Last month, tech brand Nothing launched its new smartphone range the Nothing Phone 3, its third generation of flagship devices. Pursuing a bold “dare to be different” design philosophy, the device has captured widespread attention in the premium phone market. Priced at $799, the Phone 3 stands out with its uniquely controversial design, making it one of the most talked-about smartphones of this year.
Our team tried a test unit, and here are our reviews after using the phone for ten days.
Glyph Matrix, a playful yet functional LED mini display
The unevenly placed triple rear cameras clash visually with a half-circle LED light strip on the back. Combined with the exposed circuit patterns under the clear back, it keeps the brand’s signature “geeky industrial” vibe alive. Yet it’s the circular element in the top right that really catches your attention.
The Nothing Phone 3 features a monochrome matrix display called the Glyph Matrix, embedded in the upper-right section of the back panel. Composed of miniature LED lights and roughly the size of a coin, this secondary screen displays information such as incoming call notifications, time readout, and battery status, and also allows for diverse customization through pixel-style animations.
Glyph Matrix features include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Battery indicator: displays real-time battery percentage and shows dynamic animations during charging.
- Digital clock/sun clock: supports a 24-hour digital time display or a “Sun Clock” mode that simulates the sun’s movement using light and shadow.
- Stopwatch/timer: allows quick access to timing functions for scenarios such as workouts or cooking.
- Spin the bottle: the matrix display simulates a spinning bottle to select a participant for Truth or Dare.
- Rock-paper-scissors: enables a quick game with friends, with outcomes shown through dynamic LED patterns.
- Magic 8-Ball: when the phone is shaken, the matrix randomly displays answers such as “yes” or “no,” acting as a decision-making toy.
On the front meanwhile, the user interface has a clean, high-tech look and comes without any unnecessary pre-installed third-party apps.
Equipped for the first time with a triple 50MP camera system
To fix the weaker camera performance of its predecessor, the Phone 3 comes with a triple 50MP camera setup for the first time. The main camera packs a large 1/1.3-inch sensor, the telephoto lens offers 3x optical zoom and up to 60x AI super-resolution zoom, and the ultra-wide lens lets you capture a much wider scene.
Here is a set of photos taken with the phone:
Improved performance, but not a flagship-priced processor
Although it doesn’t use a top-tier flagship chipset, the Nothing Phone 3 still delivers solid performance with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor (4nm). Paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, it runs Tencent’s shooter game Delta Force smoothly for two hours of gameplay without the phone heating up noticeably.
The phone features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, 2,160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It is equipped with a 5,150mAh silicon-carbon anode battery, supporting 65W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging, and can easily power through a full day of heavy use.
Pros:
- Bold and high-tech design
- Playful Glyph Matrix display
- Well-rounded camera hardware covering all focal lengths
- Long battery life
- Clean operating system
Cons:
- Processor isn’t top-tier for its price range
- Design is controversial and may only appeal to a niche audience
This phone is ideal for tech-savvy users who value unique, personalized design and Android fans who prefer a clean system. If you’re looking for an innovative flagship, the Nothing Phone 3 might offer a fresh experience. But it looks set to continue Nothing’s reputation for niche products, and if you want an all-around reliable phone, other more mainstream models at the same price point could be a safer bet.
