The Nothing Phone 3 may not crush the spec wars, but it brings something most phones don’t: personality. At $799, this Android device isn’t a performance beast, but it offers charm, thoughtful features, and a playful design that stands out in a sea of glass rectangles.
Nothing Phone 3 brings playful tech back
Most phones feel forgettable; this one doesn’t. With its quirky Glyph Matrix, visible screws, and layered PCB-inspired back panel, the Phone 3 invites curiosity. Whether it’s the red recording light or a stick-figure pedometer widget, the device is unapologetically strange. That weirdness works in its favor.
The Glyph Matrix, a grid of large LEDs on the back, is the centerpiece. It lights up for calls and messages, just like older Nothing phones, but it now supports a range of “Toys” mini apps and tools you can control using a circular touch button below the LEDs.
Nothing Phone 3 features that stand out
Some of the Glyph Toys feel gimmicky, but many are genuinely useful. You can turn the matrix into:
- A digital clock or stopwatch
- A battery meter
- A basic-level tool
- A Magic 8 Ball or rock-paper-scissors game
- A notification filter that shows a custom icon for important contacts
There’s even a toy that displays your pixelated face, helping you line up selfies using the rear cameras. It’s fun, and smart, and it works surprisingly well.
Clean software, modest AI, and solid performance
The Phone 3 runs a clean interface with intuitive widgets, though some features like bulk app management still feel clunky. One new addition, Essential Search, acts like a built-in AI chatbot alongside basic search. Ask it a question, and you’ll get answers instantly without extra steps.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 handles tasks smoothly, and the 5,150mAh battery holds its own, delivering around 8 hours of screen-on time during heavy use. Wireless charging is supported, though it lacks the newer Qi2 spec for magnetic accessories.
Cameras are dependable, if not dazzling
The triple-camera setup gets the job done with detail-rich shots and accurate color in most conditions. There’s a 3x optical zoom, a solid ultrawide option, and a new macro mode. Low-light shots suffer, but it’s still a capable all-rounder.
Nothing’s quirkiest phone yet
From IP68 protection to Wi-Fi 7, eSIM, and a generous 256 GB of storage, the Nothing Phone 3 checks most boxes. It even comes with five years of Android upgrades and seven years of security updates.
You could buy a more powerful phone at this price. But that phone won’t wink at you with an LED dog icon when your partner texts. It wouldn’t play rock-paper-scissors from your palm. The Nothing Phone 3 doesn’t just look different, it feels different. And that might be exactly what smartphones need right now.
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