This moment had been a long time coming. Nothing started its journey five years ago with a simple pair of earphones. Since then, they’ve launched entry-level and mid-range phones. But with the Nothing Phone 3, they’ve finally entered the mid-range flagship arena. And let’s be honest — building a true flagship isn’t a joke. At a ₹24799 price point, you’re going head-to-head with beasts like the Samsung Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16.
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Design Nothing Phone 3
I’ve always found Nothing’s transparent design quite cool. But for the first time with the Phone 3, something felt off. The NFC coil is half visible, the camera seems slightly misaligned, and overall, it gives off an unfinished prototype vibe. It does come with an IP68 rating and an aluminum mid-frame, but on the front, it uses Gorilla Glass 7i, which feels a bit mid-range compared to Victus 2.
One thing I did like, though, was the recording light. Whenever you’re recording video or audio, a small light turns on. It’s a tiny touch, but pretty smart — especially in meetings where you can keep the phone face down and still know it’s recording.
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Glyph Lights Are Gone
The signature light strips from previous models have now been replaced by a small screen called the Glyph Matrix. It contains 489 LEDs and functions like a mini secondary display.
At first, it seemed like just a gimmick. But after using it, I realized that Nothing has put serious effort into the software. It includes interactive Glyph toys like a clock, a stopwatch, and a leveler tool. The button has an Apple Force Touch–like response with subtle pressure and vibration feedback.
Still, despite its cool factor, this new feature doesn’t feel as iconic as the older Glyph lights. Fun elements like “Spin the Bottle” or “Rock Paper Scissors” are playful but not exactly useful. There’s even a Caller ID display feature, but is it really faster than just flipping the phone?
One genuinely useful feature is the rear camera selfie preview — but honestly, many other phones already do this better.
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Performance
Nothing Phone 3 uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, which is a flagship chip, but weaker than Samsung’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. It scores competitively in Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 benchmark tests but falls slightly short of true flagship gaming chips. There’s also no mention of a cooling system, which means it might struggle with heavy gaming or performance-intensive tasks.
When you look at the complete Nothing Phone 3 specs, it becomes clear where it shines and where it compromises.
The display is sharp and bright, delivering pixel density similar to the iPhone 16. However, since it’s an LTPS panel, the refresh rate only drops to 30Hz, while Samsung’s LTPO screens can go as low as 1Hz. You may not notice a visual difference, but it could affect battery life slightly.
Battery Life
This is one area where Nothing has truly delivered. The Phone 3 packs a 5150mAh battery — significantly larger than Samsung’s 4000mAh offering. The phone is slightly larger, so a bigger battery makes sense, but at this price, it’s a clear win. In India, it’s being marketed as a 5500mAh battery, but the actual capacity is the same — it’s just a labeling difference due to shipping regulations.
Charging is also impressive with 65W fast charging, which is far quicker than Samsung’s 25W, making it one of the fastest 65W fast charging phones in this segment.
This long-lasting battery life alone earns it a place among the best phones under ₹1000 for users who prioritize endurance.
Software
The Phone 3 runs Nothing OS 3.5, which feels close to stock Android and comes without any bloatware. Nothing OS 3.5 features include Icon Pack personalization, Essential Space, and Essential Search. The UI is clean and lightweight.
The search box uses a light version of Gemini AI and is quite helpful for quick lookups. This makes it one of the best options for users who prefer a clean Android phone without unnecessary pre-installed apps.
The update policy is also strong — 5 years of Android upgrades and 7 years of security updates, which is impressive for long-term usage.
Cameras
All cameras on the Phone 3 — primary, ultrawide, telephoto, and selfie — feature 50MP sensors. Compared to Samsung, this setup looks very strong, especially for ultrawide and macro shots. Macro photos are now taken through the telephoto lens, which improves lighting and distance results.
There’s also AI Super Res zoom that kicks in after 30x, enhancing the sharpness of the image through processing.
Even though it lacks a periscope lens, the output feels premium and flagship-worthy — another plus in the complete Nothing Phone 3 review.
For more information, visit the official website Nothing Phone 3
Conclusion
The Nothing Phone 3 is a mixed bag. The design and Glyph Matrix feel a bit hit-or-miss. Performance is average if you’re a hardcore gamer. But the battery life, clean software, and impressive cameras do a good job of making up for it.
Is it a Samsung or iPhone killer? Probably not. But if you’re looking for a balanced flagship with a unique design, clean Android experience, and solid camera setup in the ₹24799 price range, the Nothing Phone 3 could be a solid pick.
