The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
A unique phone with standout design, offering solid all-around performance, but there are better processors available at the same price.What's good
- Unique design
- Bright, vibrant display
- Decent battery life
- Solid performance
- Improved Glyph Matrix
What's bad
- Thick and heavy
- Mostly plastic design
- No charger included
- High price for specs
- Fragile glass back
Design
The Nothing Phone (3) pushes design boundaries with its striking look and transparent back, creating modern art vibes. This geometric design language uses discs and curves to evoke playfulness and sophistication.
The Glyph Matrix on the back offers a dynamic, customizable experience that doesn't just light up with notifications but also provides interactive features like games and status updates. As "reviewers" note, "this iteration turns the back of the phone into a dynamic canvas." With its unique appearance and feel, you'll find it both a joy to hold and visually engaging.
Display(s)
You will enjoy the 6.67-inch AMOLED display, which offers sharp clarity with its high resolution, ensuring text and images are vivid.
The dynamic refresh rate makes scrolling smooth and responsive, elevating your viewing and gaming experience.
Despite its bright screen with up to 4,500 nits for HDR content, bright sunlight might challenge readability. 'In bright sunlight, the Phone (3) offers 1,600 nits of brightness, which is actually quite a lot,' say experts, but some top models perform better in harsh light.
Performance
The Nothing Phone (3) features a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, offering strong performance for daily tasks, gaming, and multitasking. Most apps open quickly, and you can move between tasks smoothly thanks to up to 16GB of RAM.
During extensive benchmark tests, the phone handled stress well but tended to heat up significantly, which some reviewers noted was worrisome during intense use.
Given the processor, experts agree the phone delivers good performance for its price point, although it doesn't quite reach the speed of more premium models like the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16.
Software & Storage
The Nothing Phone (3) keeps its software intuitive and playful. There's a new Essential Key that helps quickly capture and organize content through AI in the Essential Space.
Although some reviewers feel digital clutter, the tools like Essential Search bring ease, finding contacts or files swiftly and with context.
Android lovers appreciate Nothing OS 3.5's simplicity and the promise of five years of updates, a nod to the brand's commitment to longevity.
Cameras
The camera setup includes four 50MP shooters, with the highlight being a periscope telephoto lens that offers 3x optical zoom, allowing you to capture crisp and vibrant distant scenes. Experts highlight its performance as comparable to more expensive flagship models with a consistent color profile across lenses.
The advanced primary sensor increases light capture by 44%, producing sharp images even in dim settings, while the macro functionality enables stunning close-ups. Critics appreciate the consistency in natural color reproduction, even during high-detail zoom shots.
In essence, the phone balances high performance with creative versatility, meeting the needs of typical users seeking comprehensive image capabilities at a reasonable price.
Battery
With the Nothing Phone (3), you'll find it easier to manage your daily routine without frequent recharges. The phone features a substantial 5,150mAh battery, created from silicon-carbon materials. This innovation provides robust energy density, according to Android Central.
For busy users, the phone supports 65W fast charging, enabling quicker top-ups and minimizing downtime.
"It's a great all-day performer, ensuring most won’t run out of juice before bedtime," Creative Bloq reports.
Audio
The sound quality during calls is impressive, ensuring your voice comes through clearly even in busy places. Reviewers highlighted the phone's precise microphones and effective noise cancellation that enhances conversations, which is particularly beneficial if you're often on the go.
For entertainment, experts praised the device's stereo speakers for producing a decent soundstage with volume that reaches impressive levels. Though some reviews mention they could benefit from more richness in the midrange, film and game experiences remain engaging and dynamic.
With Bluetooth capabilities supporting high-quality sound through wireless earbuds, you'll enjoy music and films with crisp clarity. "The sound via Bluetooth earbuds is quite excellent," reviewers noted, making it an ideal choice for both everyday calls and immersive entertainment sessions.
The Bottom Line
This phone's design boldly sets it apart from others but may not appeal to everyone. Users will find satisfaction in its robust display and overall performance.
The design is distinct and playful, with a transparent back panel that enhances its visual appeal. The phone performs well for everyday tasks, but it lags behind others with higher-end processors, suggesting you'll experience some limitations over time.
Its new Glyph Matrix is engaging, offering some creative displays and features, but lacks the novelty of previous models' lighting effects.
It includes a trio of 50MP cameras that provide versatility, yet do not hold their ground against comparable competitors in terms of photo quality under various conditions.
Ultimately, it's an intriguing option for those seeking something distinctive and engaging without needing the absolute latest in processing power.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ben Schoon, 9to5GoogleOverhyping the actual product combined with the final price of $799 just led to an immediate negative view of the device. After using it for the past few months, I actually think it’s a pretty good option for its price. Compared to the base Pixel 10 at the same price, you’re getting better battery l…
- Tom Bedford, TechRadarNothing's first true premium phone ticks many flagship boxes with its solid chipset, competent camera array, and good-looking display. But talking of boxes: the Phone 3 feels like one, with a design that I'll diplomatically call 'divisive'. In fact, many of Nothing's design and software choices on t…
- Scott Schaen, GeekSpinThe Nothing Phone (3) delivers flagship-grade performance, cameras, and build quality in a distinctive transparent design with functional LED features for $799, making it a compelling alternative to traditional premium smartphones despite not leading in every spec category.
- Manuel Masiero, NotebookcheckWith the Phone (3), Nothing remains true to its philosophy of developing smartphones that are a little different from the competition. This is evident in the transparent back, the asymmetrical arrangement of the cameras, the slim and fast Nothing OS 3.5, and extras such as the Glyph Matrix with its …
- Anshuman Jain, BeebomThe Nothing Phone (3) is the company’s boldest attempt yet, but at $899, it struggles to justify its flagship status. It offers a gorgeous 1.5K display, clean software, and a striking (if polarizing) design. However, the undercooked Glyph Matrix, midrange Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, poor battery life,…
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
The Phone (3) price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front.
You can compare Nothing Phone (3) prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Nothing Phone (3) user manual here.
Nothing backs up the Phone (3) with a 2 Years parts & labour warranty.
If your Phone (3) has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nothing support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nothing's contact information here.
If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop.
You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Community Q&A
Real experiences from actual users
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Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Nothing Phone (3) Manual (PDF)
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