CMF Watch 3 Pro is smarter and stronger, but pricing will decide its success in India
Nothing’s sub-brand CMF has quietly launched the CMF Watch 3 Pro in Italy. This new smartwatch follows last year’s Watch Pro 2, which debuted in India for under Rs 5,000 and was well received for offering good value at a low price point. The Watch 3 Pro brings notable upgrades across the board, and if CMF can maintain a competitive price, there’s every reason to believe it could build on that early success in India.
Among the upgrades, the Watch 3 Pro gets a slightly larger display with support for more watch faces, including cloud-based options, Watch Face Studio, and even video watch faces. There’s also dual-band GPS for improved location tracking, support for additional sports and health modes, and new software tools, including transcription, an Essential News feed, and emoji alerts. This time, it packs a larger battery, and the addition of a linear motor suggests improved haptics. All in all, it appears to be a more rounded and capable smartwatch than its predecessor. However, these are just our initial thoughts based on the upgrades on paper. We will have more to share on its real-life performance when we review the Watch 3 Pro, if it makes it to India.
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| Model | Watch 3 Pro | Watch Pro 2 |
| Size & Weight | 25.8 × 4.7 × 1.44–1.52 cm, 51–52.4 g | 25.5 × 4.5 × 1.36–1.39 cm, 44.4–48.1 g |
| Display | 1.43″ AMOLED, 466×466, 326 ppi, up to 670 nits, 60 fps | 1.32″ AMOLED, 466×466, 353 ppi, 620 nits, 60 fps, 1000 Hz touch, 2160 Hz PWM |
| Watch Faces | 120+ (cloud faces, Watch Face Studio, video faces) | 100+ (dynamic/static, loud faces) |
| GPS | Dual-band (L1+L5) + GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS/Beidou | Single-band GPS + same constellations |
| Sports Modes | 131 modes, 7 auto-detect | 120 modes, 5 auto-detect |
| Health Tracking | 24h HR, SpO₂, stress, enhanced sleep, women’s health, Active Score, reminders | 24h HR/SpO₂, stress, smart sleep, menstrual tracking, Active Score, alerts |
| Battery Capacity | 350 mAh (99 min charge) | 305 mAh (100 min charge) |
| Battery Life | 13 d typical / 10 d heavy / 4.5 d AOD+heavy / 60 d power save / 17.9 h BT call / 17.2 h GPS | 12 d typical / 9 d heavy / 45.8 d power save / 17.4 h BT call / 25 h GPS |
Not all changes are upgrades, though. The Watch 3 Pro’s display, while larger, has a slightly lower pixel density, and the quoted GPS runtime is shorter, likely a trade-off for the added features. It also appears to skip the faux leather strap that gave the Watch Pro 2 a more premium in-hand feel. Our reviewer, Dhruv, who has been using the Watch Pro 2 regularly, notes that the strap lends a refined touch, although it does show signs of wear over time. He also observed smooth UI performance, accurate tracking for casual workouts, and a battery life of around five days, good enough for most everyday users.
The Watch 3 Pro seems to be an evolution rather than a revolution, with CMF prioritising feature depth and software utility this time. That shift reflects a broader trend in the smartwatch market, where users are now demanding more meaningful and innovative tools, even in the budget segment.
Pricing will be key
If the Watch 3 Pro does launch in India, the most significant deciding factor will be the price. The Watch Pro 2 was launched at Rs 4,999, and matching or staying close to that price would give CMF a good shot at shaking up the budget smartwatch space once again. In Italy, however, the Watch 3 Pro is priced at EUR 99, which translates to roughly Rs 8,500. At that price point, it will compete with competitors like the Amazfit Active, which offers more robust health tools, Alexa support, offline music, and even Zepp Coach-assisted training. In a value-conscious market like India, those extras could tip the scales.
That said, CMF has largely avoided the pricing missteps we saw with the Nothing Phone 3 (review). The sub-brand has thus far established a reputation for striking a balance between affordability and solid hardware and software. If it can continue that streak and price the Watch 3 Pro closer to Rs 5,000, it won’t just offer better value, it could set new expectations for what entry-level smartwatches should deliver. As we mentioned above, these thoughts are based on the on-paper features. We will reserve our judgement on whether the smartwatch truly delivers or not in our full review.
