HomeREVIEWSNothing Phone 3 Review: Big Leap, But Not Flawless

Nothing Phone 3 Review: Big Leap, But Not Flawless

Introduction

Nothing Phone 3 review: In this look at the Nothing Phone 3 5G, we explore how it stands out in the crowded flagship space with its bold design and quirky Glyph Matrix—an array of tiny LEDs on the back that light up for notifications, timers, and even simple games. With flagship-level specs like the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, a spacious 6.67‑inch 120 Hz OLED display, and a capable camera setup, it’s clear this phone aims to go beyond mere performance. It’s more than just another device from Nothing; it feels personal and creatively inspired.

Design & Display

The Nothing Phone 3 sports a sleek 6.67‑inch OLED screen with a sharp 1.5K resolution and a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. It comes with strong Gorilla Glass Victus and has IP68 rating, which means it’s safe from dust and water. This makes the phone feel tough and well-built.

On the back, the Glyph Matrix is a fresh design that swaps out the old light lines. It lights up for alerts, calls, and even fun little animations, giving the phone a unique look.. It’s a little 25×25 dot‑matrix that shows notifications, timers, levels, and yes—minigames too. It’s quirky, fun, and truly unique.

Performance & Software

Under the hood is a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset—powerful, though not quite at the level of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Still, it boosts CPU by ~36% and GPU by ~88% over Phone 2 while offering excellent AI performance. Available in 12 GB/256 GB and 16 GB/512 GB models, it runs Nothing OS 3.5 on Android 15 with a promise of five years system updates and seven years of security patches.

Nothing’s Essential Space and Essential Search features make this truly feel like a Nothing Phone 3 review worth reading. AI-powered note-taking, voice transcription, and intuitive universal search just flow naturally.

Nothing Phone 3 Review- Processor

Cameras

What stood out to me are the four 50 MP cameras—three on the rear (wide, ultrawide, and periscope telephoto) and one front-facing for selfies—all capable of 4K/60fps video. Early close-up photos from the zoom camera look very sharp. They show real details and textures without making the images look fake or overly edited.

I really appreciate the nifty red recording indicator next to the main camera—it’s a small touch, but one that feels well‑thought‑out.

Nothing Phone 3 Review - Camera

Battery & Charging

Battery life is solid with a 5,150 mAh silicon‑carbon cell and 65 W wired fast charging that hits ~50 % in just 19 minutes, plus 15 W wireless charging. In real-world use, it easily lasts a full day, even with heavy browsing, shooting, and gaming.

Nothing Phone 3 Full Specifications

| Key Specs
RAM & Storage12 GB RAM + 256 GB
16 GB RAM + 512 GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735
Rear Camera50 MP + 50 MP + 50 MP
Front Camera50 MP
Battery5150 mAh
Display6.67 inches (16.94 cm)
| General
Launch DateJuly 15, 2025 (Expected)
Operating SystemAndroid v15
OS Updates5 Years
Security Updates7 Years
Custom UINothing OS
| Performance
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735
CPUOcta core (3.2 GHz, Single core, Cortex X4 + 3 GHz, Tri core, Cortex A720 + 2.8 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A720 + 2.02 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A720)
Architecture64 bit
Fabrication4 nm
GraphicsAdreno 825
RAM12 GB / 16 GB
RAM TypeLPDDR5X
| Display
Display TypeFlexible AMOLED
Screen Size6.67 inches (16.94 cm)
Resolution1260×2800 px (FHD+)
Peak Brightness4500 nits
HBM Brightness1600 nits
Refresh Rate120 Hz
Aspect Ratio20:9
Pixel Density393 ppi
Screen to Body Ratio (calculated)88.48 %
Screen ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass, Glass 7i
Bezel-less displayYes with punch-hole display
HDR 10 / HDR+ SupportYes, HDR 10+
| Design
Height160.60 mm
Width75.59 mm
Thickness8.99 mm
Weight218 grams
Build MaterialBack: Gorilla Glass Victus
Water ResistanceYes, Water resistant, IP68, (up to 30 minutes in a depth of 1.5 meter)
RuggednessDust proof
| Rear Camera
Main Camera
Resolution50 MP Primary Camera, f/1.68 Aperture, Wide Angle, 1/1.3″ Sensor Size

50 MP Secondary Camera, f/2.2 Aperture, Ultra-Wide Angle, 1/2.76″ Sensor Size

50 MP Tertiary Camera, f/2.6 Aperture, Periscope, 1/2.75″ Sensor Size, upto 60x Digital Zoom, upto 3x Optical Zoom
AutofocusYes, Phase Detection autofocus
OISYes
FlashYes, LED Flash
Image Resolution8150 x 6150 Pixels
SettingsExposure compensation, ISO control
Shooting ModesContinuous Shooting
High Dynamic Range mode (HDR)
Macro Mode
Camera FeaturesDigital Zoom
Auto Flash
Face detection
Touch to focus
Video Recording3840×2160 @ 60 fps
1920×1080 @ 240 fps
Video Recording FeaturesSlow Motion
Front Camera
Resolution50 MP Primary Camera, f/2.2 Aperture, Wide Angle, 1/2.76″ Sensor Size
Video Recording3840×2160 @ 60 fps
1920×1080 @ 60 fps
| Battery
Capacity5150 mAh
Battery TypeSilicon Carbon
Quick ChargingYes, 65W Fast Charging v4.0
Wireless ChargingYes, 15W Wireless Charging
Wireless Reverse ChargingYes, 5W Wireless Reverse Charging
| Storage
Internal Memory256 GB / 512 GB
External StorageNo
Storage TypeUFS 4.0
USB OTGYes, USB Type-C 2.0
| Network & Connectivity
SIM Slot(s)Dual SIM
SIM SizeSIM1: Nano, SIM2: eSIM
Network Support5G, 4G
VoLTEYes
SIM 15G bands
FDD N1 / N2 / N3 / N5 / N7 / N8 / N12 / N20 / N25 / N28
TDD N38 / N40 / N41 / N48 / N66 / N71 / N77 / N78

4G bands
TD-LTE 2600(band 38) / 3500(band 48) / 2300(band 40) / 2500(band 41) / 2100(band 34) / 1900(band 39) / 3500(band 42)

FD-LTE 1700(band 66) / 2100(band 1) / 600(band 71) / 1800(band 3) / 2600(band 7) / 900(band 8) / 700(band 28) / 1900(band 2) / 1700(band 4) / 850(band 5) / 700(band 17) / 850(band 18) / 850(band 19) / 800(band 20) / 1900(band 25) / 850(band 26) / 2300(band 30) / 700 (band 12)
SIM 25G bands
FDD N1 / N2 / N3 / N5 / N7 / N8 / N12 / N20 / N25 / N28 / N30
TDD N38 / N40 / N41 / N48 / N66 / N71 / N77 / N78

4G bands
TD-LTE 2600(band 38) / 2300(band 40) / 2500(band 41) / 2100(band 34) / 1900(band 39) / 3500(band 42) / 3500(band 48)

FD-LTE 2100(band 1) / 1800(band 3) / 2600(band 7) / 900(band 8) / 700(band 28) / 1900(band 2) / 1700(band 4) / 850(band 5) / 700(band 17) / 850(band 18) / 850(band 19) / 800(band 20) / 1900(band 25) / 850(band 26) / 2300(band 30) / 1700(band 66) / 700 (band 12)
Wi-FiYes, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/be/ax) 5GHz, MIMO
Wi-Fi FeaturesWi-Fi Direct, Mobile Hotspot
BluetoothYes, v6.0
GPSYes with A-GPS, Glonass
NFCYes
| Multimedia
FM RadioNo
Stereo SpeakersYes
3.5mm jackNo
| Sensors
Fingerprint SensorYes
Fingerprint Sensor PositionOn-screen
Fingerprint Sensor TypeOptical
Other SensorsLight sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Compass, Gyroscope
| Misc
ColorsBlack (Dark Grey), White (Silver)
Price₹ 79,999

Disclaimer: While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee that all details on this page are 100% correct. Read more

Nothing Phone 3 Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Unique and eye-catching designThe chipset isn’t the most powerful one available
Strong performance & smooth softwareHigh starting price
Excellent battery life and chargingService and reliability concerns

Read More: Best Mid Range Phones Under 50000 for a Perfect Buy

Nothing Phone 3 Price in India

In India, the Nothing Phone 3 5G price in India starts at ₹79,999 for the 12/256 GB model, and ₹89,999 for the 16/512 GB version. Launch offers on Flipkart bring the effective price down to as low as ₹62,999 and ₹72,999 respectively. Honestly, with those offers, it feels like a great deal.

Is Nothing Phone 3 Worth It?

You’ve likely asked yourself: is nothing phone 3 worth it? Many survey respondents (62%) thought it was overpriced at launch. That rings true—the chipset isn’t top‑tier at this price, and those asking “is nothing phone 3 worth it” should consider value against competitors like Galaxy S25, iPhone 16, or OnePlus 13.

But here’s my take: if you value design, software experience, and the Glyph charm, this phone delivers personality where others feel sterile.

Where to Buy

The Nothing Phone 3 is available for purchase on:

Final Thoughts

So, is the Nothing Phone 3 review worth your time? Absolutely—this is not a run-of-the-mill flagship. It’s bold, human, and playful. If you’re drawn to personality, smart software, and standout design, you’ll love it. But if raw power for that ₹79,999 is your top priority, a Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 might be a more sensible pick.

For me, the Nothing Phone 3 hits the sweet spot where magic meets practicality—it’s quirky without sacrificing quality. And that, for me, has made it more than “worth it.

People Also Ask

  1. Does the Nothing Phone 3 have a 3.5 mm headphone jack ?

    No, it doesn’t. The Nothing Phone 3 lacks a 3.5 mm headphone jack and like many new phones, uses Bluetooth for audio.

  2. Is FM radio available on this phone ?

    No, it doesn’t have FM radio. But you can use apps like Spotify to enjoy music.

  3. What are the available colors for the Nothing Phone 3 ?

    It comes in two colors: black and white. Both have a see-through back that shows off the Glyph lights.

  4. How much RAM and storage options are there ?

    You can choose between 12 GB RAM with 256 GB storage or 16 GB RAM with 512 GB storage, giving you plenty of room for apps, photos and videos.

  5. How long does the battery last and how fast does it charge ?

    The phone packs a 5,150 mAh battery (5,500 mAh in India) and supports 65 W fast wired charging, 15 W wireless charging, plus 5–7.5 W reverse wireless charging.

  6. What kind of cameras does it have ?

     A triple 50 MP rear setup—wide, ultrawide and periscope telephoto—with 4K/60fps video and OIS. Plus, a 50 MP front camera that also shoots 4K/60fps.

  7. Which chipset runs it? Is it a real flagship ?

    It features a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4—fast, but slightly behind fully flagship-level CPUs like the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It still delivers strong everyday performance and good AI support.

  8. How long will software updates last ?

    You get five years of Android version updates and seven years of security patches, which is excellent for long-term support.

Sarbajit Mallik
Sarbajit Mallikhttps://takeentech.com
I’m Sarbajit Mallik, a tech blogger and digital marketer. At TakeenTech, I share honest smartphone reviews, comparisons, and buying guides.
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