A month removed from the flustered echo chamber of gearheads, self-proclaimed tastemakers, and apparently everyone-is-a-designer-and-engineer-now people on social platforms like X and Threads, I can say with certainty that almost all of the complaints about Nothing’s controversial Phone 3 are much ado about—excuse the pun—nothing.
Taken as a whole, the Phone 3 is exactly what I expect from Nothing, the London-based technology startup led by ex-OnePlus cofounder Carl Pei that’s known for stirring up strong opinions with its eye-catching, transparent gadgets. Everything from the Picasso-esque backside design and its unorthodox asymmetrical camera lens layout to the circular dot matrix screen in the upper right corner to the AI-focused “Essential” key that functions like a secondary brain screams different. To the masses, Nothing is trying too hard to stand out and be cool. But that’s the whole point—the only way to break the status quo is to make some noise in the now mature and very predictable world of smartphones. And the Phone 3 noise has been both positively and negatively deafening.
Nothing Phone 3 Nothing's Phone 3 is a statement phone that broadcasts your own individuality. It's not for everyone, only a person who's tired of the status quo. Pros Eye-catching design
Eye-catching design Fun Glyph Matrix screen
Fun Glyph Matrix screen Solid battery life
Solid battery life Bright, sharp screen Cons Cameras aren't quite flagship
Cameras aren't quite flagship Slower charging compared to other phones
Slower charging compared to other phones Slower Qualcomm chip
Slower Qualcomm chip Pricey compared to other phones
I understand the disappointment with the Phone 3’s not-quite-2025-flagship-level chipset, or that the screen isn’t as good as the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy’s displays, or the fact that Nothing is charging $800 for a slab that—on paper—falls short in some places compared to competitors. But you were never going to consider buying the Phone 3 if tech specs were the only thing that mattered. Like all of Nothing’s products—the excellent Ear wireless earbuds and over-ear ANC Headphone 1—the Phone 3 is a statement that tells everyone that you’re not a sheep following the herd.
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