Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Apple Watch SE 3
Best Budget for iPhone UsersCMF Watch 3 Pro
Best HR Accuracy Under $100Price
$219-$249
$99
Summary
The cheapest way into Apple's ecosystem with most of the flagship health features intact — sleep tracking, crash detection, temperature sensing, and now 5G. For iPhone users, nothing else at this price comes close.
At $99, it packs one of the most accurate heart rate sensors tested at any price — not just in the budget category. A genuine surprise from Nothing's sub-brand that punches well above its weight.
Pros
- Latest S10 processor, always-on display, and 5G connectivity at under $250
- Sleep Score, Workout Buddy, sleep apnea notifications, and temperature tracking included
- Ultrafast charging added in third generation
- Deep iPhone integration unmatched by any Android-compatible alternative
- Heart rate sensor accuracy praised as best-in-class at any price point by community testers
- Priced at $99, undercutting most competitors with similar accuracy
- Solid build quality for the price from Nothing's CMF sub-brand
- Covers all core fitness tracking needs per community consensus
Cons
- iPhone-only — useless if you're on Android
- Still $219-$249, which is the high end of 'budget'
- No ECG or blood oxygen sensor compared to Series 11
- Newer brand with less long-term reliability data than Amazfit or Garmin
- Smaller app ecosystem compared to established players
- Limited availability in some regions
Our take
If you're on iPhone, stop looking at Amazfit and just save up for the SE 3 — the ecosystem integration alone makes it worth the stretch, and Tom's Guide calls it the best cheap smartwatch you can buy.
The CMF Watch 3 Pro is the sleeper pick here — when a Reddit user says its HR sensor beats watches at any price, that's the kind of real-world endorsement you can't ignore.
Buy
