In recent years, numerous smartphone manufacturers have either scaled back or completely exited the mobile industry. However, UK-based Nothing Technologies is determined to establish its foothold in the fiercely competitive smartphone landscape. With its innovative designs featuring quirky aesthetics and illuminated elements, Nothing is focusing on markets beyond the US. The launch of the Nothing Phone 3 marks the company's first flagship smartphone to debut in the United States, showcasing a blend of style and performance that aims to rival brands like OnePlus and Google.
Despite the hype surrounding its distinctive designs, the Nothing Phone 3 presents a somewhat conventional front profile. The device features slim, symmetrical bezels surrounding a 6.67-inch OLED display, protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, boasting a remarkable resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. With a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, this display outshines many competitors from Google and Samsung, making it highly readable even in bright outdoor conditions. However, some users have reported unintentional touches due to the display's high touch sensitivity.
Specifications at a glance:
- SoC: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- Memory: 12GB, 16GB
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB
- Display: 1260 x 2800, 6.3” OLED, 120Hz
- Cameras: Quad 50MP (primary, ultrawide, telephoto, selfie)
- Software: Android 15 with 5 years of OS updates
- Battery: 5,150 mAh, 65W wired charging, 15W wireless charging
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6.0, sub-6 GHz 5G, USB-C 3.2
- Dimensions: 160.6 x 75.6 x 9 mm; Weight: 218 g
The Nothing Phone 3 is equipped with an optical fingerprint sensor situated under the display. While this sensor is responsive and accurate, its placement is slightly lower than ideal, which might require users to adjust their grip. The device’s overall design mirrors the sleek profiles of contemporary smartphones, with an IP68-rated body featuring a minimalist aesthetic, flat edges, and rounded corners. The device is crafted from an aluminum frame that seamlessly integrates with front and rear glass panels, providing a comfortable grip.
Included in the box is a clear case, though it appears to be of lower quality and may yellow over time. Additionally, the device lacks traditional features such as a headphone jack or an IR blaster, focusing instead on a clean and modern design.
The standout feature of the Nothing Phone 3 is its eye-catching back, adorned with a transparent panel made from Gorilla Glass Victus. Although users cannot see the internal components, the layered panels create a visually intriguing effect. The rear houses the Glyph Matrix—an evolution from Nothing's previous light bars—which allows for customizable display options, including notifications and some playful features such as a Magic 8-ball. However, the practical utility of the Glyph Matrix remains questionable, often feeling gimmicky rather than essential.
Nothing positions the Phone 3 as a flagship device, yet it is powered by the less powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, rather than Qualcomm's elite offerings. While this chip performs admirably, it does not quite match the benchmarks set by high-end devices like the Galaxy S25. Nevertheless, the Phone 3 delivers smooth performance in everyday tasks and multitasking, showing particular strength in gaming scenarios compared to other mid-range competitors.
With a large 5,150 mAh battery, the Nothing Phone 3 offers impressive longevity, easily lasting a full day of typical usage. The device supports 65W wired charging, significantly outpacing rivals like Google and Samsung in charging speed. Additionally, it includes 15W wireless charging, though it lacks support for the magnetic Qi 2 standard.
The Nothing Phone 3 features an upgraded camera system, comprising four 50MP sensors: wide-angle, ultrawide, telephoto, and a selfie camera. While the camera can shoot in native 50MP mode, the output is typically 12.5MP, utilizing pixel binning to enhance image quality in various conditions. Users can expect generally good color balance and exposure, but the camera struggles with shutter lag, especially in low-light situations, making capturing fast-moving subjects a challenge.
The Nothing Phone 3 ships with Android 15 and Nothing OS 3.5, with an Android 16 update anticipated shortly. The user interface is well-designed, maintaining a minimalist approach while enhancing usability with functional changes like a customizable quick settings panel. However, minor bugs have been noted, indicating room for improvement.
One notable addition is the Essential Key, which accesses the Essential Space—a feature that integrates AI capabilities to enhance productivity. While promising, the AI functionalities, such as creating to-do lists from screenshots, often miss the mark and lack a robust search function.
Overall, the Nothing Phone 3 represents a commendable effort from the company, offering a blend of solid performance and unique design elements. However, it faces stiff competition from other flagship smartphones in the same price range, such as the Pixel 9 and OnePlus 13. Buyers should consider their priorities carefully—if you value distinctive hardware and a fresh software experience, the Nothing Phone 3 may be a perfect choice. Otherwise, more established options may offer better camera performance and more reliable software support.
The Pros:
- Excellent build quality with an IP68 rating
- Visually appealing Nothing OS
- Impressive performance for everyday tasks
- Unique Glyph Matrix design
The Cons:
- Glyph Matrix may feel like a gimmick
- AI features need refinement
- Cameras exhibit noticeable shutter lag
- Lack of official Verizon support
