The CMF Watch Pro was part of the first batch of products launched by Nothing’s budget sub-brand, now CMF is launching its first phone and pairing it with a new watch and new buds. If you look closely, you will find that the CMF Watch Pro 2 is round instead of rectangular like its predecessor. In a way, this makes it less of a sequel and more of a different model.
The review unit we have has a dark brown bezel and a blue leather strap. The bezel is raised and rounded, which offers some protection to the screen in case you bump it against something.
However, the Watch Pro 2 is part of the brand’s new obsession with modularity. The bezel can be changed with two main options – round and flat – and multiple colour options. The body of the watch beneath the bezel is made of aluminium alloy. The wrist straps are the standard 22mm type and can be changed too. CMF offers both leather and silicone straps.
The new model comes with a number of upgrades. You’ve probably already noticed the crown – it can be rotated to navigate the UI, it’s not just a simple push button like the original watch.
And, of course, the screen is round. It’s smaller than the rectangular display on the Watch Pro (1.32″ vs. 1.96″) and, because of its shape, it fits less content. However, it has more pixels (466 x 466px) and is slightly sharper (353ppi) than that display. It’s also slightly brighter and now features an auto-brightness mode. The CMF team has created over 100 watch faces to customize the look of the watch even more, and you can choose which widgets should appear on the home screen.
Unfortunately, the battery inside the CMF Watch Pro 2 is also slightly smaller, with a capacity of 305mAh (vs. 340mAh), so Nothing claims up to 11 days of battery life (2 days less than the Watch Pro).
There are a few extra features that add to the watch’s prowess as a sports and health tracking device. This includes the usual: heart rate and SpO2 sensors, as well as a built-in GPS for outdoor tracking. The watch is rated IP68, so it’s protected from rain, but not suitable for swimming. A few more sports modes have also been added, as well as warm-up exercises and interval training. The watch also comes with an updated sleep detection algorithm.
Bluetooth connectivity allows you to take calls on the watch and you can now add up to 30 contacts that can be dialed from the watch. You still need to be within Bluetooth range of your phone (there’s no GSM connectivity on the watch), but it’s still very handy.
The upgrade to the CMF Watch Pro 2 isn’t free, although it’s still not expensive. The new model costs $70/€70/£70/₹5,000, while the original model cost $50/€50/£50/₹3,500 (which is of course available). Now it’s time to strap it on your wrist and test it out, expect a detailed review soon.