Nothing Phone 3 Review: Was this for Clout?

During the course of this Nothing Phone 3 review, I’ve come to appreciate the company’s efforts more than ever before. For a tech startup that began just a few years ago in London, their efforts to make this device available outside Europe are commendable. I’m particularly referring to its availability in North America and India. Previous Nothing phones have launched in India, but this is the first to be officially released in North America.

One more thing I’ve come to admire about the company is their boldness. Their ambition to dream, dare, and execute plans into reality is impressive. That kind of drive deserves recognition. However, what exactly makes the Nothing Phone 3 a flagship? For example, Carl Pei, the company’s CEO, has referred to the Phone 3 as their first true flagship in several interviews.

That statement made our team even more curious to test the phone, and so we carried out thorough testing. We discovered some interesting details you might want to know before deciding whether to buy it or not.

Design

The Nothing Phone 3’s rear design is controversial, and I believe the tech company did this intentionally. The goal was likely to stand out from the rest of the market’s designs while also trying to capitalize on the media attention such a bold move attracts.

It seems they didn’t care whether the attention was good or bad; as long as it helped sell the product, they considered their goal achieved. However, that’s not entirely true because, from my little knowledge of Carl Pei, he cares deeply about the long-term perception of the brand. The so-called “ugly” rear design may be deliberate, but I don’t believe it was just for clout-chasing.

Although the design leaves you with only two camps, either you’re Team Ugly or Team Beautiful Design; there’s hardly a middle ground. Personally, when I first saw the pictures, I was turned off. But when I held the Nothing Phone 3 in person at the Nothing Store in Soho, London… oh my! The device looked fine and felt premium. I think photos don’t do justice to how it looks in real life.

Where’s the Glyph LED?

Good question. Where is the dream? Nothing sold to us with its predecessor, the Glyph LED lighting made up of over 900 mini bulbs? Did people complain they didn’t need it anymore? Did users get tired of it, prompting Nothing to scrap it? Honestly, I don’t know.

nothing phone 2 showing glyph led — credit: mobiledott IG

But let me make this clear: the new Glyph Matrix may not last in future models. It takes away from the phone’s seriousness. Many tech companies that have tried similar gimmicks in the past have eventually dropped them. It’s not practical, and I bet most users will rarely use it.

Sure, it’s there for some light entertainment, simple games, clocks, or quirky notifications. But honestly, I’d rather use the main screen. Why would I want to play games like Magic 8-Ball, Rock Paper Scissors, or Spin the Bottle on a 25x25 pixel display? It’s fun but unnecessary.

Yes, it has a few practical uses, like showing a clock or limited notification info, but those are things easily accessed from the main screen.

Durability

The Nothing Phone 3 is well-built and feels very comfortable to hold. The back is glossy, thanks to its transparent design and glass finish. The frame is aluminum with soft edges and a smooth matte finish. The buttons are tactile and responsive. However, the glass back does attract fingerprints, though the phone doesn’t wobble much when placed on a flat surface.

That said, I have my reservations about the Gorilla Glass 7i used to protect the screen. It’s a midrange protective glass, and it feels a bit out of place on a flagship device costing $799. Competitors typically use Gorilla Glass Victus 2 or newer. While 7i might get the job done, one unfortunate drop could easily ruin it.

The Nothing Phone 3 also offers IP68-rated protection, making it dust-tight and water-resistant, ideal for everyday use in various environments. Durability-wise, this is one area where Nothing could still improve.

Display

The Nothing Phone 3 features a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio, capable of displaying over a billion colors. It supports a 120 Hz refresh rate, 960 Hz PWM dimming, HDR10+, and peaks at an impressive 4500 nits of brightness.

The display is undoubtedly flagship-worthy. It’s bright enough for comfortable outdoor usage. Colors are vibrant and lively, as expected from OLED, but can be toned down via the Standard color mode in the settings. The high refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and responsiveness, while the peak brightness makes it perfect for viewing under direct sunlight. Watching HDR content on this screen is a delight, with deep contrasts and rich details.

Performance and Software

What’s a flagship phone without a flagship chipset? It’s a fair question because the SoC is the heartbeat of any modern smartphone. Performance on the Nothing Phone 3 is fast and fluid throughout daily use. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Octa-core (1x3.21 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720).

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a refined version of last year’s flagship chipset. However, the concern here is obvious: the current flagship chipset is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is superior. Yet, Nothing is charging flagship prices for a chip that’s technically not top-tier anymore.

For comparison:

Snapdragon 8 Elite Geekbench Scores

3,031 (single-core) / 9,625 (multi-core)

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Geekbench Scores

2,165 (single-core) / 6,930 (multi-core)

That said, performance is still excellent. Gaming, video recording, and multitasking—the Nothing Phone 3 delivers smooth performance. However, the competition, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Apple iPhone 16, offers even better performance while sitting in the same price bracket.

In terms of software, the Nothing Phone 3 runs NothingOS 3.5 based on Android 15 out of the box and will be updated to NothingOS 4.0 based on Android 16 later this year. It’s impressive that the company promises 5 years of software updates and 7 years of security patches, a commendable feat from this London-based startup.

Camera

The Nothing Phone 3’s camera design may look unusual, but the quality is solid. The 50MP triple rear cameras deliver reliable performance. Could it be better? Yes. Is it worth $799? Arguably, yes.

The primary camera is the standout here, producing sharp, colorful photos with a wide dynamic range. Occasionally, the HDR can feel a bit heavy-handed, but overall, it performs well.

The other two lenses include a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP periscope telephoto with 3x zoom. Both deliver impressive results, and I dare say the ultrawide shots surpass some true flagship devices. The telephoto can be a bit soft sometimes, but when it nails focus, the results are great.

Battery

The Nothing Phone 3 is powered by a 5150 mAh battery with 65W wired and 15W wireless charging. Battery life depends on usage.

Nothing Phone 3 Battery Endurance:

Standard usage: 6 hours 55 minutes
Gaming: 9 hours 25 minutes
Browsing: 16 hours
Video recording: 10 hours

Conclusion

To wrap up this Nothing Phone 3 review, it’s clear the device is a solid performer, but the price feels a little ambitious for what’s on offer. For $799, it should have featured the latest flagship chipset to compete directly with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16, both of which offer superior performance, better cameras, and more refined software experiences.

However, for first-time buyers looking for something different from the big players like Samsung and Apple, the Nothing Phone 3 offers a fresh and bold alternative. It’s a phone with personality, bold design choices, and an ambition that stands out. If you want to try something new beyond the usual tech giants, the Nothing Phone 3 is definitely worth considering.

Buy Nothing Phone 3

You can buy the Nothing Phone 3 using the details below: