Should You Buy Nothing Phone 3? All Details Explained

Nothing, the London-based tech firm, has officially launched its latest flagship—Phone 3—positioning it as a competitor to leading premium smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S25, iPhone 16, and Google Pixel 9. Starting at £799, the device aims to appeal to users seeking unconventional design and a distinct software experience.

At the rear, the Phone 3 introduces a circular LED glyph matrix in the top-right corner, an evolution from the linear light strips of its predecessor. This panel supports icon notifications, animations, volume and battery indicators, and limited app alerts. It also features interactive tools like a stopwatch and novelty games. A rear touch sensor triggers these features.

The display measures 6.7 inches with a 120Hz QHD+ OLED panel, ensuring high pixel density and fluid visuals. Despite its sharpness and brightness, the screen can be reflective under direct sunlight. Dimensions of the phone are 160.6 x 75.6 x 9mm, and it weighs 218g. Water resistance is rated at IP68.

Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, the Phone 3 offers 12GB or 16GB RAM configurations and internal storage of 256GB or 512GB. While not equipped with the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite chip, its performance in routine tasks and gaming remains smooth. Extended graphic usage, however, may cause heating.

Battery capacity delivers about 40 hours of operation under mixed use. Charging reaches 50 per cent in 19 minutes and full in 55 minutes via a 65W USB-C charger (sold separately). Wireless charging supports up to 15W.

Running Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, the interface showcases dot-matrix aesthetics and sound cues. It includes core Google services along with custom apps. The new Essential Space app enables screen-off voice recording and offers basic AI transcription. Essential Search, another feature, facilitates in-device queries through AI integration.

Nothing guarantees five Android version upgrades and seven years of security updates, though Android 16 will arrive in Q3 2025. Notably, HDR support on apps like Netflix is unavailable due to certification restrictions.

The rear camera module houses three 50MP sensors: standard, ultrawide, and 3x telephoto. The main and telephoto lenses deliver sharp imagery, especially in daylight. Ultrawide performance suffers from edge distortion and loss of detail when zoomed. A 50MP front camera supports detailed selfies, and the telephoto lens includes macro capabilities up to 10cm.

In varied lighting, inconsistency in image tone and colour balance is noted, particularly when switching lenses or shooting indoors.

Constructed with recycled materials, 17.6 per cent of the device's total weight is environmentally sourced. The estimated carbon footprint is 53.2kg CO2e. The battery is designed to retain 80 per cent capacity over 1,400 charging cycles. The in-display fingerprint reader is accurate, though its placement is relatively low.

Nothing Phone 3 is available at £799. For comparison, Phone 3a Pro retails at £394, Pixel 9 Pro at £999, Galaxy S25+ at £999, Galaxy S25 Edge at £1099, and OnePlus 13 at £899.

Phone 3 represents a stylistic alternative in the Android segment. It provides steady performance, clean software, and extended security support. However, camera inconsistency, limited AI maturity, and absence of certain certifications affect its premium standing.