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, nevertheless it merely is not. As a substitute it is a strong midranger, providing respectable efficiency and a bunch of quirky options for a comparatively inexpensive worth.
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 a further 12 months of software program assist in comparison with its earlier fashions. But it surely’s additionally an actual combined 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 gang
Do not like
Digicam 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, nevertheless it’s not with out its issues. The cameras are largely underwhelming apart 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 worth that matches each the Pixel 9 and iPhone 16, the Nothing Telephone 3 is finest seen as a midtier cellphone at a flagship worth.
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 advocate 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 inexpensive worth 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 reveals issues like incoming notifications, the time, and even little mini video games. It is a cute concept, and whereas I do like with the ability to see who’s calling me when my cellphone is face down on my desk, I believe its use is restricted general.
You may play video games like spin the bottle on it, however as a married 37-year-old, my want for a morally ambiguous likelihood kiss with a drunk pal at a home celebration 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 celebration 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 celebration characteristic? I am going to depart it as much as you to resolve.
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 affected by 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 completely 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 motive why each variations of Glyph cannot co-exist right here.
The broader design continues 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 reveals this off significantly better than the black possibility, if you happen to’re unsure which shade you favor. I fairly just like the blocky design, however a few issues irritate me.
First, the telephoto digital camera unit is weirdly off-center, sitting a lot nearer to the cellphone’s edge than the unit beneath it. It appears like a mistake and I discover it off-putting. Then there’s the semicircle strip underneath the flash — it appears prefer it’s alleged to gentle up just like the “glyphs” of older Nothing telephones, nevertheless it would not. It is simply… there. I would put cash on there initially being a plan for this to gentle up nevertheless it obtained axed as a cost-cutting measure alongside the best way.
The off-center left digital camera and the form of semicircle bit underneath the flash — two design decisions I do not perceive, however I’m aggravated by.
Fantastic, I is likely to be nit-picking right here. For transparency, I am somebody who will get aggravated after I see barely off kerning in posters and adverts. I cringe after 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 relating to costly tech, pedantry is necessary. If there’d been extra pedantry at Nothing then we would not have off-centre cameras and I would in all probability give it one other star on this assessment. Perhaps.
Nothing Telephone 3: Mediocre cameras, rad macro mode
The cellphone packs three rear cameras: a regular broad 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 “superb.”
Taken with the usual lens, this picture has respectable colours and a strong general publicity.
This picture from the principle digital camera is okay, although if I am nitpicking I do not like how a lot it is lifted the shadows on the buildings. It offers it fairly an unnatural look.
The shadows have been brightened quite a bit on this night picture, too, although I do not hate the end result. The sky’s shade stability leans into teal tones fairly strongly which is not particularly correct nevertheless it’s a superb snap general.
In good outside situations the publicity from the principle digital camera is respectable, 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 principle digital camera has leaned exhausting 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 most important digital camera 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 wrestle extra with white stability, usually leaning into cyan tones which give low-light photographs 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 shade shift between the usual and broad views. There’s additionally plenty 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 motive. It is not good.
Tonight-time ultrawide shot agains leans unnaturally exhausting into the cyan tones when in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional. But it surely’s just a little brighter general which is an efficient factor I assume.
The iPhone 16 Professional’s shot is certainly darker, nevertheless it’s colours are extra sensible.
The zoom lens is hit and miss. At 6x zoom on an overcast day, it does a good job of capturing an excellent publicity with crisp particulars. Different instances it struggles, usually making a bizarre gentle glow round topics, particularly in areas of excessive distinction.
At 6x zoom, the small print on this avenue performer look good.
It is also carried out a strong job of capturing this 6x zoom scene.
However here 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 to be these naff pictures from the ’80s with Vaseline on the lens. I’ve seen this on a number of check pictures and I am upset to see such vital picture high quality points. What’s inflicting it? Troublesome to say definitively, however just like the wide-angle lens I would guess at low-quality plastic optics on the zoom lens.
Considered at full display screen this 6x zoom shot is mainly superb.
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 in opposition to the iPhone 16 Professional’s shot (proper).
Whereas I am upset general with the Nothing Telephone 3’s digital camera, it does have one saving grace: its macro mode. Most telephones provide some sort of shut up taking pictures for macro scenes, however nothing like this one.
The Nothing Telephone 3’s macro mode is excellent. The main points 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 pretty macro shot.
I have been capable of get some actually nice shut up pictures 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 photographs of every scene after which merely deciding on the best-looking one later, however that is the identical approach I work after I take macro pictures professionally — it is by no means a case of taking one picture and it being excellent immediately.
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 digital camera outperforms its rivals. I attempted taking comparable macro pictures with the iPhone 16 Professional and it could not even come near what I might obtain with the Nothing cellphone.
However in most different respects the Nothing’s cameras aren’t nice and if pictures is necessary to you then I would recommend wanting elsewhere.
Nothing Telephone 3: Processor and battery efficiency
The cellphone runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor which put in affordable scores on our suite of benchmark exams. Its scores put it rather more according to 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 easy navigation across the interface, apps that load rapidly 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 right this moment’s flagships on paper, nevertheless it’s obtained 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 beneath each the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13, however extra according to the less expensive Nothing Telephone 3A. Like all telephones, it is best to count on to provide 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 provides 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 typically 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 varied AI instruments scattered round — together with Google’s Gemini, accessible by an extended press of the ability button — nevertheless 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 aspect 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 notice 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 aspect to make it straightforward 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 operate that may transcribe conferences for you — and whereas I do not suppose it is a motive 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 enduring 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 stated that the Telephone 3 will obtain 4 years of software program updates and a complete of seven years of safety assist which means this cellphone ought to nonetheless be protected to make use of in 2032.
Nothing Telephone 3: Must you purchase it?
Nothing has tried exhausting 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 might need higher-end parts than a few of its cheaper siblings, nevertheless it’s not a “true flagship”, particularly not when measured in opposition to rivals just like the iPhone 16, Pixel 9 or Galaxy S25. The Telephone 3 lacks the processor and digital camera efficiency I would count on to see at this degree.
The Nothing interface’s stark monochrome aesthetic appears 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 actually a novel addition, it is arguably a gimmick that probably will not add a lot worth to your long-term expertise with the cellphone.
At its full $799 retail worth, this cellphone is a minimum of $100 too costly. For those who can decide it up with a good low cost then it is value contemplating. For those who merely just like the aesthetics of the cellphone and its monochrome interface however do not care about digital camera efficiency, look towards the Nothing Telephone 3A — it is half the worth however simply as enjoyable.
