CMF Watch 3 Pro review: An impressive gym buddy

Pros:

Cons:

Rating: 4.3/5

Price: Rs 7,999

The smartwatch boom has made health and fitness tracking more accessible than ever. Today, wearables can do far more than count steps, offering features such as heart-rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking and detailed workout analytics. The challenge, however, has often been pricing. While premium brands such as Apple and Google continue to command a hefty premium, budget-focused brands have pushed smartwatches into more affordable territory.

Sitting somewhere between those two extremes is CMF by Nothing. Last month, the company introduced the CMF Watch 3 Pro in India at Rs 7,999.

Arriving nearly two years after the Watch Pro 2, the latest model brings upgraded hardware, additional features and improved performance, though it also comes with a higher price tag.

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I have been using the CMF Watch 3 Pro for the past two weeks and, during that time, it has proven to be a particularly enjoyable fitness companion. However, no device is without flaws. Here's my detailed review of the CMF Watch 3 Pro.

Design and display

The CMF Watch 3 Pro retains much of the design language of its predecessor while introducing a handful of refinements. It features a circular watch face framed by flat edges, giving the smartwatch a more modern and distinctive appearance. Complementing the design is a rotating crown positioned on the side, which handles navigation, scrolling, returning to previous menus and waking the display. It works reliably, although it lacks the tactile feedback found on more expensive smartwatches.

One issue worth mentioning is that the metallic bezel is quite susceptible to scratches.

Flip the watch over and you'll find the heart-rate and SpO2 sensors, which illuminate in green and red when taking readings. While the effect can feel slightly dramatic, the readings themselves are generally dependable. Connectivity features include Bluetooth 5.3, a comprehensive suite of sensors and an IP68 rating. That said, Nothing does not recommend swimming or exposing the watch to saltwater, making it better suited to splashes and rain than regular aquatic use.

The rear section also houses the speaker used for Bluetooth calling, which I'll discuss later in the review.

Another notable change is the removal of the interchangeable bezel system that was available on the Watch Pro 2. For users who enjoyed customising the look of their smartwatch, this omission may feel disappointing, especially considering the increase in price.

I received the light green colour variant to review and found it particularly appealing. The sharp edges, distinctive styling and attractive finish combine to create a device that looks more premium than its price suggests. However, the watch is available in only one size. Measuring 258 x 47 x 14.4 mm and weighing 51.9 grams with the silicone strap attached, it appeared slightly oversized on my wrist.

To be clear, it never felt excessively heavy. The issue was more visual than physical. Nevertheless, wearing it throughout the day occasionally became uncomfortable, particularly during Delhi's ongoing heatwave.

Moving on to the display, the CMF Watch 3 Pro features a 1.43-inch Amoled touchscreen with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels and a pixel density of 326 PPI. Compared with its predecessor, the display is larger and offers a 10 per cent improvement in screen-to-body ratio.

Users can enable raise-to-wake functionality, allowing the screen to illuminate automatically when the wrist is lifted. There is also support for always-on display modes, with eight styles available. As expected, enabling this feature has a noticeable impact on battery life.

The display is comfortably large enough for viewing workout statistics, notifications and menus without feeling cramped. Brightness levels are excellent, ensuring readability even under direct sunlight. Colours appear vivid, text remains crisp and overall visibility is impressive across different lighting conditions.

Throughout my testing, the display remained responsive and fluid. I never encountered lag, stutters or any noticeable performance issues while navigating the interface.

Performance

In daily use, the CMF Watch 3 Pro delivers a smooth and responsive experience. Navigating through menus feels effortless, and the software follows a familiar smartwatch layout. Dedicated screens provide quick access to fitness metrics, workout tracking, music controls, sleep analysis, heart-rate monitoring and compact widgets covering weather updates, contacts, call logs and the dial pad.

Most of my time with the watch was spent during workout sessions, where it served as my primary fitness tracker. Whether I was on a treadmill or completing strength-training routines or in a yoga session, the watch consistently recorded my activity without issue.

The Watch 3 Pro supports 131 sports modes and can automatically recognise five different activities. Interestingly, it frequently detected when I was riding my bike and prompted me to confirm whether I was cycling. While slightly overenthusiastic, the feature demonstrates the smartwatch's ability to identify movement patterns intelligently.

Workout options extend beyond traditional activities and include warm-up exercises such as stretching routines. One of the more meaningful additions is the new personalised running coach. According to Nothing, the feature offers training plans ranging from eight to sixteen weeks based on fitness levels, recovery needs and running goals. Currently, the coaching programme is limited to 10K training, but it remains a promising addition.

Outdoor workout tracking is comprehensive, providing metrics including duration, calories burned, heart rate, pace, distance covered, steps taken, training load, recovery time, active score and exercise performance.

The smartwatch also integrates with Strava, Google Health and Apple Health, making it easier to keep all your fitness data in one place.

Health features cover the basics well. The watch uses LEDs and photodiodes to monitor heart rate by measuring changes in reflected green light, while red light is used for blood oxygen monitoring.

Bluetooth calling is another area where the Watch 3 Pro performs admirably. Users can access call logs, a dial pad and up to 30 saved contacts synced through the companion app. Indoors, call quality was consistently clear, with voices sounding natural on both ends of the conversation.

App compatibility

Software-wise, Nothing has retained the visual identity established by previous products. The dot-matrix-inspired design language appears throughout the interface, from menus and icons to watch faces. Fans of the aesthetic will feel right at home.

The most significant software improvement comes in the form of the companion application. The older CMF Watch app has now been replaced by Nothing X, which is divided into dedicated Devices and Health sections.

The app is clean, intuitive and thoughtfully designed. One small but charming detail is that the app's interface mirrors the exact colour of your connected smartwatch, adding a touch of personality that many competitors overlook.

The CMF Watch 3 Pro requires the Nothing X app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices. I paired the watch with an iPhone 13 during testing and experienced no connectivity issues. Nearly every feature was accessible, with the exception of ChatGPT integration, which remains exclusive to smartphones running Nothing OS.

The Nothing X app also stands out as one of the cleanest smartwatch companion apps I have used. Its typography follows Nothing's signature design language, while health metrics and settings are organised into neatly structured card-style layouts.

Another useful addition is the Recording Transcription feature. Voice notes recorded on the watch are stored and automatically transcribed into English within seconds. It is a genuinely practical tool for capturing quick thoughts when your phone is not immediately available.

Battery life

Nothing claims up to 13 days of battery life under typical usage conditions, 60 days in power-saving mode and approximately 17 hours of continuous GPS tracking.

In my experience, a full charge comfortably lasted around a week. It is worth noting that I wore the watch throughout the day and used it extensively for fitness tracking.

Using the included magnetic charger, the battery took roughly 80 minutes to recharge from zero to 100 per cent. Charging speeds are respectable, and a quick 15-minute top-up restored around 20 per cent battery, which proved useful when heading out in a hurry.

One small complaint concerns the charging cable. While the magnetic charging solution itself works well, the cable terminates in a USB Type-A connector. Given how common USB Type-C chargers and adapters have become, it would be good to see future models adopt a Type-C connection instead.

Verdict: Should you buy the CMF Watch 3 Pro?

During the review period, there was one day when I forgot to wear the Watch 3 Pro. Surprisingly, I genuinely missed having it on my wrist, and that perhaps says more about the device than any specification sheet.

The CMF Watch 3 Pro succeeds in the areas that matter most. It offers a bright AMOLED display, reliable workout tracking, solid battery life, smooth performance and one of the best smartwatch companion apps in its segment. The running coach, extensive sports modes and thoughtful software experience further strengthen its appeal for fitness-focused users.

However, it is not without shortcomings. The scratch-prone bezel, lack of interchangeable bezels and slightly bulky fit may bother some users. The charging cable also feels outdated in 2026.

Even so, at Rs 7,999, the CMF Watch 3 Pro delivers a balanced smartwatch experience that is easy to recommend. It may not be perfect, but for anyone looking for a capable fitness companion with premium touches, it gets remarkably close.