There’s a new king of cheap smartwatches, and it’s from exactly who you’d expect. Nothing’s sub-brand CMF has just dropped the Watch 3 Pro, and it’s just $99, making it easily the most compelling entry-level fitness tracker on the market. With dual-band GPS, ChatGPT integration, and an impressive 13-day battery life, this smartwatch isn’t just relying on its low price alone.
More Than Just a Pretty Interface
The Watch 3 Pro significantly improves upon its predecessor, the Watch Pro 2. Gone are the swappable bezels that gave users customization options, but in their place comes a larger 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a 10% increase in screen-to-body ratio. We’re guessing Nothing simply looked at how valuable this feature was to their users and found that actual function took priority over personalization.
The heart rate monitoring has received the most significant upgrade here. CMF claims the new four-channel optical sensor delivers 7% better accuracy during exercise and 3.6% improvement at rest compared to previous generations. This subverts the stereotype of cheap fitness trackers, which often can’t relied upon for their biometric data. The sensor now works more effectively across different skin tones and maintains accuracy during high-intensity workouts.
AI-Powered Training That Actually Works
As artificial intelligence gets more ubiquitous, you’re going to see the tech integrated into more affordable hardware. Case in point, the Watch 3 Pro leverages AI for your daily workout. The built-in AI coach tracks your workouts and creates personalized 8- to 16-week training plans based on your current fitness level, goals, and recovery patterns. The system adapts in real-time to your body’s responses and provides post-workout analysis and insights.
The ChatGPT integration is also pretty useful. You can ask questions using voice prompts, set reminders, or even capture quick thoughts with the built-in voice recorder that automatically transcribes your notes. For runners especially, this eliminates the need to fumble with your phone mid-workout to jot down ideas or check training metrics.
More Capable Than Ever Before
Budget smartwatches typically cut corners on GPS accuracy, but the Watch 3 Pro’s dual-band setup supports both L1 and L5 signals along with multiple satellite systems (Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS). This translates to faster satellite lock and more stable route tracking, whether you’re running through dense urban environments or hiking through a tree-filled wilderness.
Putting on its Garmin hat, the Watch 3 Pro also give you a whopping 131 sports modes that cover everything from traditional activities like running and cycling to more specialized activities. Smart activity detection automatically recognizes seven common exercises and backfills data if you forget to start tracking, which will undoubtedly be more useful than you think it is.
The watch is compatible with the new Nothing X app, which also supports the previous Watch Pro and Watch Pro 2 models. It now has better stability and integrations for Strava, Apple Health, and Google Health Connect.
A Boost in Battery and Water Resistance
CMF promises 13 days of typical use, which drops to 11 days with heavy fitness tracking or 4.5 days with the always-on display enabled. These numbers are impressive for any smartwatch, let alone one at this price point. You can also charge from 0 to 100% in just 99 minutes.
Previous CMF watches lacked proper water resistance, but the Watch 3 Pro finally bumps this up to IP68 certification, making it actually useful for pool and diving use. It’s safe to say that CMF has significantly outdone themselves this time around.
Spec Sheet
Display: 1.43″ AMOLED, 466 x 466 resolution, 650 nits peak brightness
Battery Life: 13 days typical use, 11 days heavy use, 4.5 days with AOD
GPS: Dual-band (L1 + L5), Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
Water Resistance: IP68
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3,
Compatibility: Supports Android 6.0+ and iOS 13+
Sensors: Heart rate, SpO₂, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light
Sports Modes: 131 activities with 7 smart recognition
Charging: 99 minutes (0-100%)
Colors: Dark Grey, Light Grey, Orange
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $99, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is available now for just $79 through Nothing’s launch promotion.
Recap
Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro
Nothing’s CMF sub-brand just dropped arguably the new king of cheap smartwatches. The $99 device features AI-boosted capabilities, 131 sports modes, and smart activity recognition, among other things.
