Nothing Phone (3) Review: The Antidote to Boring Smartphones

Let’s be honest: smartphones have gotten boring. Same designs, same specs, same soulless experience—again and again. But every now and then, a product comes along that dares to break the pattern. The Nothing Phone (3) is exactly that: bold, different, and refreshingly fun.

It doesn’t aim to be just another flagship with top-tier specs and a four-digit price tag. Instead, Nothing is trying to reinvent what a high-end smartphone should feel like, without chasing trends or mainstream expectations. And in doing so, they've created a phone that stands out from the crowd—for all the right reasons.

The Philosophy: Making Tech Fun Again

Nothing didn’t just want to build another phone. Since their debut with the Phone (1), their mission has been to inject personality and creativity back into tech. With the Phone (3), they’re doubling down on that mission—entering the premium segment while staying true to their vision.

This isn’t a phone for everyone. It’s for people who want something different, who appreciate thoughtful design, and who value experience over raw specs. And that’s what makes it exciting.

Technical Specifications

Design: Controlled Chaos That Just Works

At first glance, the Nothing Phone (3) looks chaotic—misaligned cameras, oddly placed LED lights, a circular LED screen on the back... it’s not what we’re used to. But once you hold it, you start to get it.

The build quality is top-tier. Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus on the back, and the kind of refined finishing you’d expect from phones twice the price. It feels great in hand—solid, premium, and full of character.

It’s not trying to be sleek or anonymous. It’s trying to be memorable. And in a sea of indistinguishable phones, that’s refreshing.

Display: As Good As It Needs to Be

The screen ticks all the boxes: high resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, amazing peak brightness, and HDR10+ support. It’s not quite the best in class—but it’s close enough that you won’t notice.

Content looks sharp, colors are vibrant, and outdoor visibility is excellent. Whether you’re gaming, watching videos, or just scrolling social media, the display delivers.

Sound: Room for Improvement

Now to the weak spot. The stereo speakers are loud, but they lack depth. Bass is thin, and at high volumes, there’s noticeable distortion.

It’s not terrible—just not flagship-level. If you use headphones most of the time, this won’t bother you. But if you rely on the built-in speakers for music or media, you’ll notice the shortcomings.

Glyph Matrix: More Than a Gimmick

Nothing’s signature LED system has evolved. Instead of the flashy light strips on the back of the Phone (1) and (2), the Glyph Matrix introduces a mini LED display that adds actual utility to the visual experience.

You can now check the battery level, see the time, view essential notifications, start a timer, and even play simple games—all while the phone is face-down and locked. It’s smart, it’s low-power, and it adds a unique layer of functionality.

There’s even a button on the side to control it, with options like:

• Glyph Games (timer, bottle spin, rock-paper-scissors, etc.)

• Notification indicators

• Custom contact alerts with specific icons

• Volume level visual feedback

• Essential reminders and events

It’s not a dealbreaker, but once you start using it, it’s hard to go back.

Performance: Fast, Cool, Reliable

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 isn’t the absolute best chip out there—but it’s more than powerful enough. And that’s the point.

Nothing chose this SoC to balance performance, thermals, and power efficiency. It performs just below the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and well below the Elite tier, but in real-life use, it flies.

Gaming? Smooth. Multitasking? No lag. 4K video editing? Surprisingly good. You’re getting 2024 flagship performance in a 2025 phone—and that’s more than enough for 95% of users.

Software: Clean Android With an Artistic Twist

NothingOS 3.5 is a breath of fresh air. Based on Android 15, it keeps things clean, fast, and bloat-free. But it’s not just another stock Android clone—it has a distinct visual identity with pixel-style icons, glitchy system sounds, and a UI that feels... fun.

It’s not the most customizable OS out there, and it doesn’t come with tons of built-in apps like Samsung or Xiaomi. But if you miss the simplicity of old-school Nexus phones or custom ROMs like CyanogenMOD, you’ll love this.

What About AI?

Nothing hasn’t jumped on the AI hype train just yet. While the Phone (3) includes integration with ChatGPT and Google Gemini, there are no advanced AI features like automatic photo editing, live translation overlays, or AI video enhancements.

Instead, there are three core features:

• Essential Space: A smart notepad for screenshots, voice notes, and random ideas.

• Flip to Translate: Starts recording instantly when you press the Essential Key while the phone is locked—ideal for interviews and conversations.

• Essential Search: A Gemini-powered summary search tool that replaces traditional lookups.

The execution is still early-stage. Nothing says they’re waiting to see which AI features actually add value before diving in deeper.

Battery Life: Good, But Not Stellar

With 5,150 mAh, you'd expect stellar endurance. But the reality is a bit more modest.

The phone comfortably makes it through a full day of mixed use, but if you game, shoot video, or crank up the brightness, you’ll feel the battery drain. Around 6 hours of screen time is the average.

Thankfully, charging is fast: 65W wired and 15W wireless. Plus, you get reverse charging if you need to top off earbuds or accessories.

Camera: Capable, Not Class-Leading

Here’s where things get complicated. The triple 50MP setup looks great on paper—but the results don’t always match the specs.

• Main camera: Good color, solid detail, and decent dynamic range, especially in daylight.

• Telephoto (3x): Surprisingly sharp and useful for portraits and zoom shots.

• Ultrawide: A bit underwhelming, with softness and distortion in the corners.

The biggest issue is the live preview—what you see before taking the shot isn’t very accurate, and the final image processing sometimes feels off. It’s not bad, but it’s far from top-tier.

Night mode also needs a few software updates to match competitors. If you’re expecting Pixel-level image quality, this isn’t quite there yet.

Final Verdict: A Smartphone With Soul

The Nothing Phone (3) isn’t trying to be perfect—it’s trying to be different. And it succeeds.

It’s got a bold design, a beautiful screen, fluid performance, and software that feels like it was made by people who actually love Android. The camera needs work, and the battery life could be better—but if you’re tired of cookie-cutter smartphones, this is one of the most enjoyable phones you can buy right now.

Pros:

✅ Unique design that turns heads
✅ Solid performance and thermal management
✅ Beautiful display
✅ Clean, fast software
✅ Useful, fun Glyph Matrix

Cons:

❌ Camera isn’t flagship-grade
❌ Speaker quality is average
❌ Battery life is decent, not amazing
❌ AI features are minimal (for now)

In short, the Nothing Phone (3) is a phone for people who want to enjoy their device, not just use it. And that’s something worth celebrating.