Nothing made issues tough for itself by calling its newest cellphone its first “true flagship.” It means that it’s a contender to premium telephones such because the iPhone 16 Professional or the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however it merely is not. As an alternative it is a stable midranger, providing first rate efficiency and a bunch of quirky options for a comparatively reasonably priced value.
At $799 (£799), the Nothing Telephone 3 is the most costly cellphone the corporate has made, and it backs this up with a stronger processor, higher cameras and an extra 12 months of software program assist in comparison with its earlier fashions. However it’s additionally an actual blended bag of issues I like and issues I actually do not.
7.3
Nothing Telephone 3
Like
Superior macro pictures mode
Good software program assist interval
Quirky design stands out from the group
Do not like
Digital camera efficiency general disappoints
Processor lags behind flagship rivals
Rear Glyph Matrix is arguably a gimmick
Battery life is underwhelming
The square-blocks-under-transparent-glass design is arguably enjoyable, however it’s not with out its issues. The cameras are largely underwhelming aside 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 value that matches each the Pixel 9 and iPhone 16, the Nothing Telephone 3 is finest seen as a midtier cellphone at a flagship value.
Nothing wanted to push for higher efficiency — particularly from the cameras — or drop the worth by a minimum of 100 bucks. Because it stands, this cellphone is tough to suggest 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 value tags.
Nothing Telephone 3: Quirky design and Glyph Matrix
The Glyph Matrix, as Nothing calls it, is the standout new characteristic for this cellphone. It is mainly a small, spherical, dot-matrix show within the prime proper of the cellphone’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 with the ability to see who’s calling me when my cellphone is face down on my desk, I feel its use is proscribed 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 social gathering 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 social gathering builders to make use of, I am not satisfied it is a characteristic that has longevity.
Spin the bottle on the Glyph Matrix show. Gimmick or helpful social gathering characteristic? I will depart it as much as you to determine.
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 Telephone 1 and 2 have been suffering from giant LEDs that flashed to let you already know about notifications, and whereas their existence was arguably extra for aesthetics, it was enjoyable to see one thing a bit totally different in cellphone 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 undoubtedly Nothing, with a clear outer shell that gives the look you are wanting into the bodily coronary heart of the cellphone. The white mannequin exhibits this off significantly better than the black possibility, when you’re unsure which coloration you favor. I fairly just like the blocky design, however a few issues irritate me.
First, the telephoto digicam unit is weirdly off-center, sitting a lot nearer to the cellphone’s edge than the unit under it. It seems like a mistake and I discover it off-putting. Then there’s the semicircle strip below the flash — it seems prefer it’s speculated to mild up just like the “glyphs” of older Nothing telephones, however it does not. It is simply… there. I would put cash on there initially being a plan for this to mild up however it bought axed as a cost-cutting measure alongside the best way.
The off-center left digicam and the kind of semicircle bit below the flash — two design decisions I do not perceive, however I’m aggravated by.
Superb, I is perhaps 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, positive, however in terms of costly tech, pedantry is vital. If there’d been extra pedantry at Nothing then we would not have off-centre cameras and I would most likely give it one other star on this evaluation. Possibly.
Nothing Telephone 3: Mediocre cameras, rad macro mode
The cellphone packs three rear cameras: a regular extensive angle, an ultrawide and a telephoto zoom providing 3x optical zoom and 6x mixed optical and digital zoom. All three cameras provide 50 megapixels of decision and all of them are finest described as merely “effective.”
Taken with the usual lens, this picture has first rate colours and a stable general publicity.
This picture from the primary digicam is okay, although if I am nitpicking I do not like how a lot it is lifted the shadows on the buildings. It provides it fairly an unnatural look.
The shadows have been brightened so much on this night picture, too, although I do not hate the consequence. The sky’s coloration stability leans into teal tones fairly strongly which is not particularly correct however it’s a effective snap general.
In good out of doors circumstances the publicity from the primary digicam 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.
The primary digicam has leaned onerous into the teal tones on this night scene.
It is particularly apparent when in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional which has captured the scene rather more precisely.
It is the identical scenario right here, with the Nothing Telephone 3’s predominant digicam producing a really teal sky, which was not how this scene regarded.
The iPhone 16 Professional has retained a way more authentic-looking magenta tone.
As the sunshine begins to fall it appears to battle extra with white stability, usually leaning into cyan tones which give low-light pictures an unnatural look.
The colour shift between the Nothing Telephone 3’s commonplace zoom (left) and the ultrawide (proper) is noticeable.
The ultrawide lens captures even exposures, however there’s usually a noticeable coloration shift between the usual and extensive views. There’s additionally a whole lot of 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 vibrant inexperienced.
Whereas this ultrawide view of individuals watching a avenue performer has a good publicity general, it isn’t with out its issues.
This largest drawback being that the cellphone’s picture processing has turned this individual’s hair a deep shade of inexperienced for some cause. It is not good.
Tonight-time ultrawide shot agains leans unnaturally onerous into the cyan tones when in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional. However it’s a bit of brighter general which is an efficient factor I assume.
The iPhone 16 Professional’s shot is certainly darker, however it’s colours are extra sensible.
The zoom lens is hit and miss. At 6x zoom on an overcast day, it does an honest job of capturing an excellent publicity with crisp particulars. Different occasions it struggles, usually making a bizarre tender glow round topics, particularly in areas of excessive distinction.
At 6x zoom, the small print on this avenue performer look good.
It is also performed a stable job of capturing this 6x zoom scene.
However this is the place issues go bizarre with the zoom lens.
When cropped in shut it is clear to see that the Nothing Telephone 3’s zoom (left) suffers from a bizarre halation across the swan that is not current on the iPhone 16 Professional’s shot (proper).
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 like these naff photographs from the ’80s with Vaseline on the lens. I’ve seen this on a number of check photographs and I am upset to see such vital picture high quality points. What’s inflicting it? Tough to say definitively, however just like the wide-angle lens I would guess at low-quality plastic optics on the zoom lens.
Seen at full display screen this 6x zoom shot is mainly effective.
However wanting nearer up on the particulars reveals that there is once more a softness to the Nothing Telephone 3’s picture (left) that lets it down towards the iPhone 16 Professional’s shot (proper).
Whereas I am upset general with the Nothing Telephone 3’s digicam, it does have one saving grace: its macro mode. Most telephones provide some type of shut up capturing for macro scenes, however nothing like this one.
The Nothing Telephone 3’s macro mode is great. The small print on this bee look superb and the general colours and publicity look nice too.
You may see all of the tiny bits of pollen caught this bee. It is a beautiful macro shot.
I have been capable of get some actually nice shut up photographs 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 vulnerable to motion, so I hammered the shutter button taking quite a few pictures of every scene after which merely deciding on the best-looking one later, however that is the identical manner 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.
The iPhone 16 Professional’s macro try far much less spectacular, with rather more muted tones and a bizarre “crunchiness” to the picture that I do not like something like as a lot.
It is the a technique that the Nothing Telephone 3’s digicam outperforms its rivals. I attempted taking related macro photographs with the iPhone 16 Professional and it could not even come near what I may obtain with the Nothing cellphone.
However in most different respects the Nothing’s cameras aren’t nice and if pictures is vital to you then I would counsel wanting elsewhere.
Nothing Telephone 3: Processor and battery efficiency
The cellphone runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor which put in cheap scores on our suite of benchmark exams. Its scores put it rather more consistent with final 12 months’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 cellphone feels nippy, with clean navigation across the interface, apps that load shortly and demanding gaming in Genshin Impression and PUBG being dealt with simply, even at max graphics settings. The cellphone may not be up there with at this time’s flagships on paper, however it’s bought greater than sufficient grunt to deal with nearly something you’d need to throw at it.
The cellphone runs Android 15 at its coronary heart. Nothing guarantees six years of whole software program assist.
The cellphone’s 5,150-mAh battery makes use of silicon carbon know-how that Nothing says leads to higher longevity. On our rundown exams, battery life is distinctly common, with outcomes from each our video streaming drain check and 45-minute endurance check placing it under each the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13, however extra consistent with the less expensive Nothing Telephone 3A. Like all telephones, you must anticipate to offer it a full recharge each night time.
Nothing Telephone 3: Software program and updates
The cellphone runs Android 15 at its core however Nothing has slapped its personal interface excessive, which supplies it a powerful 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, though 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 cellphone has numerous AI instruments scattered round — together with Google’s Gemini, accessible by a protracted press of the facility button — however it’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 facet of the cellphone; press it as soon as and it will take a screenshot to retailer in Important House. Lengthy press it and you’ll report a voice observe that may then be transcribed with AI with key factors being pulled out to remind you later.
The Important House has a devoted {hardware} button on the facet to make it simple to log your ideas and screenshots.
Nothing is slowly constructing the software out so as to add deeper performance — the brand new model has an extended voice report perform that may transcribe conferences for you — and whereas I do not assume it is a cause to decide on a Nothing cellphone over every other, it is an fascinating software that you could be discover helpful.
The issue is that each the long-lasting monochrome interface and Important House software are additionally discovered on Nothing’s less expensive Telephone 3A, so there’s nothing distinctive right here that may justify you spending twice the worth to purchase the highest mannequin.
Nothing has mentioned that the Telephone 3 will obtain 4 years of software program updates and a complete of seven years of safety assist that means this cellphone ought to nonetheless be secure to make use of in 2032.
Nothing Telephone 3: Do you have to purchase it?
Nothing has tried onerous to distinguish itself from the market through the years 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 cellphone may need higher-end elements than a few of its cheaper siblings, however it’s not a “true flagship”, particularly not when measured towards rivals just like the iPhone 16, Pixel 9 or Galaxy S25. The Telephone 3 lacks the processor and digicam efficiency I would anticipate to see at this stage.
The Nothing interface’s stark monochrome aesthetic seems cool, so long as you’ll be able to bear in mind which app icon is which.
Its battery life, too, is disappointing, and whereas the Glyph Matrix is definitely a novel addition, it is arguably a gimmick that possible will not add a lot worth to your long-term expertise with the cellphone.
At its full $799 retail value, this cellphone is a minimum of $100 too costly. If you happen to can choose it up with an honest low cost then it is value contemplating. If you happen to merely just like the aesthetics of the cellphone and its monochrome interface however do not care about digicam efficiency, look towards the Nothing Telephone 3A — it is half the worth however simply as enjoyable.
