Redmi Watch 5 vs CMF Watch 3 Pro: Which Budget Smartwatch Should You Actually Buy?

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⚡ Bottom Line Up Front

Best For	Anyone who wants a genuinely capable smartwatch under £100 — but the right choice depends entirely on what you value
Testing Period	Both watches tested across daily wear, workouts, sleep tracking, and outdoor use
Verdict	The Redmi Watch 5 wins on raw specs — bigger screen, massively brighter display, longer battery, and swim-proof. Most agree that the CMF Watch 3 Pro looks better.
The Catch	Neither watch has NFC payments or third-party apps. If you need those, spend more. If you don’t, both represent exceptional value.

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Introduction

The budget smartwatch market in 2026 is genuinely competitive in a way it has never been before. Two years ago, sub-£100 meant compromise across the board. Today it means choosing between two watches that would have embarrassed £200 devices just three years ago.

The Redmi Watch 5 and the CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing are the two standout options under £100 on Amazon UK right now — and they are targeting exactly the same buyer. Both have AMOLED displays, Bluetooth calling, 13+ days of battery life, and full heart rate and sleep tracking. On paper they are remarkably similar. In real-world use, they are meaningfully different.

I have worn both back to back to give you the honest answer on which one deserves your money. I have also reviewed the CMF Watch Pro 2 previously, read that review here if you are considering the older model.

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Quick Navigation

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Pros & Cons at a Glance

Watches	🟢 Biggest Pro	🔴 Biggest Con
Redmi Watch 5	1,500 nits display — genuinely readable in direct sunlight	HyperOS software lacks personality — functional but forgettable
CMF Watch 3 Pro	Best-looking sub-£100 smartwatch available in the UK	670 nits display — struggles in direct sunlight

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Tech Specs

Redmi Watch 5

Specification	Details
Price	Check live price
Display	2.07-inch AMOLED, 432×514px
Brightness	Up to 1,500 nits
Dimensions	47.5 × 41.1 × 11.3mm
Weight	33.5g (without strap)
Battery	550mAh — up to 24 days
GPS	5-system GNSS — GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS
Water Resistance	5ATM — swim-rated
Bluetooth	5.3
Compatibility	Android / iOS

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing

Specification	Details
Price	Check live price
Display	1.43-inch AMOLED, 466×466px
Brightness	Up to 670 nits
Case Size	47mm circular
Weight	51–52g depending on colourway (with strap)
Battery	350mAh — up to 13 days
GPS	Dual-band L1+L5
Water Resistance	IP68 — not swim-rated
Bluetooth	5.3
Compatibility	Android / iOS

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Design & Build: Style vs Substance

The CMF Watch 3 Pro wins this category without argument. Nothing’s design philosophy runs through every detail — the circular case, the minimal rotating crown, the distinctive monochrome watch faces with carefully placed splashes of colour. In the orange colourway it is one of the most striking wearables I have seen at any price point. I have worn watches costing four times as much that generate fewer compliments.

The Redmi Watch 5 is a different proposition. It takes clear design cues from the Apple Watch — rectangular case, stainless steel crown on the right side — and it does so unapologetically. It looks smart and professional without being particularly interesting. The aluminium frame and 2.5D glass give it a premium feel, but nobody is going to stop you in the street to ask what watch that is.

Both are comfortable for all-day and overnight wear. The Redmi at 33.5g without the strap is considerably lighter than the CMF, which comes in at 51–52g depending on colourway. Over a full day including sleep tracking, that weight difference is noticeable on the wrist.

Winner: CMF Watch 3 Pro

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Display: Not Even Close

This is where the Redmi Watch 5 puts clear daylight between itself and the CMF.

The Redmi’s 2.07-inch AMOLED panel hits 1,500 nits of peak brightness. The CMF Watch 3 Pro manages 670 nits. In isolation, 670 nits sounds adequate. In direct UK sunlight — standing at a bus stop, running in a park, checking your pace mid-cycle — it is not. Multiple reviewers and real-world users have flagged the CMF’s outdoor readability as its most consistent daily frustration. The Redmi has no such problem.

The CMF’s circular display is arguably the more attractive panel at a glance — the round format suits the watch face designs better — but the Redmi’s larger 2.07-inch rectangular display is more practical for reading health data, notifications, and workout metrics in all conditions.

If you spend any meaningful time outdoors or in bright environments, the display gap is significant. The Redmi Watch 5 is the correct choice.

Winner: Redmi Watch 5

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Health & Fitness Tracking

Both watches cover the core bases confidently: continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2 (blood oxygen), sleep tracking including stages, stress monitoring, and menstrual cycle tracking.

The Redmi Watch 5 offers 150+ sport modes, standard 5-system GNSS, and includes a voice recorder — a genuinely useful addition for capturing workout notes on the go.

The CMF Watch 3 Pro also offers 130+ sport modes and dual-band L1+L5 GPS, which is the technically superior implementation. Dual-band GPS earns its advantage in dense urban environments and heavy tree cover where single-band can drift — a meaningful edge for city runners and cyclists.

The CMF adds ChatGPT integration and a personalised running coach via the Nothing X app — genuinely useful extras that the Redmi does not match. The CMF also offers gesture controls, allowing you to answer calls or dismiss alarms with a hand movement, which is a small but daily quality-of-life win.

Winner: CMF Watch 3 Pro

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Battery Life: One Nearly Doubles The Other

The Redmi Watch 5 has a 550mAh battery rated at up to 24 days typical use. The CMF Watch 3 Pro has a 350mAh battery rated at up to 13 days.

In real-world testing both fall short of their headline claims — as every smartwatch does. The Redmi does not have an always-on display, which helps it deliver approximately 10–12 days in typical mixed use with GPS workouts and sleep tracking active. The CMF with AOD enabled and regular GPS sessions drops to around 4–5 days; turn AOD off and you get closer to 10–11 days.

The CMF’s 4–5 days with heavy use is still comfortably better than any flagship smartwatch. But the Redmi’s 10–12 days means you charge it roughly once a fortnight. That is a material difference in daily convenience.

One shared frustration: both watches use proprietary magnetic charging cables. The CMF’s connector is notably flimsy — multiple reviewers report it detaching during charging if disturbed. The Redmi’s magnetic connector is more secure.

Winner: Redmi Watch 5

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Software & Smart Features

The CMF Watch 3 Pro runs Nothing’s proprietary OS paired with the Nothing X app. The Redmi Watch 5 runs Xiaomi’s HyperOS paired with the Mi Fitness app.

Nothing’s software has the stronger personality. The watch faces are the best in class at this price — bold, stylish, and genuinely enjoyable to browse. The monochrome design language is clean and distinctive. ChatGPT on your wrist sounds like a gimmick until you actually use it to answer a quick question or get a workout recommendation mid-session. Essential News reading out headlines during your morning routine is a smart addition.

HyperOS is functional, fluid, and completely unremarkable. It does everything it needs to do without drawing attention to itself. The Mi Fitness app is competent but lacks the polish of the Nothing X app. Over 200 watch faces are available, but few have the visual quality of the CMF’s curated selection.

Winner: CMF Watch 3 Pro

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Water Resistance: The Critical Difference

This is the most important practical differentiator between these two watches — and it is the one most buyers overlook until it is too late.

The Redmi Watch 5 is 5ATM rated — Xiaomi certifies it for swimming, open water, and 18 water sports. You can wear it in the pool or shower without a second thought.

The CMF Watch 3 Pro is IP68 rated — it is protected against dust and can be submerged in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for 30 minutes. However, Nothing explicitly does not recommend using it for swimming. The IP68 rating covers accidental submersion — rain, hand washing, splashes — not sustained water sports activity.

If you swim regularly, run in the rain, or simply want a watch you never have to think twice about near water — the Redmi Watch 5 is the only choice here. This is not a minor spec difference. It is a real-world usage difference that will affect daily decisions.

Winner: Redmi Watch 5

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Which Watch Is Right for You?

You want the best display, longest battery, and swim-proof reliability: Buy the Redmi Watch 5. It outperforms the CMF on every objective metric that affects daily usability.

You swim regularly or exercise in wet conditions: The CMF’s IP68 rating does not cover swimming. The Redmi Watch 5 is the only option here.

You care deeply about how your watch looks and love Nothing’s design language: Buy the CMF Watch 3 Pro. It is the most desirable-looking sub-£100 smartwatch available in the UK.

You want ChatGPT, AI coaching, and a more interesting software experience: Buy the CMF Watch 3 Pro. Nothing’s OS is more characterful than HyperOS.

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TRUK Scorecards

Redmi Watch 5

Category	Score
Display	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Battery Life	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Build Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Health Tracking	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value for Money	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CMF Watch 3 Pro

Category	Score
Display	⭐⭐⭐
Battery Life	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Build Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Health Tracking	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value for Money	⭐⭐⭐⭐

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TRUK Final Verdict

If I had to pick one — and most people reading this do — the Redmi Watch 5 is the stronger buy. The display brightness gap alone is enough to give it the edge for anyone who spends time outdoors. Add the longer battery, swim-proof 5ATM rating, and lighter build, and the Redmi wins on nearly every practical metric.

The CMF Watch 3 Pro earns its place in this comparison on design and software alone. Nothing’s OS is genuinely enjoyable to live with and the watch faces are the best in class at this price. If the way your watch looks and feels matters more than raw performance, the CMF is a legitimate recommendation.

But for most UK buyers — commuters, gym-goers, walkers, runners — the Redmi Watch 5 is the cleaner, stronger, more complete product.

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FAQs

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Review By – René. R

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