The CMF Watch Pro 2's attractive price and features raise questions about whether its compromises in functionality and build quality allow it to effectively compete with established smartwatch brands.
Nothing's CMF brand has released the Watch Pro 2, a $69 smartwatch that promises to deliver essential features without breaking the bank. With its sleek design, impressive battery life, and AMOLED display, it seems too good to be true. But does this budget-friendly wearable live up to expectations?
Pros:
Cons:
Nothing's CMF brand has released the Watch Pro 2, a $69 smartwatch that promises to deliver essential features without breaking the bank. With its sleek design, impressive battery life, and AMOLED display, it seems too good to be true.
I've been putting the CMF Watch Pro 2 through its paces, I’ve taken it with me on a run through Manhattan, and I’ve used it as a stopwatch at my daughter’s big swim meet. This smartwatch has been my wrist-side companion, and boy do I have thoughts.
Let's start with what this watch gets right: the design. Nothing has crafted a sleek, minimal timepiece that looks far more expensive than its $69 price tag suggests. The 42mm aluminum case should fit comfortably on most wrists, and at just 44 grams, it's noticeably lighter than competitors like the Apple Watch Series 9. The downside here is that some of the edges can feel a bit pokey at times. Not only that, but the aluminum frame is less likely to be resilient to accidental wall slams while walking through life day to day.
The interchangeable bezel is a neat touch, though I wish CMF included an extra in the box to whet users’ appetite. I’m guessing many people will never think of swapping it out without an introduction to this feature included. However, it should be noted that I had a few panicky moments where I felt like I might never get the bezel back on after removing it.
The rotating crown on the side with its red accent adds a bit of flair and, unlike some smartwatches (budget or not), actually interacts with the operating system. While the IP68 rating means you shouldn't go swimming, it'll handle splashes without issue.
The colorful 1.32" AMOLED display is a standout feature, a considerable upgrade that I wouldn’t have expected at this price point. With a 466x466 resolution, it's crisp and vibrant indoors. However, with 620 nits of peak brightness, the CMF Watch Pro 2 is a bit too dim in bright sunlight. It's also worth noting that the glass isn't particularly scratch-resistant, so again, you'll want to be careful.
Battery life is where the CMF Watch Pro 2 truly shines. I got 10-12 days of use on a single charge, matching the company's claims. There's even a power-saving mode that can stretch that to 40 days. But don’t get your hopes up: It becomes nothing more than a watch that tells time when operating in that mode.
The watch also includes a small but sufficient charging tag that snaps to the pogo pins on the back of the watch magnetically.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the software. This is not Wear OS, and that in itself isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. The proprietary operating system covers the basics that you would expect to find on a wearable like this, but it really lacks the polish and features of more established platforms. You won't find an app store, NFC payments, or third-party watch faces here. Decades worth of UX design, the kind you find on platforms like Wear OS, are absent here and it’s a stark contrast from a usability perspective. What you do get is basic fitness tracking, heart rate and stress level monitoring, music controls (though I had issues with popular streaming services at times), and a slew of useful tools like timers and reminders.
One of the biggest letdowns, however, is the notification system. A smartwatch's primary function should be reliable notification triage, and the CMF Watch Pro 2 feels far short for me here. I experienced frequent disconnects, delayed notifications, and frustrating syncing issues. When notifications do come through, interacting with them can be clunky and overall frustrating over time
Another disappointing discovery is the lack of any form of security on the device. Whether the data is stored locally or streamed entirely from the smartphone it’s connected to doesn’t matter. Without any form of PIN or pattern unlock, anything residing on the device is fair game to someone who comes in contact with it.
Fitness enthusiasts might also be disappointed by the GPS performance. During test runs, I often couldn't acquire a signal, rendering the tracking features less useful. It’s nice that these features are included, but I never felt like I could truly rely on them to work every time.
In conclusion, the CMF Watch Pro 2 occupies an interesting middle ground between basic fitness trackers and full-fledged smartwatches. Its incredible battery life and attractive design are commendable at this price point. However, the unreliable notifications and limited "smart" features make it hard to recommend wholeheartedly. Having said all of that, it’s important to remember that this watch is crazy inexpensive. So maybe the tradeoffs are worth it for some, just not me.
If you're looking for a stylish, long-lasting watch with basic fitness tracking, the CMF Watch Pro 2 might fit the bill. But if you rely on your smartwatch for seamless notifications and more advanced features, you'll likely be frustrated by its limitations. At $69, it's an intriguing option but be prepared to make some significant compromises.
