-on display is turned on. These estimates appear to be rather accurate because I made sure to activate every feature and tested the watch fully, and I was still able to use it for well over four days between charges.
Even though I am accustomed to having a lengthy battery life from my regular Huawei Watch GT5 Pro, the CMF Watch 3 Pro still impressed with its longevity. This is a great option if you detest charging your watch.
The charging process takes around an hour and a half, from empty to full. But because of its incredibly weak connection, the magnetic charging puck needs to be redesigned because even the smallest knock can cause the watch to disengage. It is one of my least favorite charging cables, but it does the job.
