The CMF Watch Pro was part of the first range of products launched by budget sub-brand Nothing, now CMF is launching its first telephone and pairs it with a new watch and new earbuds. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the CMF Watch Pro 2 is round instead of rectangular like its predecessor. In a way, that makes it less of a sequel and more of a standalone model.
The review unit we have in the office has a dark gray bezel and a blue leather strap. The bezel is raised and rounded, which provides some protection for the screen if you bump it against something.
The Watch Pro 2, however, is part of the brand’s new passion for modularity. The bezel is replaceable with two main options – round and flat – and several color choices. The watch case beneath the bezel is made of aluminum alloy. The straps are 22mm as standard and can also be replaced. CMF offers both leather and silicone straps.
The new model comes with several upgrades. You may have noticed the crown – it can be turned to navigate the UI, it is not just a simple push button like on 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, less content can fit on it. However, it has more pixels (466 x 466px) and is slightly sharper (353ppi) than that display. It’s also a bit brighter, and now has an auto-brightness mode. The CMF team has prepared over 100 watch faces to further customize the look and feel of the watch, and you can choose which widgets are visible on the home screen.
Unfortunately, the battery in the CMF Watch Pro 2 is also slightly smaller, with a capacity of 305 mAh (vs. 340 mAh). So Nothing advertises a battery life of no less than 11 days (2 days less than the Watch Pro).
There are a few additions to the watch’s prowess as a sports and health tracking device. There are the usual suspects: heart rate and SpO2 sensors, plus built-in GPS for outdoor tracking. The watch has an IP68 rating, so it’s protected against rain, but it’s not suitable for swimming. Nothing added a few extra sports modes, as well as warm-up exercises and interval training. The watch also comes with an updated sleep detection algorithm.
Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, you can take calls on the watch, and you can now add up to 30 contacts that you can call from the watch. You’ll still need to be within Bluetooth range of your phone (there’s no GSM connectivity on the watch itself), but that’s still very convenient.
The upgrades on the CMF Watch Pro 2 aren’t free, but they’re still far from expensive. The new model costs $70/€70/£70/₹5,000, compared to $50/€50/£50/₹3,500 for the original (which is of course still available). Time to strap this on our wrist and put it to the test, expect an in-depth review soon.