Cover The Nothing Phone 3's pricing is a sweet spot between a premium and affordable device (Photo: Nothing)
The Nothing Phone 3's pricing is a sweet spot between a premium and affordable device (Photo: Nothing)
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After a two-year wait, the Nothing Phone 3 arrives with a striking geometric aesthetic, premium build and powerful hardware.
After a two-year wait, the Nothing Phone 3 arrives with a striking geometric aesthetic, premium build and powerful hardware. The UK-based phone maker has made a name for itself with its bold designs, and the Phone 3 is no exception. In an industry saturated with frequent releases and increasingly similar devices, Nothing continues to stand out.
Founded in 2020, Nothing has revitalised smartphone design through its Phone and CMF modular series. The Nothing Phone 3 marks a bold evolution from the sharper aesthetic of its predecessor, the Phone 2.
Also read: A new wave of modular phones are customisable, repairable, sustainable and fun
A new era of transparent design
Above The Nothing Phone 3's design is a sharp departure from the previous phone (Photo: Nothing)
The Nothing Phone 3's design is a sharp departure from the previous phone (Photo: Nothing)
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Nothing’s iconic design language is on full display with the Nothing Phone 3 which blends industrial aesthetics with refined modular construction. Like a piece of modern architecture, the device features a new three-column layout that adds both mechanical and visual structure. The bezels have been slimmed down from the Phone 2 to create a more immersive viewing experience. The Phone 3’s vibrant AMOLED 6.67-inch screen has a max resolution of 1.5K and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate with Ultra HDR support.
From the back, Nothing’s new design philosophy is more noticeable. The signature transparent rear panel that made the Nothing Phone 2 stand out with an array of LED lights called the Glyph Interface has been replaced with a circular dot-matrix display called the Glyph Matrix. This micro-LED display on the rear is designed to reduce screen time and streamline user interaction by providing essential information at a glance. As a secondary screen, the Glyph Matrix screen can display notifications, caller ID, time, battery level and even mini games. A dedicated button at the back panel lets users switch between the different display modes.
Flagship-level power for serious performance
Above Nothing Phone maintains a single pricing for US, UK and European markets (Photo: Nothing)
Nothing Phone maintains a single pricing for US, UK and European markets (Photo: Nothing)
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As the brand’s latest flagship, the Nothing Phone 3 is built for gaming, image processing and AI-intensive tasks. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, a major upgrade built on cutting-edge 4nm technology. This enables smoother multitasking and seamless performance across demanding applications.
The phone packs a 5,150mAh silicon-carbon battery offering up to 80 hours of uptime. Wired charging supports 65W fast charging, topping up the battery in under an hour, while wireless charging caps at 15W.
Nothing is offering two configurations of the Phone 3: a 256GB model with 12GB RAM priced at US$799, and a 512GB model with 16GB RAM at US$899. An IP68 rating ensures durability against water and dust.
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Enhanced photography experience
Above The Nothing Phone 3 as a total for four 50MP cameras with three at the back and one for selfies (Photo: Nothing)
The Nothing Phone 3 as a total for four 50MP cameras with three at the back and one for selfies (Photo: Nothing)
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The Nothing Phone 3 features a professional-grade camera system, headlined by a 1/1.3-inch main sensor that captures detailed 50MP low-light images and sharp 4K video at 60fps with full optical image stabilisation. The rear camera setup includes a 3x periscope optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The front-facing selfie camera also supports 50MP shots.
Designed for both professionals and enthusiasts, the camera includes pro-designed presets developed in collaboration with photographers. These enable cinematic video and high-quality photos without the need for advanced technical skills, making pro-level photography accessible to casual and serious users alike.
Nothing OS evolution
Above The Glyph Matrix can display image avatars (Photo: Nothing)
The Glyph Matrix can display image avatars (Photo: Nothing)
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The Phone 3 runs on Nothing OS 3.5, optimised for peak performance. At launch, the phone features Android 15, with planned updates to Android 16 and Nothing OS 4.0 in Q3 2025. Nothing guarantees five years of major Android updates and seven years of security patches.
Users can enable a minimalist monochrome theme with simplified app labels to reduce visual clutter. The OS takes a thoughtful approach to AI integration, embedding smart features where they add real value. Key tools include Essential Search—a universal smart search accessible via a swipe from the home screen—Essential Space for AI-organised notes and ideas, and Flip to Record, which transcribes and summarises meetings when the phone is placed face down.
The final verdict? With its bold new design, powerful performance and thoughtfully integrated smart features, the Nothing Phone 3 cements the brand’s reputation as one of the most distinctive players in today’s smartphone market. By blending modular transparency with flagship-grade hardware, it offers a fresh alternative for users seeking style, functionality and a different approach to mobile innovation.
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Ed Geronia is an editor, gaming and technology journalist, screenwriter and tech entrepreneur. During the late 1990s, he became the editor-in-chief of the first PC gaming magazine in the Philippines and launched another multi-platform video game magazine in the early 2000s. He was also previously an editor-in-chief of a technology lifestyle magazine. His works have appeared in various local and international tech publications. Outside of publishing, Ed has worked on content creation and user experience design for virtual reality, apps and mobile games.
