UK tech company Nothing, renowned for its minimalist aesthetic and uncluttered look, has officially launched its most bold phone to date the Nothing Phone (3). With this launch, the company is taking its first serious foray into the high-end flagship territory.
Design That Refuses to Blend In
At the heart of Phone (3)’s identity is its mythical clear rear design, now elevated through a dynamic Glyph Matrix a 489 micro-LED composition back panel. The interactive screen not only offers customizable caller ID, notification, and timer, but also mini-apps and games, making the back panel more than just a design novelty.
At the front, the phone boasts a 6.67-inch OLED display screen with 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh, and an eye-watering 4,500 nits peak brightness, all protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, which offers vibrancy and protection simultaneously.
Performance & Power
The Phone (3) is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, combined with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. While it doesn’t ship with the top-of-the-range Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite out of the box, Nothing justifies the move as a strategic compromise between power, efficiency, and cost integral to their vision of a healthier, distraction-free smartphone experience.
Quad-Camera Brilliance
The camera sees a massive upgrade, with a quad 50MP camera setup:
- Main sensor
- Periscope lens (3x optical zoom)
- Ultra-wide sensor
- 50MP selfie camera
Initial hands-on reviews cite major improvements in the clarity, HDR, low-light snaps, and stabilization, and it is a formidable contender in the mobile photography space. It can record 4K at 60fps.
Battery & Charging
Under the hood, it packs a 5,150mAh silicon-carbon battery (boosted to 5,500mAh for India) and supports 65W wired fast charging, 15W wireless, and reverse wireless charging, enabling rapid top-ups and convenience on the go.
Software & Longevity
The Phone (3) ships with Android 15 and Nothing OS 3.5, a leaner and more user-customizable spin on stock Android. For the first time in the industry, Nothing promises 5 years of OS updates and 7 years of security patches, par with the terms provided by firms like Apple and Google.
Price & Availability
The Phone (3) starts at:
- $799 / £799 / €799 for the 12GB + 256GB variant
- $899 for the top-tier 16GB + 512GB model
Pre-orders start on July 4, with regional releases on July 12 to 15.
Expert Opinions
TechRadar lambasts the phone’s bold design and AI-centric features like ambient light usage reduction, describing the Glyph Matrix as “functional and fun.” Wired praises the camera as the highlight, writing of substantial enhancements in photo quality over its predecessor.
Although The Verge and 9to5Google call into question the “flagship” name due to the mid-range chipset, they both agree that thoughtful design, software glow, and user-centric features are certainly the device’s strong suit.
Summary
Nothing Phone (3) is not just a piece of technology it’s an ethos. It eschews futuristic design, clever software, and practical specs to exist in a sleek package that goes against the grain of flagship smartphone design. As problematic as the chipset controversies may be, one thing is for sure: Nothing is no longer playing the mid-range game anymore. With the Phone (3), it’s looking to enter the stage of premium smartphones as a serious player.