CMF Watch Pro review: 'Nothing' can beat this

CMF Watch Pro review: India’s wearable market is witnessing unexpected growth and according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) India Monthly Wearable Device Tracker, the first half of 2023 registered a strong 53.3 per cent YoY (year-over-year) growth. Several brands have launched smartwatch models in different shapes, designs, materials and finishes in the recent past. London-based Nothing too has ventured into the wearables market with its sub-brand called CMF by Nothing. The company recently launched CMF Watch Pro. Has this watch managed to stand out in the sea of smartwatches? Find out in Zee Business' full review.

CMF Watch Pro review: Price and Variants

CMF Watch Pro is available in two colour variants - Metallic Grey, which comes with an Orange strap and Dark Grey which comes in two strap colour options of Dark Grey and Ash Grey. They are priced at Rs 4,999 and Rs 4,499 respectively. I am using the Metallic Grey variant of the smartwatch as a review unit.

CMF Watch Pro review: In The Box

The CMF Watch Pro by Nothing has distinctive packaging. The package contains the smartwatch, silicon straps and the two-pin magnetic charger along with a user guide and

CMF Watch Pro review: Design

There is nothing extraordinary when it comes to the design of the CMF Watch Pro. The watch has a rectangular design with an aluminium alloy frame in a metallic finish and a single button on the right side. The watch looks a bit bulky as it has a 1.96-inch display and is a bit thick as well. However, the watch is lightweight at around 30.4 grams without straps. The Orange straps is large enough to fit almost every wrist. While I found the colour to be too bold for me, there are some who might like it. The quality of the bundled straps looks good as they are very soft.

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There's a speaker and a microphone for Bluetooth calling. The audio quality during calls is satisfactory. The good thing is that the smartwatch comes with an IP68 rating, which means you can use it even in the rain.

CMF Watch Pro review: Display

The CMF Watch Pro comes with a huge 1.96-inch AMOLED display. It has thick bezels but the good thing is that they are symmetrical. The display supports a refresh rate of 58 FPS or frame per second and it is quite responsive. The screen offers a peak brightness of 600nits and lets you use the watch comfortably even outdoors.

There are several watch dials and always-on display options that let users customise the watch. Also, it offers over 100 sports modes for all your fitness goals.

CMF Watch Pro review: Performance

This is one area where CMF by Nothing has apparently worked really hard. When compared to other smartwatches available under Rs 5,000, the information and data provided by the CMF Watch Pro are close to accurate. Be it step count, sleep monitoring or your heart rate, they seemed accurate most of the time. However, it is not advisable to take these data seriously and always refer to medical-grade devices for better results.  

It even tracks your sleep and tells you whether it is normal or not. The app will also tell you details like deep sleep ratio, core sleep ratio and rapid eye movement ratio. From auto stress monitoring to 24/7 heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, the smartwatch is capable of keeping track of several health parameters.

CMF Watch Pro review: Battery and Charging

The one thing that really makes the CMF Watch Pro stand out is its battery backup. I can easily use the watch for around 5 days with always-on-display. I did use the watch for calling and turned on the 24/7 health monitoring features. This is something rare in smartwatches available in this price range. According to the company, the watch is powered by a 340mAh battery. While the battery backup may vary depending on the usage, one thing is quite clear it is simply far ahead of its competitors in the price range. Also, charging this smartwatch can take around 150 minutes.

CMF Watch Pro review: Verdict

If you are looking for a new fitness companion, the CMF Watch Pro is definitely one of the best options under Rs 5,000. It comes with a good display and battery life. While bezels are quite thick and the design is on the bulkier side, these are not going to be a deal breaker as the watch provides quite precise health data. There are some other drawbacks like users won't be able to read long WhatsApp on the watch but they can definitely be ignored if you primarily need a smartwatch to keep track of your health. Overall, the CMF Watch Pro is a great bang for your buck.