Nothing Phone (3) Review: A Bold Vision That Still Misses the Mark
The Nothing Phone (3) is perhaps the most daring Android phone of the year – a visual statement with its transparent back, upgraded Glyph lighting, and slick UI. It’s a gadget that screams for attention and admiration, and to some degree, it earns it. The design is striking, almost sci-fi, and it’s clear that the team behind it cares deeply about aesthetics and user experience. For those craving something different in a market of dull slabs, the Phone (3) feels like a breath of fresh air.
But peel back that cool exterior, and reality sets in. Priced at $800, this phone isn’t just competing with mid-rangers anymore – it’s trying to stand next to the best of the best. And that’s where it stumbles hard.
Design: Still the Star
The Nothing Phone (3) nails design. From the symmetrical borders to the enhanced Glyph interface, it’s a visual delight. The device is built solid, and the clean Nothing OS – free from bloat – offers a smooth, refined feel. It’s refreshing to see a phone that values minimalism and tactility.
Unfortunately, beauty alone doesn’t cut it in the flagship world.
Display: Shiny but Dim
On paper, the 6.7-inch OLED display with 120Hz sounds great. But in real-world use, it’s the dimmest in its class with just 1501 nits at 20% APL. Outdoors, that’s a problem. And the high minimum brightness (2 nits) makes nighttime use harsh. Surprisingly, color accuracy was excellent – arguably best-in-class – but that varies per unit, so don’t count on it.
Performance: Almost There, But Not Quite
Nothing made a bold move with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 – it’s their first true flagship chip. And in benchmarks, it does beat the Pixel 9 and even Apple’s A18 in spots. But the gap to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite, seen in rivals like the OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25, is massive. Our test scores told the story: 7.6 on light tasks and just 7.2 on heavy workloads, lagging well behind competitors who break the 9.0 mark.
Camera: Hardware With Hiccups
The specs are juicy: triple 50 MP rear lenses (main, telephoto, and ultrawide), and a 50 MP selfie cam. But the execution? Messy. Oversharpening ruins skin tones, dynamic range is all over the place, and low-light noise creeps in. The 3X telephoto is fun, but consistency is lacking. When stacked against the Pixel 9a or even the OnePlus 13R, Nothing’s photos just don’t hold up – and video is worse.
Battery: Big Cell, Meh Life
With a 5150 mAh battery, you’d expect solid endurance. But the Phone (3) averaged just 6h 45m in tests – barely ahead of smaller-battery phones like the iPhone 16. It’s not a disaster, but it’s definitely not a strength. Charging, on the other hand, shines: 65W wired and 15W wireless power up the phone impressively fast – faster than Pixel, iPhone, and even Samsung.
Verdict: Vision Without Balance
The Nothing Phone (3) is the company’s most complete phone yet – bold, different, and brimming with character. But in this price range, cool isn’t enough. Performance gaps, camera inconsistencies, and battery mediocrity make it a tough sell at $800. At $700? Maybe. But at this price, it feels like a concept piece that forgot it had to be a phone first.
If you’re all-in on style and want a conversation starter, it might be worth considering. But if you’re after balance, polish, and raw performance, look elsewhere. The vision is nearly there – the execution just needs to catch up.