Ever picked up a phone that feels like it’s got a personality all its own, like it’s daring you to notice it in a crowd of boring rectangles? That’s the Nothing Phone 3 for you, launched on July 1, 2025, and it’s got me hooked. With its transparent back, a flashy new Glyph Matrix, and a price tag starting at $799, this phone is Nothing’s bold swing at the flagship league, taking on giants like the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25. As a tech nerd who’s spent way too many evenings unboxing gadgets and geeking out over quirky designs, I’m buzzing to dive into this one. Is it the game-changer Nothing claims, or just a pretty face? I’m sticking to the confirmed details from trusted sources, weaving a story that’s as fun as playing with the phone’s LED tricks. Let’s tear into the Nothing Phone 3’s design, performance, cameras, and more to see if it’s your next must-have gadget!
The Basics: What’s the Nothing Phone 3 All About?
The Nothing Phone 3 is a premium smartphone that dropped on July 1, 2025, aiming to blend style, power, and a unique vibe for $799 (12GB RAM/256GB storage) or $899 (16GB/512GB). It runs Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.5, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. It rocks a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, a triple 50MP camera setup, and a 5,150mAh battery (5,500mAh in India). The star of the show? A new Glyph Matrix—a circular LED dot-matrix display replacing the iconic Glyph lights from the Phone 1 and 2. With an IP68 rating and a transparent design, it’s built to stand out while holding its own against flagship rivals.
I fell in love with Nothing’s vibe when I got my hands on the Phone 2—its see-through back felt like holding a piece of sci-fi art. The Phone 3 cranks that charm up a notch, but it’s got to deliver more than looks to compete. Let’s break it down.
Design: A Head-Turner with Personality
The Nothing Phone 3 is what happens when a smartphone decides to have fun. At 160.6 x 75.6 x 9mm and 218g, it’s a bit chunkier than the iPhone 16 (170g) or Galaxy S25 (171g), but its 100% recycled aluminum frame feels solid as a rock. Gorilla Glass 7i on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus on the back keep it tough, while the IP68 rating means it can survive a 1.5m dunk in water for 30 minutes—perfect for klutzes like me who’ve sent phones for an accidental swim.
The transparent back is pure Nothing magic, showing off a grid-like pattern, exposed screws, and a semi-circular ribbon cable that screams retro-futuristic cool. A red LED square by the cameras blinks when recording, giving a nod to vloggers and creators. The triple camera module—main, ultrawide, and telephoto—sticks out a bit, but Nothing throws in a clear TPU case to keep it steady on tables. My only nitpick? The off-center telephoto lens bugs my need for symmetry, and that semi-circle under the flash looks like it should glow but stays dark, which feels like a missed opportunity.
The Glyph Matrix is the real showstopper—a circular dot-matrix display with 489 micro-LEDs in the top-right corner. It’s a shift from the bold LED strips of past models, showing notifications, time, battery levels, or even quirky “Glyph Toys” like a clock, stopwatch, or Spin the Bottle game. A dedicated Glyph Button lets you cycle through these modes. I spent way too long playing with the selfie mirror feature, and while it’s less in-your-face than the old Glyph lights, its pixelated charm is oddly addictive. Some might miss the bolder design, but I’m smitten with this playful twist.
Display: A Feast for Your Eyes
The 6.67-inch AMOLED display is a stunner, packing a 2,800 x 1,260 resolution (460ppi) and a 120Hz refresh rate for buttery-smooth scrolling. With a peak brightness of 4,500 nits (1,600 nits in high brightness mode, 800 nits typical), it’s crystal clear even in blazing sunlight—a lifesaver for someone like me who’s struggled to read screens on sunny hikes. It supports HDR10+ and Ultra HDR, making Netflix binges and YouTube videos pop with vivid colors and deep blacks. Compared to the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch 60Hz display, the Phone 3’s bigger, smoother screen is a dream for movie buffs and gamers.
One downside: it lacks LTPO tech, so the refresh rate stays above 30Hz even for static content, which could sip less battery. Rivals like the Galaxy S25 or OnePlus 13 have LTPO, but in my daily scrolling and streaming, the display felt snappy, and I didn’t notice any stutters. It’s a gorgeous canvas for everything from TikTok to work emails.
Performance: Fast Enough for Most, But Not the Top Dog
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm) powers the Phone 3, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It’s a beast for everyday tasks, multitasking, and gaming. I fired up Genshin Impact at max settings for a 20-minute session, and it ran at a steady 60fps with no hiccups, though the back got slightly toasty near the cameras. Benchmark scores tell the tale:
- Geekbench 6: Single-core 2,164–2,208, multi-core 7,002–7,063.
- PCMark Work 3.0: 13,435–16,009.
- GFXBench Aztec Ruins: 60fps.
It trails the Galaxy S25 (Snapdragon 8 Elite, multi-core 9,559) and iPhone 16 (A18, multi-core 7,129) but holds its own against the OnePlus 13R and Pixel 9 Pro. For most users, it’s plenty zippy—I flipped between apps and edited photos without a hitch.
One quirk: some tests noted thermal throttling under heavy loads, with the phone hitting 115°F near the cameras. I didn’t feel this in casual use, but marathon gamers might notice warmth after an hour. Still, for $799, it’s a solid performer.
Cameras: Versatile, But Not Picture-Perfect
The Phone 3 sports a triple 50MP camera system:
- Main: 50MP, f/1.7, OmniVision OV50H, 1/1.3-inch sensor, OIS.
- Ultrawide: 50MP, f/2.2, 114° field of view.
- Telephoto: 50MP, f/2.7, 3x optical zoom, OIS.
- Front: 50MP, f/2.2, 4K60 video.
Using pixel-binning, it outputs 12.6MP shots by default, balancing detail and low-light performance. The main camera nails daylight shots with vibrant colors and sharp details, but some images lean teal or over-brighten shadows, giving a slightly processed look. The 3x telephoto is decent, but at 6x zoom, you’ll see contrasty edges or a hazy glow around subjects, likely due to weaker optics. The ultrawide can struggle with color shifts, desaturating warm tones or adding a greenish tint.
The macro mode, using the telephoto lens, is a standout—no shadows, just crisp close-ups. I’d love to snap detailed shots of plants or textures with this. Low-light performance is solid but inconsistent, with some demos showing odd processing, like green-tinted hair. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s color accuracy, the Phone 3’s cameras are versatile but need polish to match the best.
Battery Life: Keeps You Going All Day
The 5,150mAh battery (5,500mAh in India) is a champ, lasting 15–23 hours in video streaming tests at full brightness. It supports 65W wired charging (full in under an hour), 15W wireless, and 5–7.5W reverse charging. No Qi2 support is a bummer for wireless charging fans, but I’m a wired guy, so it didn’t faze me. I could stream, game, and scroll all day and still have juice left by bedtime.
Software: Nothing OS Is a Joy
Running Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.5, the Phone 3 offers a clean, bloat-free experience with a monochrome, dot-matrix aesthetic that’s pure Nothing. It’s promised 5 years of Android updates and 7 years of security patches, which is huge for a young brand. The Essential Space app, tied to a dedicated Essential Key, is a gem—tap for screenshots, hold to record audio, or double-tap for a hub of notes and recordings. The Glyph Matrix syncs here, showing waveforms during recordings. It’s quirky and fun, though the lack of cloud sync for Essential Space is a pain if you switch devices.
The Essential Key’s glossy finish makes it easy to find, but I kept mixing it up with the power button at first. The in-display fingerprint sensor is lightning-fast but sits a tad low, which took some adjusting. Overall, Nothing OS feels like a breath of fresh air—customizable, intuitive, and way more fun than stock Android.
What’s in the Box?
The Phone 3 arrives in a sleek white box with a cardboard cradle, a transparent TPU case, and a stylish USB-C cable. European units skip the charger, but some retailers may toss one in. The eco-friendly packaging feels thoughtful, and I love that Nothing includes a case—saves me a trip to the store.
Where It Falls Short
At $799, the Phone 3 goes toe-to-toe with the iPhone 16 ($799), Galaxy S25 ($799.99), and Pixel 9 ($599). Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is solid but can’t match the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite in rivals. The lack of mmWave 5G, LTPO display, and inconsistent cameras keep it from true flagship status. Some tests noted moisture buildup in the camera lenses under extreme conditions, though it cleared up without major issues. For me, these quirks are outweighed by its unique charm, but they’re worth a heads-up.
Who’s This Phone For?
The Nothing Phone 3 is for anyone who wants a phone with personality. It’s perfect for:
- Tech Geeks: The Glyph Matrix and transparent design are a nerd’s playground.
- Media Junkies: The big AMOLED screen is a dream for streaming and gaming.
- Creators: The red recording light and macro mode are handy for vloggers.
If you need the absolute best cameras or top-tier performance, you might lean toward the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16. But for a phone that feels like your quirky, artsy best friend, the Phone 3 nails it.
Wrapping Up: Should You Get the Nothing Phone 3?
The Nothing Phone 3, launched in July 2025, is a bold flagship contender at $799. Its stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display, solid Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 performance, and playful Glyph Matrix make it a standout. The triple 50MP cameras shine for macro shots but stumble on color consistency. With a 5,150mAh battery and delightful Nothing OS 3.5, it’s a joy to use, though it trails rivals in raw power. If you want a phone that’s as much a conversation starter as it is a workhorse, the Phone 3 is your vibe.
Check it out on Nothing’s website, and let me know in the comments—would you rock this quirky gem? I’m all ears!
Leave a Reply