Nothing Phone 3: Full Review
In a smartphone market flooded with lookalike devices and repetitive designs, Nothing has carved out a niche with its bold and futuristic approach. The newly launched Nothing Phone 3, released on July 1, 2025, is a testament to the brand’s philosophy of creating transparent, minimal, and unique tech products.
But does the Nothing Phone 3 live up to the hype? Is it truly a flagship killer or just another stylish distraction? Let’s dive deep into this exciting new launch and explore its specifications, features, pros, and cons—from A to Z.
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A to Z Specifications of Nothing Phone 3
A – Android & Updates
Nothing Phone 3 comes with Android 15 and Nothing OS 3.5. The brand promises 5 years of Android updates and 7 years of security patches, making it one of the most future-proof phones in the Android world.
B – Battery
A large 5,150 mAh silicon-carbon battery powers the device, delivering long-lasting usage. It supports 65W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse charging for earbuds or other accessories.
C – Camera
- It sports a triple 50MP rear camera setup:
- Main Sensor: 50MP with OIS + EIS
- Ultra-Wide: 50MP with 114° field of view
- Telephoto: 50MP periscope lens, up to 60× digital zoom
- The front camera is also 50MP, ideal for selfies and video calls.
D – Display
The Nothing Phone 3 features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution (2800×1260). It supports adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz and peak brightness of 4,500 nits, making it stunning even under direct sunlight.
E – Essential Key
The phone introduces a new “Essential Key”—a customizable physical button that can trigger voice memos, screenshots, or the AI “Essential Space.”
F – Frame & Build
The device has a premium flat aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, and Gorilla Glass Victus on the back, with IP68 water and dust resistance—a first for a Nothing phone.
G – Glyph Matrix
This is the showstopper feature: the back of the phone features a dot-matrix LED panel replacing the old Glyph lights. It can show animations, music visualizers, charging progress, and even act as a mini flashlight.
H – Hardware
The phone runs on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, paired with 12GB or 16GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage. While not the top-tier Elite chip, it still provides flagship-level performance for most users.
I – Interface
The UI (Nothing OS 3.5) is clean, minimal, and features unique fonts, icons, and animations. It now includes AI-based search, Smart Transcription, and shared widgets.
J – Joy of Holding
Reviews consistently say that the phone feels “amazing to hold,” thanks to its ergonomic flat edges and light design (only ~198g).
K – Known Problems
Despite its strengths, the phone has a few early bugs with the software, especially when using the Glyph Matrix and AI tools heavily. App crashes and slow animations are reported by some users.
L – Launch & Pricing
Launched on July 1, 2025, the pricing is:
₹62,999 (12GB + 256GB)
₹72,999 (16GB + 512GB)
M – Multimedia & Audio
It has stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support, and clear voice quality. No 3.5mm jack, but excellent Bluetooth 6.0 ensures lag-free audio with wireless earbuds.
N – Navigation & AI
New AI features include Essential Search (chat-like search tool), meeting transcription, and screenshot summarization. It’s built for power users who rely on multitasking and AI support.
O – Operating System
Nothing OS 3.5 is fast and fluid, and visually distinct from stock Android. The brand continues to refine it with regular OTA updates.
P – Performance
With the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, performance is solid:
Smooth gaming
No heating issues
Great battery optimization
AnTuTu benchmark scores over 1.3 million
Q – Quick Charging
65W fast charging gets you from 0 to 50% in just 19 minutes—perfect for on-the-go users.
R – Rear Design
The rear panel has polarized opinions. Some call it “iconic” and creative, others find it “overdesigned” and messy. It’s definitely a statement.
S – Security
Comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner, face unlock, and secure boot system. Nothing has added AI threat detection as well.
T – Thermals
Thermal performance is good. Thanks to a large vapor chamber cooling system, the phone does not heat up during intense gaming or 4K recording.
U – UI Experience
The interface is both clean and futuristic. Customization is limited compared to OnePlus or Samsung, but it’s designed to be distraction-free and productive.
V – Video Recording
It supports:
4K @ 60fps (rear and front)
Slow motion 1080p @ 240fps
Ultra Steady Mode Video quality is stabilized, sharp, and vibrant, ideal for vloggers and creators.
W – Wireless Features
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth 6.0
- e SIM + physical SIM
- NFC
- Reverse wireless charging
X – X-Factor
Its AI capabilities and dot-matrix back panel are unlike any other phone. It turns the smartphone into a “conversation starter.”
Y – YouTuber Friendly
With high-res cameras, cinematic video, and a built-in backlight, it’s perfect for vloggers, YouTubers, and Instagram Reels creators.
Z – Zero Compromise?
Not quite. It sacrifices the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Elite chip, and has a few UI bugs, but overall offers great value.
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👍 Positives of Nothing Phone 3
- Unique design with Glyph Matrix
- Flagship-like performance
- Great camera system
- Stunning display with high brightness
- Fast wired + wireless charging
- AI-powered tools
- Clean and lightweight OS
- IP68 water resistance
- Long software support (5+7 years)
- Innovative features like Essential Key
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👎 Negatives of Nothing Phone 3
- Design is divisive; not everyone likes the Glyph Matrix
- No Snapdragon Elite chipset – lacks absolute flagship power
- Some software bugs and laggy animations
- Glyph lights are less bright and practical than in Phone 2
- No expandable storage
- Competition like Galaxy S25, Pixel 9, and iPhone 16 offer more refined ecosystems
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🔚 Final Verdict
The Nothing Phone 3 is not just a smartphone—it’s a statement. From its dot-matrix LED design to its AI-powered features and clean interface, it dares to be different. If you’re tired of generic-looking phones and want something expressive, stylish, and functional, this could be your ideal device.
It’s not the most powerful phone out there, but it balances performance, personality, and practicality in a way few others do in 2025.