Nothing Phone 3 : When Carl Pei announced the Nothing Phone 3 would be the company’s first “true flagship,” plenty of tech enthusiasts rolled their eyes. We’ve heard this before from startups trying to punch above their weight class. But after spending time with this transparent-backed marvel, I’m starting to think Nothing might have pulled off something genuinely special—even if it comes with some controversial choices.
Design Revolution: The Glyph Matrix Changes Everything
The most striking change hits you immediately: the iconic Glyph Interface is gone. Those distinctive LED light strips that made Nothing phones instantly recognizable have been replaced by something called the Glyph Matrix—a small circular mini LED screen positioned at the top right corner of the transparent back.
Initially, this felt like heresy. The original Glyph lights were Nothing’s signature feature, their main differentiator in a sea of identical smartphones. But the Matrix display, made up of 489 micro LEDs, offers genuine utility that the old system couldn’t match. It displays 16-bit styled patterns, shows the time, battery percentage, and even runs mini-apps like Magic 8 Ball and spin the bottle.
There’s a dedicated Glyph Button on the back that lets you cycle through these functions without unlocking the main screen. It sounds gimmicky on paper, but in practice, it’s surprisingly useful—especially for quick glances at notifications or the time when your phone is face-down on a desk.
The rest of the design maintains Nothing’s transparent aesthetic with some meaningful upgrades. Gorilla Glass 7i protects the front while Gorilla Glass Victus guards the back. The IP68 rating represents a significant improvement over the Phone 2’s IP54, making this device genuinely water-resistant rather than just splash-proof.
Performance Puzzle: The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Controversy
Here’s where things get interesting—and controversial. Instead of using Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, Nothing opted for the “s” variant. This choice has sparked heated debates across tech forums, with critics arguing that a $799 phone deserves flagship silicon.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, built on a 4nm architecture, delivers solid performance for daily tasks but won’t compete with absolute flagship powerhouses. During my testing, multitasking felt smooth, apps launched quickly, and gaming performance was respectable—just don’t expect the raw power of phones costing similar amounts.
Nothing’s reasoning becomes clearer when you consider battery life. The 8s Gen 4’s focus on power efficiency translates to impressive endurance from the 5,150mAh battery (5,500mAh in India with silicon-carbide technology). Users consistently report day-and-a-half usage with moderate to heavy patterns, which flagship processors often struggle to match.
Camera Excellence: Triple 50MP Setup Delivers
The camera system represents a significant step forward. Three 50MP sensors handle different tasks: the main camera with OIS and f/1.68 aperture, a periscope telephoto offering 3x optical zoom (and impressive 60x digital zoom with AI Super Res), and an ultra-wide lens for versatility.
The main sensor features a 1.3-inch sensor that’s 20% larger than the Phone 2, resulting in noticeably better low-light performance. During testing, photos exhibited excellent detail retention and natural color reproduction. The periscope telephoto particularly impressed—3x optical zoom feels genuinely useful for portraits and distant subjects.
Night photography shows marked improvement, though it won’t challenge Google’s Pixel lineup or Apple’s latest iPhones. The camera app launches faster than previous Nothing devices, and processing speeds feel snappy rather than sluggish.
Software Sophistication: Nothing OS 3.5 Matures
Nothing OS 3.5, based on Android 15, represents the most refined software experience the company has delivered. The interface remains clean and minimalist while adding genuinely useful features like Essential Space and Essential Search.
Essential Space functions as an AI-powered note-taking app with smart summaries and “Flip to Record” functionality. Essential Search acts like iPhone’s Spotlight, allowing natural language queries alongside traditional file and settings searches. These aren’t revolutionary features, but they’re well-implemented and actually useful.
The software support commitment deserves praise: five years of Android OS updates and seven years of security patches. This longevity promise puts Nothing ahead of many established manufacturers and addresses concerns about long-term device value.
Market Positioning: Premium Pricing, Unique Value
Starting at $799 for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, the Phone 3 sits squarely in flagship territory. The 16GB/512GB model costs $899, competing directly with base-model iPhones and Galaxy S devices.
Nothing’s global expansion strategy includes proper US availability through Amazon and the company’s website, moving beyond the restrictive beta programs that limited previous devices. This accessibility could finally give Nothing the market presence it needs to challenge established players.
Display Excellence: AMOLED Perfection
The 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution (2800×1260) delivers excellent visual quality. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, while 4,500 nits peak brightness handles direct sunlight admirably. Colors appear vibrant without oversaturation, and viewing angles remain consistent.
Charging Capabilities: Fast and Wireless
The 65W wired charging restores battery capacity quickly, while 15W wireless charging provides convenient overnight options. The lack of Qi2 support feels like a missed opportunity, but standard Qi charging works reliably with compatible accessories.
Nothing Phone 3 Final Assessment: Distinctive Choice in Flagship Territory
The Nothing Phone 3 succeeds by being genuinely different in a market full of virtually identical devices. The Glyph Matrix, while initially controversial, offers practical utility that sets this phone apart. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 choice prioritizes battery life over raw performance—a trade-off that makes sense for many users.
Nothing hasn’t created the most powerful flagship at $799, but they’ve crafted the most distinctive one. Sometimes, that’s exactly what the market needs.