CMF has launched the third installment in its series of smartwatches, the Watch 3 Pro. At first glance, the offering is tempting. Priced under 100 euros, it features dual-band GPS, excellent promised battery life, and an Amoled display. Let’s delve into its real-world performance.
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Within the sphere of British brand Nothing, CMF markets headphones, earphones, and smartwatches. In the smartwatch segment, the company highlights competitive pricing while offering robust technical specifications.
While the first model did not quite hit the mark, the manufacturer doubled down with the Watch Pro 2 and has continued to refine its product with the Watch 3 Pro, which is our focus today. Although some improvements are significant, the watch still suffers from flaws typical of an inexpensive smartwatch.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: Technical Specifications
| Model | Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 47 mm x 47 mm x 14.4 mm |
| Technology | Li-Ion |
| Screen Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels |
| Panel | AMOLED |
| Weight | 51.9 g |
| Accelerometer and Electronic Compass | Yes |
| Sleep Analysis | Yes |
| Ambient Light Sensor | Yes |
| Protection Rating | IP68 |
| Product Sheet | Link |
The watch for this review was provided by the manufacturer.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: A Design of Contrasts
From the first moment you handle the watch, it’s clear that it’s not the most understated on the market. The model we reviewed came in a striking orange finish with a matching orange strap and similar color accents around the dial.
Fear not, there are more subdued options available, such as Dark Grey and Light Grey. The provided silicone strap is comfortable for daily wear, fastened by lugs on the case and a small lock that clicks into place on either side of the strap. However, it may not be the best choice for hot summer days due to discomfort.
The watch’s budget-friendly nature is betrayed by its casing. While the perimeter is metal, the non-rotating bezel and the underside housing the sensors are made of plastic. Unlike its predecessor, the CMF Watch Pro 2, this bezel is no longer interchangeable. Weighing 51 grams, it is relatively comfortable for daily wear, though its 14 mm thickness can be bothersome under long sleeves. Its circular shape and dimensions of 47 x 47 mm may not suit those with smaller wrists.
The device is operated by touch or via a crown located at the top right of the dial. It also features a microphone and speakers for making calls directly from the watch. Additionally, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is IP68 certified, meaning it can be worn in the shower or during swimming sessions without concern.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: An AMOLED Screen with Always-on Display
The Watch 3 Pro features an AMOLED panel with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels and 326 ppi. The manufacturer claims a maximum brightness of 670 cd/m², which is modest for a device primarily intended for outdoor use but still an improvement over its predecessor’s 620 cd/m². In practice, we had no significant issues reading the display even under intense sunlight, although the ambient light sensor was somewhat slow to respond.
As for customization, CMF offers several watch faces that you can switch by pressing and holding on the display. Seven come preloaded, and their colors can be changed among five preset shades. The dedicated app provides access to over 120 additional faces, though you can only store up to seven on the watch at any time.
At bedtime, you can activate a rest mode to prevent the screen from lighting up during the night. To deactivate this mode, simply press the crown. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to schedule this rest mode to activate automatically during set hours. The minimum brightness is low enough not to be glaring. A simple wrist movement activates the display, and this feature worked flawlessly without any observed issues.
The smartwatch also includes an Always-on Display feature, allowing it to remain partially lit even when inactive, offering a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to a plain black screen. However, it’s important to note that this feature directly impacts battery life.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: A Minimalist OS and Thoughtfully Designed App
The CMF Watch 3 Pro runs on FreeRTOS, a real-time operating system. The interface is surprisingly smooth and pleasant to use daily. It is straightforward at first glance, and aside from a few stylistic touches unique to Nothing in the typography, it avoids any unnecessary design flourishes. Its main drawback is the lack of internal storage.
The mentioned 256 MB of memory is solely for the OS operation, meaning it’s not possible to install new apps or load music. However, you can control music playback and change tracks directly from your wrist, although this will depend on the connected smartphone, and you won’t have access to your entire playlist. Navigating the menus is simple: just press the crown to access different sections:
– Exercise
– Heart rate
– Blood oxygen
– Activity score
– Sleep tracking
– Stress
Other options, such as setting alarms or making your phone ring if you’ve misplaced it, are available by scrolling down. Directly from the watch face, you can quickly access various information:
– **Swiping from top to bottom**: activates rest mode to silence all notifications and turn off the display (without powering down the watch), accesses the flashlight, or checks the battery level and the date.
– **Swiping from bottom to top**: shows all notifications.
– **Swiping left or right**: displays the weather, call log, keypad for dialing a number, heart rate monitor, total sleep duration from the previous night, and easily starts an exercise through a tile of the most commonly used sports modes.
In terms of the app, the watch pairs with Nothing X. However, you first need to install the CMF Watch app to pair your watch, which will then direct you to Nothing X to access all information related to the model.
The app is well-designed. You immediately see your device model, its battery level, and the gallery of watch faces, which you can preview before uploading your choice to the watch. Then, a range of settings allows you to enable or disable various health-related functions, manage phone notifications, or organize the order of widgets on your watch.
Good news: the app is available for both Android and iOS. On the iPhone, the app has never caused us any trouble.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: GPS Off Track, but Reliable Health Monitoring
The CMF Watch 3 Pro is equipped with a heart rate sensor, an SpO2 sensor for measuring blood oxygen saturation, a sleep analyzer, and a pedometer. It also includes an accelerometer and an electronic compass to help you navigate your adventures.
The Precision of the GPS on the CMF Watch 3 Pro
To ensure your location and track your movements, the CMF Watch 3 Pro uses a dual-band L1 + L5 GPS, and is compatible with Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS. This technology offers significantly better accuracy than a single frequency. In theory…
To assess its reliability, we compared it with an Apple Watch Series 9, known for the accuracy of its readings. We took several walks, both in a completely open park with no buildings around and in the city center.
| Runs | Apple Watch Series 9 | CMF Watch 3 Pro | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run 1 (park) | 7.08 km | 7.01 km | -0.99% |
| Run 2 (park) | 4.66 km | 4.61 km | -1.07% |
| Run 3 (city) | 4.02 km | 4.04 km | +0.50% |
| Run 4 (city) | 2.05 km | 1.97 km | -3.90% |
| Total | 17.81 km | 17.63 km | -1.01% |
In completely open terrain, the Nothing watch generally performed well, offering relatively consistent tracking compared to our reference device.
In urban settings, performance deteriorates further: the CMF Watch 3 Pro loses its bearings when passing through areas with many buildings. While the Apple Watch is not faultless in this context, its tracking remains much smoother and more faithful to the actual route. The British watch, on the other hand, virtually crosses buildings over several hundred meters, whereas the Cupertino device mostly maintains a correct trajectory.
The Accuracy of the Heart Rate Monitoring on the CMF Watch 3 Pro
To evaluate the accuracy of the sensor, we wore the watch on our wrist while also using a Polar H10 chest strap as a reference. We conducted several running sessions: some at a steady pace and one interval training to test the sensor at different rhythms.
It’s worth noting that it’s impossible to export heart rate data from the app, unlike the Polar brand software. Moreover, exporting to Strava, which would have allowed us to precisely consult the heartbeats, is somewhat temperamental. The figures provided are inconsistent and unreliable. We therefore superimposed the curve available on the Nothing X app with that of the Polar H10 chest strap.
As a result, our comparison might be less precise than usual.
| Reference Measurement Average Deviation After 10 Min |
CMF Watch 3 Pro | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Average HR 171 bpm |
171 bpm | 0% |
| Max HR 184 bpm |
183 bpm |
The heart rate monitoring is quite accurate, especially at a constant pace. The deviation is only 1 to 2 bpm during these two sessions, a difference quite negligible. However, it tends to slightly overestimate the heart rate, especially in the first curve.
| Reference Measurement Average Deviation After 10 Min |
CMF Watch 3 Pro | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Average HR 168 bpm |
167 bpm | -0.6% |
| Max HR 183 bpm |
181 bpm | -1.1% |
With variations in pace, the CMF Watch 3 Pro manages to keep up. There are some slight imperfections on the micro-variations, especially between 3 min 47 and 7 min 35 on the graph, but nothing problematic. Note that the Polar H10 experienced a very brief bug towards the end of the session (around 16 min on the graph), probably related to a micro Bluetooth cut between our smartphone and the chest strap.
The Sport and Health Functions of the CMF Watch 3 Pro
As is often the case with entry-level watches, features are limited. This model has had to make compromises to offer an attractive price. Thus, it’s not possible to perform an electrocardiogram to measure the electrical activity of the heart, nor to follow precise data on heart rate variability.
However, the watch offers other interesting features. It allows you to estimate your stress level. This measurement remains indicative, as the manufacturer does not clearly specify on which data its estimation is based. Additionally, it offers blood oxygen measurement.
It’s also possible to track your sleep and consult, the next day, a detailed report in the mobile app. This report indicates the time spent in each of the three sleep phases:
– Deep sleep;
– Light sleep;
– REM sleep.
The graph also highlights periods of wakefulness. However, we do not have the equipment to evaluate its reliability. Our feeling is that the watch tends to overestimate sleep time, indicating that we remained asleep when we were already awake. Next, the watch offers menstrual cycle tracking.
In terms of sports, the watch provides several measurements:
– Estimated burned calories;
– Total exercise duration;
– Distance;
– Number of steps;
– Average speed;
– Heart rate;
– Heart rate interval;
– Training load;
– VO2 max;
– Aerobic and anaerobic levels.
However, there’s a catch: there are only 16 sports modes on the watch. To load more, you must do so via the app.
Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, it’s possible to export your workouts to Strava, even though the data shared on the sports social network may be skewed, particularly regarding heart rate.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: Decent Battery Life for Intensive Use
The CMF Watch 3 Pro incorporates a 350 mAh battery. The brand claims a battery life of 13 days under typical use and 10.5 days under intensive use. In reality, endurance is significantly less impressive. With all health tracking features activated, particularly energy-intensive ones, the Always-on Display, and rest mode at night, you get about 3 days of battery life under standard use. If you start a sports mode for at least an hour each day, it drops to 2.5 days.
This is acceptable, but the watch will definitely not last a week if you have intensive use. Of course, by disabling the Always-on Display and limiting energy-intensive functions, it’s possible to extend the battery life. This remains the lower end of the market average, but for comparison, the Amazfit Active 2 lasts a little over four days with the same level of use.
For charging, CMF simply provides a USB-A to proprietary connector cable. In our opinion, the USB-A standard is clearly outdated; we had to dig through drawers to find a compatible block. Moreover, the cable is far too short for comfortable use. To make matters worse, the magnetic tip used to charge the watch by induction is finicky: it tends to detach itself as soon as you place the device slightly incorrectly.
Finally, the Watch 3 Pro takes 1.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100% battery. It’s a bit long, but the decent battery life somewhat makes up for it.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: Calls and Communication
The CMF Watch 3 Pro relies on Bluetooth 5.3 technology, a recent standard. It allows you to make and receive calls. Moreover, the call quality is quite acceptable. The sound tends to be very metallic, but the person on the other end is audible. Likewise, the person at the other end understands the conversation. That’s all you can ask from a watch at this price.
However, it’s not possible to reply to SMS messages from the watch: you can only read them. To respond, you’ll need to use your smartphone. The watch is not e-SIM compatible and must therefore remain connected to your phone at all times.
It lacks an NFC chip for contactless payments and Wi-Fi compatibility. However, it’s worth noting that it includes a dual-band GPS using L1 and L5 frequencies, compatible with Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS.
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: Price and Release Date
The CMF Watch 3 Pro has been available since July 22, 2025, in a single 47 mm size, priced at 99 euros MSRP. The device is available in three colors:
– Orange
– Light Grey
– Dark Grey
In terms of price comparison, here’s where you can find the CMF Watch 3 Pro at the best price:
- Amazon: 89 €
- Darty: 702 €
- Pixmania Marketplace: 102 €
- Rakuten: 158 €
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.