Nothing Phone (3) Hands-On: Bold Looks, But Is It Enough?

Nothing is back with its latest flagship, the Nothing Phone (3), a bold step in a different direction – visually at least. While the previous models leaned into minimalism with light-up flair, the Phone (3) takes things into new territory with a design that’s dividing opinions hard.

The back of the device is where the controversy starts. Gone are the signature clean lines – in their place is a three-column grid and an off-center periscope zoom camera jutting out from the top-right corner. The new Glyph Matrix swaps out the familiar LED strips for a dense grid of 489 monochrome lights, now capable of showing animations, icons, and even mini-games like Rock Paper Scissors. It’s novel – but some users are calling it a downgrade in charm and usefulness.

A new Glyph Button sits below the matrix, giving tactile feedback and letting users scroll through lighting presets and shortcuts. Nothing has also opened its developer SDK for third-party experimentation, so we may see this matrix become more than just a flashy gimmick.

Under the hood, things are a mix of old and new. A Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 powers the device – a capable chip, but not the flagship 8 Gen 3 or Dimensity 9400 many expected at this price. There’s a 5,150 mAh silicon-carbon battery, an upgrade over its predecessor, promising better efficiency. The phone runs Nothing OS 3.5 on Android 15, keeping the UI minimal, with version 4 already on the horizon.

The camera system includes four 50MP sensors – a 1/1.3″ main sensor with OIS, a 3x periscope lens, an ultrawide, and a selfie cam. However, critics point out that the periscope sensor is actually a downgrade in quality from the one found on the mid-range Phone (3a) Pro.

Up front, the 6.67-inch AMOLED sports FHD+ resolution and an adaptive 30-120Hz refresh rate. While it can reach up to 4,500 nits in peak brightness, the lack of LTPO is notable in a market where competitors offer smoother and more power-efficient screens for the same – or lower – price.

Other features include aluminum framing, Gorilla Glass Victus on the back, and Gorilla Glass 7i on the front. The new IP68 rating finally brings true water resistance to a Nothing phone.

But here’s the rub: all this comes at a starting price of €900 in many markets. For that amount, many users argue you could get a more powerful phone like the Pixel 9 Pro, Galaxy S25 Plus, or iPhone 16 Plus. Some even say the €390 Poco F7 offers better hardware, minus the flashy LEDs.

Ultimately, the Nothing Phone (3) is trying to walk a tightrope between quirky innovation and premium pricing – and based on early reactions, it might have lost its balance. Whether that Glyph Matrix turns out to be a fun evolution or just a flashy distraction remains to be seen.