The Nothing Phone 3 is one of the boldest and most talked-about smartphones to hit the market recently. Priced at $800, it carries the weight of high expectations as Nothing’s first true flagship device. After spending thirty days using the Nothing Phone 3 as my daily driver, I’ve gathered some honest thoughts on whether this phone lives up to the hype or if it’s just another device trying to stand out in a crowded market.
A Design That Truly Stands Out
When I first saw photos of the Nothing Phone 3, I thought, “That’s interesting.” But as soon as I held it in my hand, my impression shifted to, “Okay, that’s pretty cool.” In a sea of phones that mostly look and feel the same, the Nothing Phone 3 dares to be different. Its transparent back, unconventional blocky design, and off-centered red recording indicator around the cameras give it an unmistakable identity.
This phone could easily be mistaken for a piece of modern art — I even tried to sneak it into a modern art museum to prove my point, but no luck there. The design challenges the norm, and while it might be a bit heavy and breaks some traditional design rules, that’s part of its charm.
One quirky aspect that stood out to me was the sheer number of holes on the case—thirteen in total! Despite this, the phone itself is surprisingly durable. After a few drops and general daily wear, it has held up exceptionally well, which might make you question if you even need a case.
The Glyph Interface: Cool but Forgettable
One of the most talked-about features is the Glyph interface — a system of lights on the back that can interact with notifications, calls, and even games like rock-paper-scissors or spin the bottle. I gave it a fair shot, trying it from the selfie camera to the always-on display and even checking my battery status.
Here’s the honest truth: I had to force myself to use it for this review. If I’m forcing myself, chances are most people won’t find it compelling enough to integrate into their daily routine. It’s definitely a cool idea, especially for adding personalized glyphs for contacts, but beyond that, it’s easy to forget it’s there.
Camera Performance: Good but Not Great
At flagship pricing, the Nothing Phone 3 offers a triple 50-megapixel camera setup:
- Main lens
- Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom
- Ultra-wide lens
Simply put, the cameras are good. They don’t blow you away, but they don’t disappoint either.
Main Camera
The main lens produces vibrant yet natural colors that closely resemble what you see with your eyes. Detail retention is solid, even in low light conditions, where it still manages to deliver decent shots. For most users, this camera should satisfy everyday photography needs without fuss.
Ultra-Wide Camera
This is where the phone stumbles a bit. Low-light photos from the ultra-wide lens are noisy and lack detail, making them less than ideal for nighttime or indoor shots. In good lighting outdoors, it performs adequately, though there’s a slight loss of detail around the edges. Another minor annoyance is its occasional struggle to focus properly on subjects right in front of it.
Telephoto Camera
I was pleasantly surprised by the telephoto lens. It captures detailed photos, especially in bright sunlight, making it great for landscapes and architecture. However, in darker settings, its performance can be hit or miss, with some images appearing soft.
Macro Photography
Using the telephoto lens for macro shots is an interesting choice, and I actually prefer it over using an ultra-wide lens for close-ups. It allows for capturing detailed macro images without having to get too close to the subject. Though, in less ideal lighting, the shutter response can be slow, leading to blurred shots if you move the camera too quickly.
Video Capabilities
The video performance is surprisingly good across all three lenses. Videos boast great contrast and stabilization, which is impressive for a phone at this price point. I captured many videos of my new dog, Cassie, and was happy with the results. However, low-light video can be inconsistent, sometimes looking great and other times noisy and lacking detail.
Performance and Software: A Solid Experience
Despite lacking a flagship-grade processor and instead featuring the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip commonly found in sub-$500 phones, the Nothing Phone 3 performs admirably. Day-to-day tasks run smoothly, and I honestly forgot about the chip’s mid-range pedigree during normal use.
That said, for $800, it’s fair to expect a flagship chip, and this is one area where Nothing could have delivered more. The smooth experience is largely thanks to Nothing OS, which is arguably one of the better Android skins out there. It’s different enough from stock Android to feel fresh but not so different that it becomes confusing. Useful widgets enhance the experience, although some feel unnecessary.
Build Quality and Battery Life
The Nothing Phone 3 feels like a true flagship in build quality. Its 6.67-inch OLED display is bright, reaching up to 5,100 nits, and offers a great viewing experience. However, the auto-brightness sometimes takes a bit too long to adjust when moving outdoors, which can be slightly frustrating.
The battery is another strong point. The 5,150mAh silicone carbon battery easily lasts a full day and can stretch into a second day with light use. Combined with 65-watt fast charging, it means less downtime and more time using your phone.
Flaws and Frustrations
No phone is perfect, and the Nothing Phone 3 has its share of annoyances. For one, it uses an optical fingerprint reader, which feels like a compromise for a flagship phone at this price. An ultrasonic fingerprint sensor would have been a better, faster choice.
Additionally, the dedicated “essential space” key is more frustrating than helpful. I’ve accidentally triggered countless screenshots and wish Nothing would allow users to remap the button to something more useful.
The Verdict: Almost There, But Not Quite
Nothing built a lot of hype around the Phone 3 as the “next true flagship,” but after a month of use, I’m not convinced it fully earns that title. It’s very close, and in many ways, it delivers what you need from a flagship phone, especially with its standout design and solid software experience.
However, charging $800 for a phone that doesn’t quite live up to flagship expectations—especially with its mid-tier processor and some camera shortcomings—makes it a tough sell. If the phone were priced about $100 less and marketed as Nothing’s best phone rather than a true flagship, it would likely avoid much criticism.
I stand by my opinion that the design is one of the best I’ve seen on an Android phone in a long time. It’s bold, different, and memorable. Nothing is also building an impressive ecosystem around the phone, and Nothing OS ranks among my top three Android skins.
Ultimately, if I had to spend $800 today, I’m not sure I would pick up the Nothing Phone 3. But it’s definitely a phone worth considering for those who value design and a unique user experience.
What about you? Have you bought the Nothing Phone 3? Are you planning to? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
