Nothing Phone 3 Review: Best Flagship of 2025 with Transparent Design & Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

 

πŸ”₯ Nothing Phone 3 Review – Bold Design Meets Solid Performance (Global Edition)



The Nothing Phone 3 steps into the spotlight in 2025 as the brand’s first true flagship. Sporting the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, a unique Glyph Matrix LED display, and a clean minimalist UI, Nothing aims to challenge household names—Apple, Samsung, and Google—with distinct flair and long-term support.

Priced at approximately $799 / £799 / ₹79,999 for 12GB/256GB, with upgrades up to 16GB/512GB, the Phone 3 is now available globally on July 15, following its pre-order launch on July 4. 


πŸ“‹ Specs Snapshot

FeatureDetails
Display6.67″ OLED, 1260×2800px (1.5K), 120 Hz, 4500 nits peak
ProcessorSnapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm), Adreno 825 GPU
RAM / Storage12GB + 256GB or 16GB + 512GB (no microSD)
Rear CamerasThree 50MP sensors: wide + periscope telephoto (3×) + ultra-wide
Front Camera50MP selfie, 4K@60fps video recording
Battery~5,150 mAh (international), 5,500 mAh (India)
Charging65W wired, 15W wireless, 7.5W reverse wireless
SoftwareAndroid 15 w/ Nothing OS 3.5 → Android 16 (Nothing OS 4.0)
Updates5 major Android OS upgrades + 7 years security patches
Special Features“Glyph Matrix” LED back display, Essential Key & AI tools
Water ResistanceIP68 certified
Price (USD/₹)$799 (12/256) · $899 (16/512) · ₹79,999 onwards
AvailabilityGlobal sale from July 15, available via official site & Amazon .

🎨 Design & Build – A Visual Statement

The Phone 3 embraces a fully transparent aesthetic with a modern twist. Rather than the older glyph lighting, it features the Glyph Matrix—a circular dot-matrix mini-display on the back that shows time, notifications, mini-games ("Toys"), and even a mirror mode.

The phone is quite substantial at 218g, but the glass-metal build, Gorilla Glass 7i front, and Victus back feel premium. IP68 water and dust resistance further elevates its durability. 


πŸ“± Display – Slick, Bright & Vivid

  • 6.67″ OLED panel offering 1.5K resolution (~1260×2800px) and 120 Hz refresh rate.

  • Brightness peaks around 4500–4500 nits, making it highly legible outdoors. 

  • HDR10+ support and 2160Hz PWM dimming add precision and quality.

  • Slim bezels (~1.87mm) contribute to a refined visual experience. 

Overall, this display rivals other flagships in vividness and fluidity—though it lacks LTPO adaptive refresh scaling. 


πŸš€ Performance – Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Delivers

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a step up from Nothing’s past midrange chips and offers flagship-tier responsiveness.

  • Real-world use is smooth for multitasking, browsing, media streaming, and mid-heavy games.

  • While not on par with Snapdragon 8 Elite, it’s snappy and efficient. 

  • UFS 4.0 storage and 16GB RAM on select models enhance data speeds and app loading.

Notably, some reviewers reported heat buildup under very heavy sustained usage—not surprising for a 4nm chipset at flagship package density. 


πŸ“Έ Camera System – Versatile Trio of 50MP Sensors

Rear Setup:

  • 50MP main camera with OIS and EIS

  • 50MP periscope telephoto lens offering 3× optical zoom and macro support

  • 50MP ultra-wide lens (114° FOV)

Front:

  • 50MP selfie camera, capable of 4K@60fps video capture. 

In good lighting, photos are detailed and rich in color. The telephoto zoom works well in daylight and macro shoots. But in low-light, image quality is inconsistent—edge softness and auto-exposure glitches persist. Overall, camera performance is good but not league-leading. 

πŸ”‹ Battery Life & Charging – Solid but Not Class-Leading

  • International models house a 5,150 mAh battery; Indian models raise it to 5,500 mAh using silicon-carbon tech. 

  • 65W wired fast charging—0 to 62% in 30 minutes, full charge in just over an hour; 15W wireless charging is included. 

PhoneArena's battery benchmarks show:

  • ~14h video playback

  • ~9h gaming

  • ~6h browsing
    Slightly below modern flagships but enough for all-day use.


🧠 Software & Features – Clean, Minimal, Intelligent

Nothing OS 3.5, based on Android 15, provides a clean, monochrome-first interface with bold icons and fluid animations. It’s ad-free and minimal, sticking to Nothing’s design DNA. 

AI-powered tools include:

  • Essential Space – auto-tags and saves screenshots or voice notes as events, tasks, or reminders.

  • Essential Search – smart universal search across documents, apps, web & AI.

  • Flip to Record – intuitive way to quickly record audio notes.

Nothing has committed to 5 major Android updates and 7 years of security updates, starting with Android 16 (Nothing OS 4.0) arriving in Q3 2025.


✅ Pros & ❌ Cons

✅ Pros

  • Unique, eye-catching design with Glyph Matrix LED

  • 120Hz OLED display with 4500 nits brightness

  • Capable Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset with UFS 4.0 storage

  • Versatile triple 50MP camera system with telephoto

  • Clean, minimal software with long software support

  • IP68 rating & wireless charging included

❌ Cons

  • Camera underperforms in low-light vs flagships

  • Heavier than average at 218g

  • LTPS OLED rather than LTPO—no adaptive refresh rate scaling

  • Around $800 price puts it in Samsung/Apple flagship territory

  • Heat output under prolonged load can be noticeable


🎯 Who Is It For?

This phone excels for:

  • Design lovers who value transparent aesthetics and visual flair

  • Those who want creative and interactive features like Glyph Matrix and Toys

  • Users wanting long-term software support

  • Fans of minimalist and clean software without ads or clutter

Less suitable for:

  • Performance seekers looking for best-in-class benchmarks

  • Low-light photography fans wanting flagship grade camera results

  • Lightweight phone users—this one is fairly heavy


🧭 Comparison – How It Stacks Up

  • Vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 / iPhone 16 / Pixel 9: Those phones offer superior cameras, faster chips, and refined AI features—but Phone 3 is far more design-focused and playful.

  • Vs. Pixel 9a / Nothing Phone 3a Pro: More affordable, but less unique in materials and flair. The 3a Pro offers telephoto and better cameras, though still at a sub-$400 price tag. 


🏁 Final Verdict – Worth the Flagship Hype?

The Nothing Phone 3 delivers on its promise of identity, design, and clean experience. It’s not the fastest or best camera performer in its class—but if you care about aesthetics, intuitive features, and long-term updates, it’s a compelling alternative to conventional flagships.

Final Score: 8.2 / 10 – Refreshing, fun, and capable flagship with a twist 🎨

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