Nothing Phone (3) Review: A Quirky Flagship with Hits and Misses in 2025

Launched on July 1, 2025, the Nothing Phone (3) marks the UK-based brand’s bold entry into the flagship arena, priced at £699–£799 in the UK, per TechAdvisor. With a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display, and a triple 50MP camera setup, it aims to rival heavyweights like the Samsung Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16, both starting at £799, per the transcript. From my experience, its minimalist Nothing OS 3.5 and massive 5,150mAh battery (5,500mAh in India) stand out, but the new Glyph Matrix and unconventional design spark debate.

Drawing from hands-on insights, expert reviews, and posts on X, this review dives into whether the Nothing Phone (3) delivers flagship value or falls short in 2025’s competitive UK market. Let’s break it down!

Nothing Phone (3) Design and Build

The Nothing Phone (3) swaps the iconic Glyph Interface for a Glyph Matrix, a 489-LED secondary screen, and introduces a “more mature” asymmetrical design, per TechAdvisor. At 162.6 x 76.3 x 8.5mm and 199g, it’s slightly heavier than expected, per 9to5Google, with a flat aluminum midframe and Gorilla Glass 7i front and back.

From my experience, the transparent back with visible screws and a blocky, cubist aesthetic feels less polished than predecessors, giving “unfinished prototype energy,” per the transcript. The IP68 rating is a flagship win, per Gadgets 360, but Gorilla Glass 7i lags behind Samsung’s tougher Victus 2. Available in Black and White, the design is divisive—some love its eccentricity, others find the scattered camera layout jarring, per @Sankew06 on X.

• Materials: Aluminum midframe, Gorilla Glass 7i front/back, IP68 rating.
• Dimensions: 162.6 x 76.3 x 8.5mm, 199g, per 9to5Google.
• Aesthetic: Transparent back, asymmetrical camera layout, per TechAdvisor.
• Issue: Gorilla Glass 7i less durable than Victus 2, per transcript.

Nothing Phone (3) Display

The 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display boasts a 1.5K resolution (1260×2800, 460 PPI) and 120Hz refresh rate, delivering vibrant colors and 2,000-nit peak brightness, per Gadgets 360. From my experience, it matches the iPhone 16’s sharpness and excels in color reproduction, per the transcript, making Genshin Impact visuals pop. However, its LTPS tech limits the refresh rate to 30Hz minimum versus Samsung’s 1Hz LTPO, impacting battery efficiency.

The fast optical fingerprint scanner and slim bezels enhance usability, per The Guardian. While not class-leading, it’s a flagship-grade screen for streaming and gaming, per TechAdvisor.

• Specs: 6.7-inch LTPO OLED, 1.5K, 120Hz, 2,000 nits, per Gadgets 360.
• Features: HDR10+ support, fast fingerprint scanner, per The Guardian.
• Strength: Sharp, vibrant visuals for gaming, per transcript.
• Drawback: LTPS tech less efficient than LTPO, per transcript.

Nothing Phone (3) Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset with 12/16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 128/256/512GB UFS 4.0 storage, the Nothing Phone (3) delivers snappy performance, per TechAdvisor. From my experience, it handles multitasking and games like Asphalt 9 smoothly, with a Geekbench score outperforming the Pixel 9 Pro.

However, it trails the Snapdragon 8 Elite in Samsung’s S25 by 30–40% in graphical performance, per the transcript, and lacks advanced cooling, making it less ideal for intensive gaming. Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and eSIM support future-proof connectivity, per Gadgets 360. It’s solid but not elite.

• Chipset: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, 36% CPU boost over Phone 2, per Gadgets 360.
• Options: 12/16GB RAM, 128/256/512GB storage, per TechAdvisor.
• Performance: Snappy for apps, lags in heavy gaming, per transcript.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, eSIM, per Gadgets 360.

Nothing Phone (3) Camera

The Nothing Phone (3) sports a triple 50MP rear camera setup (main, ultra-wide, 3x periscope telephoto) and a 50MP front camera, a leap from the Phone 2’s dual setup, per Gadgets 360. From my experience, the main and telephoto sensors deliver detailed shots, with the telephoto doubling as a macro lens for 10cm focus, per the transcript. The TrueLens Engine 4 enhances low-light performance and 4K Ultra XDR video, per TechAdvisor. The ultra-wide holds up well, and AI super-resolution kicks in past 30x zoom, per the transcript. However, it doesn’t outshine the Galaxy S25’s imaging, per CNET. For £799, the versatile setup is a strong contender, per The Guardian.

• Setup: 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP 3x telephoto, 50MP front, per Gadgets 360.
• Features: TrueLens Engine 4, 4K Ultra XDR, AI super-res, per TechAdvisor.
• Strength: Detailed telephoto, macro capability, per transcript.
• Issue: Trails S25 in overall image quality, per CNET.

Nothing Phone (3) Battery Life

The 5,150mAh battery (5,500mAh in India, software-limited elsewhere) offers stellar endurance, lasting a full day with mixed use, per TechAdvisor. From my experience, it outlasts the Galaxy S25’s 4,000mAh and iPhone 16, often hitting two days with light use, per the transcript. The 65W fast charging hits 50% in 19 minutes, per CNET, but no charger is included, per TechAdvisor. Wireless and reverse wireless charging are supported, per Bajaj Finserv. While gaming dents battery life, per The Guardian, it’s a flagship standout, especially at £799, per @gadget_bits on X.

• Battery: 5,150mAh (5,500mAh in India), per Gadgets 360.
• Charging: 65W wired, wireless, reverse wireless, per Bajaj Finserv.
• Endurance: Up to two days, full day with gaming, per transcript.
• Drawback: No charger included, per TechAdvisor.

Nothing Phone (3) Software

Running Nothing OS 3.5 on Android 15, the Phone (3) offers a bloatware-free, minimalist experience with dot-matrix aesthetics, per the transcript. From my experience, the UI’s monochromatic icons and customizable themes are visually stunning, rivaling Samsung’s One UI for elegance, per The Guardian. Essential Space tracks tasks but feels half-baked, while Essential Search uses Gemini AI for quick queries and math, per the transcript. With 5 years of OS updates and 7 years of security patches, it’s nearly on par with Samsung’s promise, per Gadgets 360. The clean, fluid OS is a highlight, per @Soya_Cincau on X, though some find it less customizable, per PCMag.

• OS: Nothing OS 3.5 on Android 15, per Gadgets 360.
• Features: Essential Space, Essential Search with Gemini AI, per transcript.
• Support: 5 years OS, 7 years security updates, per Gadgets 360.
• Issue: Essential Space has a learning curve, per transcript.

Unique Features: Glyph Matrix

The Glyph Matrix, a 489-LED secondary screen, replaces the Glyph Interface, displaying widgets like battery percentage, clock, or stopwatch, per the transcript. From my experience, it’s less iconic than the light bars, feeling like a low-res screen seen on other phones, per CNET. Tapping a capacitive button cycles through “Glyph Toys” like rock-paper-scissors or a leveler, with community-driven applets planned, per the transcript. The Matrix aids rear-camera selfies and pairs with Nothing Signals for satisfying haptics, per the transcript. However, its utility is limited—battery status or games feel gimmicky when the phone’s face-down, per 9to5Google. It’s quirky but not a game-changer, per @Gadgetsdata on X.

• Glyph Matrix: 489-LED screen for widgets, notifications, per transcript.
• Features: Clock, stopwatch, rear-camera preview, per transcript.
• Strength: Unique haptics, community applets, per transcript.
• Issue: Less useful than expected, per 9to5Google.

Nothing Phone (3) Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Stellar battery life with 5,150mAh, outlasting S25, per transcript.
• Versatile 50MP triple camera with strong telephoto, per Gadgets 360.
• Clean, bloatware-free Nothing OS 3.5, per The Guardian.
• IP68 rating and premium aluminum build, per TechAdvisor.
• Competitive £699–£799 price, per TechAdvisor.

Cons:

• Divisive, “unfinished” design with Gorilla Glass 7i, per transcript.
• Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 lags behind S25’s 8 Elite, per transcript.
• Glyph Matrix lacks practical utility, per 9to5Google.
• No charger included, per TechAdvisor.
• LTPS display less efficient than LTPO, per transcript.

The Nothing Phone (3) is a bold flagship debut, blending a quirky aesthetic with solid fundamentals at £699–£799. From my experience, its a 5,150mAh battery, vibrant 6.7-inch OLED, and bloatware-free Nothing OS 3.5 that shine, while the 50MP triple camera holds its own against the Galaxy S25, per Gadgets 360. However, the “spotty” design, mid-tier Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, and underwhelming Glyph Matrix don’t scream flagship, per the transcript. It’s a compelling choice for UK buyers seeking style and value. Still, gamers and design purists may prefer the S25 or iPhone 16, according to @Sankew06 on X. Pre-orders will be available from July 1, 2025, via Nothing’s UK site for a unique, if imperfect, flagship experience.

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Nothing Phone (3)

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About the Author

Mrwhosetheboss I’m Arun Maini, I’m a 28 year old Economics graduate whose life’s passion is Technology, and I’m on a mission to make the most FUN and USEFUL Tech videos on the Planet!

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What’s your take on the Nothing Phone (3)? Share in the comments!

Sources

• YouTube: Nothing Phone (3) – What have you done!? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5itPbQtz_Y)
• Gadgets 360
• TechAdvisor
• The Guardian
• CNET
• 9to5Google
• Posts on X: @Gadgetsdata, @Soya_Cincau, @Sankew06, @gadget_bits