I am a watch person, and collecting unusual watches is a part of who I am. I have come to love the history of old watches, and even though I can’t afford to buy classic ones, I find joy in looking at them up close in vintage stores. This, by any definition, doesn’t mean I have a disregard for smartwatches. For me, it’s all about the thrill of wearing a watch, but it needs to be totally original. Nothing’s new CMF Watch Pro 2 looks like a prop from a retro sci-fi movie yet holds its unique personality. I love the simplicity of it, the retro vibe looks great, and it didn’t cost a lot, either. It’s a watch that invokes the sentiments and the era I grew up in. Here’s my review.
I have always been fascinated by Scandinavian watches. They have a classic look and feel modern at the same time. The CMF Watch Pro 2, at least as I perceive it, is steeped in Danish design tradition—lightweight, functional, and beautiful to look at. Its design is a constant reminder that you can keep things simple and understated and still get a huge amount of fulfilment along the way. I love the circular design, and its brushed aluminium case exudes premium quality while remaining discreet. The watch feels as fresh today as it did the first time I strapped it on my wrist. It is really comfortable and should serve most average to small wrists very nicely. At 44 grams, it is lightweight and barely noticeable on my wrist. The watch is far softer and less masculine than traditional smartwatches, making it suitable for both men and women. The water resistance is rated at IP68, making it durable for daily use.
The control system is built around a crown with an inset push-button (more on that later). One main feature that sets the CMF Watch Pro 2 apart from other smartwatches is how easy it is to remove straps—the simple pin buckle design is an interesting choice—for hassle-free switching. This allows users to drastically change their watch’s appearance and refresh their look without needing specialised tools or professional assistance. There’s noticeable attention to detail and design in this watch, and the choice of leather bands—either orange or blue—offers a more refined look.
But if you look closely, you’ll spot some design elements that bring a fresher and different element to smartwatches. I am referring to removable bezels, and that is certainly an area I am not complaining about. With a swift twist, the bezel comes away from the watch, changing the personality of the watch. However, the options are limited to dark grey or silver colours. I would like to see different bezel styles, perhaps inspired by vintage military watches, adding to the visual appeal and enhancing the overall design of the watch.
The screen is visible even under direct sunlight. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Bigger and brighter screen is a win
The CMF Watch Pro 2 comes with a 1.32-inch AMOLED display with a 466 x 466-pixel resolution, supporting a 60Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 650 nits. Both the display size and resolution provide more room to see things like fitness statistics, notifications, and watch faces. It’s easy to see the screen in direct sunlight, which is especially helpful if you use the watch for walking or cycling, where you’re spending a lot of time in the sun. The device also features an always-on display, but it isn’t turned on by default – a good thing I feel, because it basically halves the battery life of the smartwatch.
It can last between four to five days with the always-on display turned on. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Faster and lasts longer
Nothing didn’t provide information on the chip powering the smartwatch. However, I did not face any issues with swipes, taps, and scrolls. Compared to other watches like the Apple Watch, the CMF Watch Pro 2 is much slower. The Apple Watch feels smoother and more responsive, and its performance is much better than the Nothing watch. That being said, there isn’t much to complain about with the CMF Watch Pro 2, as the performance isn’t unstable like one would get on low-end smartwatches from homegrown brands.
But its battery life can put Apple and Google to shame. Although Nothing advertises 11 days of battery life with “typical use,” I actually got between four and five days of battery life when keeping the always-on display turned on, getting notifications, sleep tracking at night, and tracking workouts throughout the day. I wouldn’t be surprised if the watch’s battery lasts even longer on a single charge with the always-on display turned off, depending on the level of activity. However, I would like to point out that the watch’s magnetic connector on the back isn’t as strong as I would have hoped. The cable is susceptible to getting disconnected if you do not pay attention.
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The CMF Watch Pro 2 offers gesture control, which is more convenient way to interact with your watch. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Easy-to-use interface and universal connectivity
The user interface on the watch is simple to use. You press the digital crown on the right (it’s the only physical button on the device) or use the touchscreen to swipe up to see notifications, swipe down to access quick settings, and swipe left and right to see your “cards” for things like weather and sleep. It’s easy to press the side button, navigate quickly to settings, and view all menus in one list as well.
It’s quite basic, and don’t expect the interface to have deep customisation. Sure, you can choose different watch faces and customise them, but the operating system doesn’t allow you to change complications, for example. One perk of getting the CMF Watch Pro 2 is that you can pair the smartwatch with both Android and iPhone, which isn’t very common. The app itself has a Nothing-esque feel; it’s basic but well-organised and segregated. You can view your health statistics, pick your watch face, configure which apps send you notifications, and more.
The health data can sync with Google’s Health Connect, Apple Health, or Strava. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Straightforward health and fitness features
The CMF Watch Pro 2 isn’t the smartest fitness tracker on the market, and I didn’t expect it to be, nor does Nothing. It covers the basics—designed for beginners, not gym enthusiasts and fitness nerds who are looking for deeper statistics and advanced fitness tracking capabilities. To begin with, the watch comes equipped with heart rate and pulse oxygen sensors and tracks your steps, sleep, stress levels, and exercise, and has an onboard GPS, which works really nicely for a casual run. All of your data gets fed into the Nothing app on your phone where you can see your statistics over time. The heart rate sensor has improved accuracy during vigorous activity, and so does sleep-tracking detection.
Honestly, I was more interested in checking my sleep pattern on the CMF Watch Pro 2. Since I am currently travelling for work, waking up at odd hours has punctured my sleep pattern. So, I wore the watch for the next three days to see whether I slept particularly well or consistently. Unsurprisingly, on one of the days, I had a long working day and I barely slept during the night due to constant calls and WhatsApp messages. Surprisingly, my sleep analysis revealed that I didn’t enter deep sleep despite sleeping for more than six hours. It’s good to see that entry-level smartwatches have gained precise sleep-tracking detection.
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The CMF Watch 2 Pro looks and feels premium. (Image Credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Bottom line
Like other entry-level models, the CMF Watch Pro 2 forgoes some bells and whistles to achieve a more palatable price. That said, there’s still a lot to like about this smartwatch. It is light, comfortable to wear, looks good, and operates smoothly. Nothing’s budget smartwatch is a good general smartwatch for Android smartphone users and will also appeal to those with iPhones. At the end of the day, Nothing has designed the smartwatch to have a unique design and interchangeable bezels rather than focusing on advanced fitness tracking features.
The good
Minimalistic design
Interchangeable bezels
Accurate heart rate and sleep tracking
Ability to make and receive calls
The bad
Slow-GPS lock-ons
Lack of actionable notifications
Lack of customisation
