I Tried the Nothing Phone 3 and It Definitely Didn’t Live Up to the Hype

Nothing made issues tough for itself by calling its newest phone its first “true flagship.” It means that it’s a contender to premium telephones such because the iPhone 16 Pro or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but it surely merely is not. As a substitute it is a strong midranger, providing first rate efficiency and a number of quirky options for a comparatively reasonably priced worth. 

At $799 (£799), the Nothing Telephone 3 is the most costly telephone the corporate has made, and it backs this up with a stronger processor, higher cameras and a further yr of software program assist in comparison with its earlier fashions. Nevertheless it’s additionally an actual combined bag of issues I like and issues I actually do not. 

The square-blocks-under-transparent-glass design is arguably enjoyable, but it surely’s not with out its issues. The cameras are largely underwhelming apart from its surprisingly good macro mode, and the software program options are mainly the identical as you may discover on the corporate’s less expensive 3A Professional. At a worth that matches each the Pixel 9 and iPhone 16, the Nothing Telephone 3 is finest seen as a midtier telephone at a flagship worth. 

Nothing wanted to push for higher efficiency — particularly from the cameras — or drop the value by at the least 100 bucks. Because it stands, this telephone is tough to advocate over the Pixel 9. A “flagship” it is not, and my recommendation to Nothing can be to stay to what they do finest: quirky telephones with reasonably priced worth tags. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Quirky design and Glyph Matrix

The Glyph Matrix, as Nothing calls it, is the standout new characteristic for this telephone. It is mainly a small, spherical, dot-matrix show within the high proper of the telephone’s again that exhibits issues like incoming notifications, the time, and even little mini video games. It is a cute thought, and whereas I do like having the ability to see who’s calling me when my telephone is face down on my desk, I believe its use is restricted general. 

You may play video games like spin the bottle on it, however as a married 37-year-old, my need for a morally ambiguous probability kiss with a drunk good friend at a home get together has fortunately been left behind in my teenage years. Even then, spin the bottle is arguably the spotlight of the Glyph Matrix proper now, and whereas Nothing says the SDK is open for third get together builders to make use of, I am not satisfied it is a characteristic that has longevity. 

However I am significantly peeved that it is come at the price of the Glyph lights that have been the hallmark of Nothing’s earlier telephones. The Nothing Phone 1 and 2 have been affected by giant LEDs that flashed to let you realize about notifications, and whereas their existence was arguably extra for aesthetics, it was enjoyable to see one thing a bit completely different in telephone design. These lights are gone, mixed and shrunk into the Glyph Matrix. Positive, that is nonetheless quirky, however I want Nothing had stored the larger glyph lights too — I do not see any cause why each variations of Glyph cannot co-exist right here.

The broader design remains to be positively Nothing, with a clear outer shell that gives the look you are trying into the bodily coronary heart of the telephone. The white mannequin exhibits this off a lot better than the black possibility, in case you’re unsure which shade you like. I fairly just like the blocky design, however a few issues irritate me. 

First, the telephoto digital camera unit is weirdly off middle, sitting a lot nearer to the telephone’s edge than the unit beneath it. It seems like a mistake and I discover it off-putting. Then there’s the semi-circle strip underneath the flash — it completely seems prefer it’s imagined to gentle up just like the “glyphs” of older Nothing telephones, but it surely would not. It is simply… there. I might put cash on there initially being a plan for this to gentle up but it surely acquired axed as a cost-cutting measure alongside the best way.

Tremendous, I may be nit-picking right here. For transparency, I am somebody who will get aggravated once I see barely off kerning in posters and adverts. I cringe once I stroll round city and see the rampant misuse of apostrophes and I really feel bodily compelled to say “fewer” when somebody incorrectly makes use of “much less” in a sentence. I am a pedant, certain, however in relation to costly tech, pedantry is essential. If there’d been extra pedantry at Nothing then we would not have off-centre cameras and I might most likely give it one other star on this evaluate. Perhaps.

Nothing Telephone 3: Mediocre cameras, rad macro mode

The telephone packs three rear cameras: a regular vast angle, an ultrawide and a telephoto zoom providing 3x optical zoom and 6x mixed optical and digital zoom. All three cameras supply 50 megapixels of decision and all of them are finest described as merely “advantageous.” 

In good out of doors circumstances the publicity from the principle digital camera is first rate, with pretty correct colours and loads of element. Some HDR scenes can look a bit unnatural with weirdly-lightened shadows and toned down highlights. Nonetheless, I’ve seen worse. 

As the sunshine begins to fall it appears to wrestle extra with white stability, typically leaning into cyan tones which give low-light pictures an unnatural look. 

The ultrawide lens captures even exposures, however there’s typically a noticeable shade shift between the usual and vast views. There’s additionally numerous chromatic aberration seen on areas of distinction, particularly in the direction of the sting of the body which suggests low high quality optics. I’ve additionally seen odd picture processing points, together with bizarre element smoothing and in a single occasion, an individual’s hair tinged shiny inexperienced. 

The zoom lens is hit and miss. At 6x zoom on an overcast day, it does a good job of capturing a fair publicity with crisp particulars. Different instances it struggles, typically making a bizarre comfortable glow round topics, particularly in areas of excessive distinction. 

Taken at 6x zoom, this shot of swans and signets has blown-out highlights and a weird haze across the swans that makes it appear to be these naff pictures from the ’80s with Vaseline on the lens. I’ve seen this on a number of take a look at photographs and I am disenchanted to see such vital picture high quality points. What’s inflicting it? Troublesome to say definitively, however just like the wide-angle lens I might guess at low-quality plastic optics on the zoom lens.

Whereas I am disenchanted general with the Nothing Telephone 3’s digital camera, it does have one saving grace: its macro mode. Most telephones supply some form of shut up capturing for macro scenes, however nothing like this one.

I have been in a position to get some actually nice shut up pictures of bees on flowers that aren’t simply well-exposed, but additionally pin-sharp and with great-looking colours. Like most macro modes it may be extremely inclined to motion, so I hammered the shutter button taking quite a few pictures of every scene after which merely choosing the best-looking one later, however that is the identical means I work once I take macro photographs professionally — it is by no means a case of taking one picture and it being good right away. 

It is the a technique that the Nothing Telephone 3’s digital camera outperforms its rivals. I attempted taking comparable macro photographs with the iPhone 16 Professional and it could not even come near what I might obtain with the Nothing telephone. 

However in most different respects the Nothing’s cameras aren’t nice and if pictures is essential to you then I might counsel trying elsewhere. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Processor and battery efficiency

The telephone runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor which put in cheap scores on our suite of benchmark exams. Its scores put it way more consistent with final yr’s flagships just like the Galaxy S24 and Xiaomi 14, however a good step behind current-gen fashions such because the Galaxy S25, iPhone 16 or OnePlus 13. 

In on a regular basis use, the telephone feels nippy, with easy navigation across the interface, apps that load shortly and demanding gaming in Genshin Affect and PUBG being dealt with simply, even at max graphics settings. The telephone may not be up there with at present’s flagships on paper, but it surely’s acquired greater than sufficient grunt to deal with virtually something you’d need to throw at it. 

The telephone’s 5,150-mAh battery makes use of silicon carbon know-how that Nothing says ends in higher longevity. On our rundown exams, battery life is distinctly common, with outcomes from each our video streaming drain take a look at and 45-minute endurance take a look at placing it beneath each the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13, however extra consistent with the less expensive Nothing Telephone 3A. Like all telephones, it’s best to count on to offer it a full recharge each night time. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Software program and updates

The telephone runs Android 15 at its core however Nothing has slapped its personal interface excessive, which supplies it a robust look. It leans on monochrome aesthetics, with most app icons being turned black and white and textual content being faraway from many areas of the homescreen in a bid for a extra minimalist look. I fairly prefer it, although generally it is tough to work out precisely which app is which. You may flip it off if it is to not your style although.

The telephone has numerous AI instruments scattered round — together with Google’s Gemini, accessible by a protracted press of the facility button — but it surely’s the Important House that stands out. Important House is finest regarded as a repository to your stream of consciousness all through the day. There is a devoted {hardware} button on the aspect of the telephone; press it as soon as and it will take a screenshot to retailer in Important House. Lengthy press it and you’ll document a voice observe that may then be transcribed with AI with key factors being pulled out to remind you later. 

Nothing is slowly constructing the instrument out so as to add deeper performance — the brand new model has an extended voice document perform that may transcribe conferences for you — and whereas I do not suppose it is a cause to decide on a Nothing telephone over another, it is an fascinating instrument that you could be discover helpful. 

The issue is that each the enduring monochrome interface and Important House instrument are additionally discovered on Nothing’s less expensive Telephone 3A, so there’s nothing distinctive right here that may justify you spending twice the value to purchase the highest mannequin. 

Nothing has stated that the Telephone 3 will obtain 4 years of software program updates and a complete of seven years of safety assist that means this telephone ought to nonetheless be protected to make use of in 2032. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Do you have to purchase it?

Nothing has tried exhausting to distinguish itself from the market over time by providing quirky telephones at costs that considerably undercut its rivals. Calling the Telephone 3 its first “true flagship” is a dangerous technique and one which I do not really feel has paid off right here. This telephone may need higher-end parts than a few of its cheaper siblings, but it surely’s not a “true flagship”, particularly not when measured in opposition to rivals just like the iPhone 16, Pixel 9 or Galaxy S25. The Telephone 3 lacks the processor and digital camera efficiency I might count on to see at this stage. 

Its battery life, too, is disappointing, and whereas the Glyph Matrix is actually a singular addition, it is arguably a gimmick that probably will not add a lot worth to your long-term expertise with the telephone. 

At its full $799 retail worth, this telephone is at the least $100 too costly. For those who can choose it up with a good low cost then it is price contemplating. For those who merely just like the aesthetics of the telephone and its monochrome interface however do not care about digital camera efficiency, look towards the Nothing Telephone 3A — it is half the value however simply as enjoyable.