Nothing Phone (3)

Source

Mrwhosetheboss

Key Takeaways

• The Glyph LED interface is an exhausting novelty; nobody realistically leaves an $800 phone face-down to watch flashing lights.
• Camera algorithms completely fall apart in low light, producing heavy chroma noise and smeared mushy textures.
• Price crept all the way up to $799, yet water resistance is inexplicably frozen at an inferior IP54 splash rating.
• Forced dot-matrix typography across Nothing OS makes reading long-form CJK text an eyesore.

✅ Pros

• Iconic transparent industrial aesthetic stands out in a sea of slabs
• Nothing OS is clean, bloat-free, and remarkably fluid
• Uniform symmetrical bezels frame the screen nicely

❌ Cons

• Gimmicky flashing LEDs that offer virtually zero daily utility
• Sub-par low-light camera performance far behind rivals
• Disappointing IP54 rating on an expensive flagship
• Dot-matrix font ruins extended CJK reading

📝 Verdict

"Nothing Phone 3 spends all its budget on flashing LED gimmicks while forgetting cameras and waterproofing. A 1-star rip-off."

Source

• Video: Nothing Phone (3) Review - 6 Months Later
• Channel: 6 Months Later | Type: Long-term review (self-bought, six months) | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• The reviewer bought it himself and used it for six months.
• Nothing OS's black-and-white minimalist style is clean, and the Essential Key quickly saves things to Essential Space.
• The screen is sharp and vivid, with PWM dimming frequency lowered to 960Hz.
• Glyph Toys and interactive widgets are fun, but mostly just novelties.
• Drawbacks: the back design is divisive, and early on he hit stutters when opening some apps and with the refresh rate; it's still lighter than the Pixel 10 Pro XL and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
• Nothing has confirmed it won't release a Phone (4) in 2026.

✅ Pros

• Clean software
• Good screen
• Fun Glyph features

❌ Cons

• Very divisive design
• Stuttering has occurred
• Some features are gimmicky

📝 Verdict

Still a usable flagship alternative after six months, but the reviewer thinks most people could consider other phones with a safer design.

Source

• Video: Nothing Phone 3 Review: They Lied!
• Channel: Marques Brownlee | Type: Full review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• The reviewer bluntly calls the look "ugly," with an asymmetrical camera layout.
• It uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 rather than a top-tier chip; you can't tell the difference in everyday use, but heavy gaming and high loads reveal the gap.
• The back glass isn't from the more durable Gorilla Glass Victus line, which is worth noting for a phone often placed face up.
• The three 50MP cameras are "close to flagship," and the Glyph Matrix can show icons such as incoming call notifications, which is reasonably practical.
• Nothing OS 3.5 (with 4.0 coming soon) is the biggest strength: clean and tasteful.

✅ Pros

• Good Nothing OS software experience
• Unique design
• Glyph Matrix has practical features

❌ Cons

• Not a top-spec chip at US$799
• Back glass not durable enough
• Divisive looks

📝 Verdict

Suited to people who care about software and unique design rather than specs; other phones at the same price are more powerful.

Source

• Video: Nothing Phone (3) Review: Nothing Like You Expect
• Channel: MrMobile [Michael Fisher] | Type: Review (one week of use) | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Used two review units provided by Nothing for 7 days; Nothing covered the reviewer's travel and lodging for the London launch event, but had no editorial review rights.
• The 489-LED Glyph Matrix at the top of the back replaces the light strips, like a small extra screen on the back, and is open to developers to make widgets.
• The reviewer's biggest disappointment is that the Matrix is too small; some Glyph features have bugs, and the always-on mode isn't truly always on.
• The screen is brighter but still not bright enough outdoors in summer; wireless charging is supported, but there's no Qi2 magnetic charging.
• The camera is average with fast-moving subjects, and the 3x telephoto is a plus.

✅ Pros

• Bold, distinctive design
• 3x telephoto
• Smooth software

❌ Cons

• Glyph Matrix is too small and buggy
• No Qi2 magnetic charging
• US price of US$800 isn't competitive

📝 Verdict

Daring to be different, but the reviewer thinks the design goes a bit too far this time; in the US the iPhone 16 or Pixel 9 are options at the same price.