Nothing Phone (3) Chipset Revealed: Why Snapdragon 8s Gen 4?
Nothing has officially confirmed the processor powering its highly anticipated Phone (3), and it’s not the absolute top-of-the-line chip many might have expected for what the company calls its first “true flagship.” The device will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 mobile platform.
The announcement came directly from Nothing, notably through statements by founder Carl Pei in a lengthy YouTube video, as well as posts on Twitter/X and the Nothing Community forums. While Pei has previously referred to the Phone (3) as the brand’s first “true flagship,” the choice of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 means it will forgo the standard, highest-performance Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor often found in competing premium devices.
The Rationale Behind the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Choice
According to Carl Pei, the decision to integrate the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 was driven by several factors, emphasizing the company’s philosophy of creating a balanced experience rather than simply chasing peak benchmark scores. This marks the first time Nothing is using a current-year chipset in one of its smartphones, a significant step up from previous models that utilized older silicon.
A critical piece of the puzzle, revealed by Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis, is that the selection of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 was made specifically to enable extended software longevity for the Phone (3). Nothing has committed to providing an impressive seven years of software support for the device, including five major Android OS updates and seven years of security patches. This is a substantial upgrade from the Phone (2)’s support commitment.
Pei also noted that while striving for balance, the Phone (3) includes significant improvements across “everything else” – suggesting upgrades to design, camera, and other components. This required an “even stronger chip to drive it” and ensure a seamless “holistic experience” for users.
Performance Boost Compared to Nothing Phone (2)
Despite not using the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 still represents a substantial performance leap over the Nothing Phone (2), which was powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip from 2022.
Nothing claims significant improvements for the Phone (3):
CPU: Expected to be around 36% faster.
GPU (Graphics): Projected to be a remarkable 88% stronger.
NPU (AI Processing): Cited with improvements ranging from 60% to a massive 125% boost, signaling a strong focus on built-in AI capabilities for features like Essential Space.
In practical terms, these enhancements are expected to make the device feel “a lot snappier” in daily use.
Flagship Ambitions Meet Chipset Positioning
While marketed as Nothing’s first “true flagship,” the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is technically positioned below the highest-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (“Elite”) in Qualcomm’s lineup. This means the Phone (3) likely won’t match the raw performance ceiling of devices using the top chip.
Key technical distinctions include the 8s Gen 4’s lack of Qualcomm’s highest-performance Oryon CPU cores and a less powerful GPU variant compared to the standard 8 Gen 4. Furthermore, the 8s Gen 4 omits certain features typically found in premium flagships, such as:
mmWave 5G connectivity
8K video recording capability
Slow-motion video recording at 4K resolution at 120 frames per second
Balancing Performance with Other Strengths
However, the choice of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 isn’t without its potential benefits beyond enabling long-term software support. It is speculated to be a more cost-effective solution than the standard 8 Gen 4, potentially allowing Nothing to allocate resources to improve other crucial aspects of the phone, such as its camera system, battery life, or unique design elements (like the hinted-at return of a dot-matrix style interface, though leaked renders show a different design).
The chip also offers strong connectivity features, including support for Wi-Fi 7 and XPAN technology for high-quality wireless audio via Wi-Fi. While it might not be the absolute fastest chip available, it is expected to provide more than sufficient real-world performance for the vast majority of users and tasks.
Given that the Nothing Phone (3) is rumored to have a premium launch price point, potentially around €800 / £800, placing it in direct competition with devices featuring the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the decision to use the 8s Gen 4 highlights Nothing’s unique approach to defining a “flagship” – prioritizing a balanced experience, software longevity, and potentially other hardware innovations over peak synthetic benchmark scores.
The full details regarding the Nothing Phone (3), including its final design, complete specifications, and pricing, are set to be revealed at the official launch event on July 1st.
