Nothing’s Budget Play: A Review of the CMF Watch Pro
Nothing, the brand known for its unique and aesthetically pleasing devices like the Nothing Phone and Nothing Buds, has ventured into the budget market with its CMF line. CMF, standing for color, material, and finish, aims to bring the brand’s distinct design language to price-conscious consumers. This review delves into the CMF Watch Pro, Nothing’s first foray into the budget smartwatch market, and explores if it delivers on the brand’s promise of quality and uniqueness at an affordable price point.
CMF Watch Pro Price and Packaging
Available in India for Rs. 4,499, the CMF Watch Pro sits comfortably within the budget smartwatch segment, vying for attention amongst competitors offering similar features. The minimalist packaging includes the smartwatch, a silicone strap, a charging cable, and a user manual. The smartwatch comes in a variety of colors: Orange with a chrome finish and orange band, Dark Grey with a matte finish and black band, Ash Grey with a matte finish and a grey band, and a new option with a silver case and white strap. This variety caters to individual preferences, allowing users to choose the colour combination that best suits their style.
CMF Watch Pro Design and Specifications: Style Meets Substance
The CMF Watch Pro boasts a straightforward design, with a basic button on the right side that can be difficult to press at times. The watch also features a microphone and speaker grille. The smartwatch sports a rectangular case made of aluminum alloy, which, despite its size of 46.9mm x 39.87mm (H X W) and a thickness of 11.4mm, feels surprisingly lightweight. This contributes to its all-day wearability without feeling bulky. The silicone strap, soft and comfortable, enhances the overall user experience.
The smartwatch showcases a 1.96-inch AMOLED display boasting a resolution of 410 x 502 pixels and a claimed 600+ nits of brightness. While thick bezels surround the display, they are less noticeable due to the use of blacked-out backgrounds in most watch faces. The IP68 certification for dust and water resistance ensures durability and allows for everyday use. Built-in GPS and Bluetooth 5.3, along with essential sensors for heart rate, sleep, stress, and SpO2 tracking, round out the features.
CMF Watch Pro Performance: A Mixed Bag
To manage the smartwatch’s features, you must pair it with the CMF Watch companion app, available on both the App Store and Play Store. Although pairing with an iPhone did work after multiple attempts, the app suffers from frequent log-outs, even after updates. User feedback highlights recurring issues with GPS tracking and connectivity between the smartphone and the app, despite the watch’s launch several months ago.
The app displays collected health data, including steps, exercise statistics, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep data. It also allows users to browse through the limited selection of pre-installed watch faces and navigate the extensive range of sports modes. While the app appears polished, it lacks integration with Apple Health or Google Fit, preventing the transfer of health data to other smartwatches or ecosystems. This limitation confines your data within the CMF app.
The CMF Watch Pro’s software adopts an unusual monochrome design with a black, white, and orange color scheme throughout the menus. While unique, it can become repetitive and dull after extended use. The smartwatch lacks third-party app support, using a seemingly custom version of RTOS. Updates are possible via the companion app, provided the watch is on charge or has sufficient battery life.
The custom software operates smoothly with no lag or stutters, although it only permits single-function use. Multitasking is impossible without timers or stopwatches due to the software’s limitations. The display’s monochrome look and minimal animations enhance outdoor legibility, and the vibrant colors add appeal to the full-display watch faces.
Notifications are displayed adequately with truncated content, but emojis are not included, and replies are not possible. The CMF Watch Pro functions well as a step tracker and heart rate monitor, offering results comparable to the Apple Watch Series 7 for steps when used concurrently.
However, despite having built-in GPS, the GPS tracking requires a constant connection to a smartphone. You cannot start a walk/run directly on the watch, which limits its independence. The smartwatch delivers accurate SpO2 readings compared to a pulse oximeter and functions adequately for sleep tracking, though data may take time to appear in the app.
While the CMF Watch Pro allows for call answering, its tiny speaker delivers less-than-ideal audio quality. Calls made through the smartwatch produce decent voice clarity for the recipient. The smartwatch uses Bluetooth 5.3, providing generally stable connectivity. It displays caller ID for traditional cellular calls but not for VoIP calls.
CMF Watch Pro Battery Life and Charging: Power Through the Day
The CMF Watch Pro is equipped with a 340mAh battery, which is considered standard for budget smartwatches. With AOD activated, along with calls, notifications, walk tracking, and health tracking features, the watch lasted about two days. With AOD disabled, the battery life extended to two and a half days. This falls slightly short of expectations considering the absence of additional apps.
The watch charges from 0 to 50 percent in about 30 minutes and reaches 100 percent in precisely 2 hours. The magnetic charging adapter securely connects to the watch and prevents accidental disconnections.
CMF Watch Pro Verdict: A Solid Budget Option with Room for Improvement
The CMF Watch Pro straddles the line between a fitness band and a smartwatch, offering a solid foundation in the sub-5k price category. Its unique design, excellent build quality and finish stand out in this price range. The watch fulfills essential requirements with smooth software, stable performance, and features like GPS, heart rate, sleep, and SpO2 tracking. Decent charging speeds and long battery life, along with IP68 dust and water resistance, further enhance its appeal.
However, the CMF Watch Pro faces drawbacks. The buggy companion app restricts watch face customization and lacks the ability to switch straps. Despite its positive aspects, these issues might deter potential buyers.
For those who accept the limitations of the companion app and embrace the "early adopter" experience, the CMF Watch Pro provides an attractive choice. Alternatively, consider the Noise ColorFit Pro 5 Max (Rs. 4,999) offering greater color and band options or the Redmi Watch 3 Active (priced lower) with a robust app but lacking built-in GPS.
The CMF Watch Pro holds promise but needs refinement. As Nothing pushes its design-focused approach into the budget market, the company can address the app’s shortcomings and expand its feature set to capture a greater share of the competitive smartwatch segment.
