My Candid Nothing Phone 3 Review: A Flagship or a Clever Deception

From the moment I unboxed the Nothing Phone 3, I knew this wasn’t just another smartphone; it was a statement. As I delve into this Nothing Phone 3 review, I want to share my personal experience, dissecting what this device truly brings to the table, both its dazzling highs and its subtle lows. For those who crave something different in a sea of sameness, Nothing promises a unique proposition, but at a flagship price point, does it deliver?

First Impressions and Design

My initial reaction to the Phone 3’s aesthetic was, frankly, a bit jarring. “Ugly” might be a strong word, but the design definitely challenges conventional beauty standards.

People often say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I get that. You can find allure in anything if you look hard enough. Yet, there’s something inherently satisfying about symmetry and familiarity.

• When things are where you expect them to be, it feels right.
• Nothing has always prided itself on doing things differently, and the Phone 3 is no exception.

A Unique Take on Smartphone Evolution

I recently learned about carcinisation – a fascinating phenomenon in evolutionary biology where various undersea crustaceans have independently evolved towards a flat, robust, crab-like shape.

In an oversimplified sense, it feels like everything down there is evolving into a crab. And looking at the smartphone market today, it’s eerily similar; most phones are “crabs,” indistinguishable slabs of glass and metal.

So, when something truly different like the Nothing Phone 3 comes along, it’s bound to feel a little weird. Maybe its layered glass look with text scattered across its back speaks to some, or perhaps the functional record light replacing the iconic red dot.

The Familiar Nothing Pattern

In my experience with Nothing products, a pattern emerges:

• They release something visually unconventional.
• The internet collectively cringes at the initial photos.
• Two months later, we’re all used to it, forgetting the looks and focusing on the product itself.

So, let’s skip past the aesthetic debate and dive straight into what matters: the actual product.

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Flagship or Not?

Nothing is boldly marketing the Phone 3 as their “first true flagship.” This is understandable when you’re suddenly charging $799 for a phone after years of operating in the budget and mid-range segments.

However, having used this phone extensively for the better part of a week, I must disagree. In my honest assessment, the Phone 3 is no more of a flagship than Nothing’s previous iterations.

Competing in the Big League

At $799, the Nothing Phone 3 directly competes with:

• Samsung Galaxy S25
• Pixel 9
• iPhone 16

These are bonafide flagships from tech giants with seemingly unlimited resources.

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Performance: Is It Truly Flagship Grade?

Let’s start with the heart of the device: the chip.

The Nothing Phone 3 doesn’t feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Instead, it runs on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

• 40% better CPU performance compared to Phone 2’s chip.
• 90% better GPU performance.
• Paired with 12GB RAM (base) or 16GB RAM (higher tier).

In daily use, the phone feels incredibly zippy and smooth. But for intensive gaming or heavy multitasking, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 still has the edge.

The Display: Bright, Beautiful, with a Catch

The Nothing Phone 3 boasts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with:

• 120Hz refresh rate
• Up to 4500 nits peak brightness
• Even bezels all around
• HDR support

The Catch

Unless you check the specs carefully, you’d never know:

• It uses Gorilla Glass 7i, not the premium Victus glass.
• The display is LTPS, not LTPO, meaning slightly less power-efficient.

Battery Life: A True Flagship Performer

Despite the LTPS display’s inefficiency, the battery shines.

• 5150 mAh (actually rated 5500 mAh thanks to silicon-carbon tech)
• 65W wired charging
• Wireless & reverse wireless charging
• Reverse wired charging

This is genuinely a two-day phone, and the battery performance feels truly flagship.

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Cameras: Good, But Not Class-Leading

The triple 50MP camera system is closer to a flagship experience than past Nothing phones but still falls short of the best.

Strengths

• Larger main sensor (1/1.3”) for better light capture.
• 3x telephoto lens with macro functionality.
• Ultra-wide and selfie cameras are consistent and reliable.

Weaknesses

• Noticeable softness in some photos.
• Autofocus quirks.
• Slight compromises in telephoto size due to flat design choice.

The Glyph Matrix: Innovation or Gimmick?

The famous Glyph lights are gone, replaced by a 489-LED Glyph Matrix.

Useful Features

• Displays essential notifications when phone is face down.
• Custom icons for messages from specific contacts or apps.

Gimmicky Features

• Hidden pressure-sensitive area for “Glyph toys.”
• Mini games like Rock, Paper, Scissors.
• Experimental apps (e.g., Magic Eight Ball).

Useful in parts, but much of it feels like a novelty.

Nothing OS: A Shining Example

The best part of the Nothing Phone 3 remains its software. Nothing OS 3.5 (soon 4.0) is smooth, minimal, and functional.

Highlights include:

• AI-powered “Essential Space.”
• Resizable quick settings toggles.
• Fluid app interactions and animations.
• Universal search box with AI-powered answers.
• Five years of major software updates.

Conclusion: Who is the Nothing Phone 3 For?

So, at the end of the day, is the Nothing Phone 3 a flagship or not?

It’s clear this phone is made for:

• Users who value unique design over raw specs.
• Fans of smooth, clean software experiences.
• People who want something different in a world of lookalike smartphones.

If you’re tired of the “crabs” of the smartphone industry and want a “lobster,” the Nothing Phone 3 might be exactly what you’re looking for.