nothing has officially unveiled its latest flagship contender for 2025, the highly anticipated Nothing phone (3). Arriving just months after the mid-range Phone (2a) model, this new device represents Nothing’s most ambitious effort yet, entering the competitive $799 price point with a distinctive blend of unique design and upgraded hardware, particularly focusing on its camera system.
Positioned as the company’s first true high-end smartphone, the Phone (3) retains the unconventional aesthetic that defines the brand. Expect a partially transparent back panel, offering glimpses of the internal components, coupled with a sophisticated lighting system. This iteration shows a more refined design compared to earlier models like the Phone (1) and Phone (2).
Evolving Design: The Glyph Matrix
A notable evolution in the Nothing Phone 3’s design is the reimagining of its signature interactive lights. The full-blown “Glyph Interface” seen on previous phones is replaced by the more compact “Glyph Matrix.” This smaller micro-LED display, located near the top right of the densely packed rear, serves a similar purpose. Nothing intends for the Glyph Matrix to provide glanceable, essential information. The goal is to reduce the need for users to constantly unlock and check the main display.
The Glyph Matrix is composed of 489 individual LEDs, functioning almost like a tiny secondary screen on the phone’s back. It can display various pieces of information, such as the time, current battery level, and even volume adjustments. A dedicated Glyph Button allows users to cycle through these different displays. Nothing also plans to release a Software Development Kit (SDK), which could open the door for third-party apps and services to integrate with the Glyph Matrix, potentially adding interactive features. Another quirky design element on the rear panel is a unique red tally light, adding to the phone’s distinctive character.
The Phone (3) also marks a significant step up in build quality and durability compared to its predecessors like the Phone (2), which featured only splash resistance. The new flagship boasts an official IP68 rating. This means the device is fully resistant to both dust and water submersion. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, while the rear panel utilizes the even tougher Gorilla Glass Victus, ensuring enhanced resilience against drops and scratches.
A Bright and Responsive Display
Front and center is the Nothing Phone 3’s impressive 6.67-inch AMOLED display. It offers a sharp 1.5K resolution (specifically 1260 x 2800 pixels), providing crisp visuals for photos, videos, and daily use. The screen supports a smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which helps make scrolling and animations feel incredibly fluid while also conserving battery life by adjusting based on content. HDR10+ support further enhances the viewing experience with better contrast and color accuracy.
Brightness is a standout feature of this panel. The display can reach a remarkable peak brightness of 4,500 nits in specific, limited scenarios, which is among the brightest on the market. More practically, the typical outdoor brightness across the entire screen measures a still very impressive 1,600 nits. This high level of brightness should make the phone significantly easier to use and read in bright sunlight conditions, a common pain point for many smartphones. The screen also features a high-speed 1000 Hz touch sampling rate for responsive gaming and interaction, alongside 2160 Hz PWM dimming for reduced eye strain in low light.
Flagship Camera System: Four 50MP Shooters
For photography enthusiasts, the Nothing Phone 3 brings a substantial camera upgrade. Unlike earlier Nothing phones that offered competitive cameras primarily due to their aggressive pricing, the Phone (3) steps into the premium segment with a camera system to match its price tag. Following the pattern of the Phone (3a), it features multiple rear cameras, but the Phone (3) elevates this by making all four cameras, including the front one, equipped with 50-megapixel sensors. This is a key differentiator.
The main rear camera is built around a large Type 1/1.3-inch image sensor paired with a bright f/1.68 lens. Nothing states this larger sensor allows it to capture 44% more light than sensors in previous Nothing phones, promising improved performance, particularly in low-light conditions.
Adding significant versatility missing in prior Nothing flagships like the Phone (2), the Phone (3) includes a periscope telephoto camera. This setup features a 50-megapixel Type 1/2.75-inch sensor and an f/2.68 lens. It offers 3x optical zoom, delivering genuine magnification without sacrificing detail. The telephoto lens also supports digital cropping for up to 6x hybrid zoom and a considerable 60x digital zoom capability. As a bonus, this telephoto lens also supports macro photography, allowing for detailed close-ups.
Rounding out the rear camera trio is a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera. It provides a wide 114-degree field of view, ideal for capturing expansive landscapes or group shots. It uses a Type 1/2.76-inch image sensor and has an f/2.2 aperture.
Crucially, the fourth camera is the front-facing one, also featuring a 50-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a Type 1/2.76-inch sensor. A key technical capability across the board is that all four 50MP cameras support recording video at 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (4Kp60). The rear cameras also include Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), along with Autofocus (AF) across all three rear lenses, ensuring stable and sharp shots. The phone also supports “Ultra XDR video” and 1080p slow-motion video at 240fps.
Nothing claims the Phone (3)’s camera system is its “most advanced yet,” emphasizing improvements in sensor size, focus accuracy, and color reproduction for “true-to-life colors.”
Performance and Battery
Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 3 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. This chip represents an upper-mid-range offering rather than Qualcomm’s absolute top-tier flagship silicon for 2025. This choice has been noted as potentially controversial given the phone’s $799 starting price, placing it firmly in flagship territory where higher-end chips are typically found. While initial benchmarks for devices using this chip suggest performance may not rival the very top flagships, it is expected to provide more than sufficient speed for everyday tasks, demanding apps, and gaming, potentially offering good long-term stability.
The Phone 3 comes in two main configurations: a base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage priced at $799, and an upgraded version featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $899. The phone supports dual nano-SIM cards and eSIM functionality.
Powering the device is a 5,150mAh battery. This is a modest increase over the Phone 2’s capacity and utilizes a silicon-carbon anode for increased energy density. While battery life is expected to be robust, charging speeds see a significant boost. The Phone 3 supports 65W wired charging, a substantial upgrade from the Phone 2’s 45W. This faster charging capability means the phone can reach 50% capacity in under 20 minutes and achieve a full charge in less than an hour. The device also supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, allowing it to power up compatible accessories. Like many modern smartphones, the Nothing Phone 3 does not include a charging adapter in the box, requiring users to purchase one separately.
Software and Support
The Nothing Phone 3 ships with Nothing OS 3.5, based on Android 15. Nothing’s software is known for its clean, near-stock Android interface, minimal bloatware, and unique dot-matrix design elements that align with the brand’s aesthetic.
One of the most compelling aspects of the Nothing Phone 3, particularly when comparing it to previous models and competitors, is the company’s commitment to software updates. Nothing is promising an impressive five years of Android OS version upgrades (up to Android 20) and seven years of security updates. This level of long-term support is exceptional and rivals or exceeds that offered by industry leaders like Samsung and Google, adding significant long-term value to the device.
Pricing and Availability Details
The Nothing Phone (3) is priced starting at $799 in the United States for the 12GB RAM / 256GB storage variant. A higher-tier model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage will be available for $899. The phone comes in two classic color options: white and black.
Preorders for the Nothing Phone 3 begin on July 4th, exclusively through Nothing’s official website. General retail availability is set to commence shortly thereafter, starting on July 15th. Notably, Nothing is making a full push for availability in the US market with the Phone 3, aiming for broader access than previous launches.
The Nothing Phone 3 positions itself as a distinctive entrant in the premium smartphone space. It aims to blend its signature design language and unique interactive elements with significant hardware upgrades like the versatile four-camera system, IP68 rating, faster charging, and an industry-leading software support policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main camera specifications of the Nothing Phone 3?
The Nothing Phone 3 features a total of four 50-megapixel cameras. On the rear, it includes a main camera with a large 1/1.3-inch sensor and f/1.68 lens, a 3x optical zoom periscope telephoto camera with a 1/2.75-inch sensor and f/2.68 lens (also capable of macro), and a 114-degree ultrawide camera with a 1/2.76-inch sensor and f/2.2 lens. The fourth camera is the front-facing selfie camera, which is also 50 megapixels. All four cameras can record video at 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
Is the Nothing Phone 3 worth the $799 price tag?
At $799, the Nothing Phone 3 enters the competitive flagship market. Its value proposition is strong due to several premium features: a versatile four-camera system with telephoto zoom, a vibrant 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display with high brightness, a durable IP68 water and dust resistance rating, fast 65W wired charging, and an exceptional commitment to software support with 5 years of OS updates and 7 years of security patches. While the choice of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor might be debated at this price, the overall package offers a unique design paired with many capabilities found in more expensive phones, making it a compelling option for those seeking something different with strong long-term support.
What’s the battery life and charging speed like on the Nothing Phone 3?
The Nothing Phone 3 is equipped with a 5,150mAh battery, which should provide reliable day-long usage for most users. For charging, it supports significantly faster 65W wired charging compared to previous Nothing models. This allows the phone to charge from empty to 50% in under 20 minutes and reach a full charge in less than an hour. It also includes support for 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. However, the phone does not come with a charger in the box; one must be purchased separately to utilize the fastest charging speeds.
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