Here is the Nothing Phone (3) first Hands on Review in detail. The phone brings smart features and a bold design. It joins the premium phone club in style.
Every small part of the phone looks special. Nothing has mixed fun, power, and style together. Let’s look at the features, performance, design, and price.
also read: CMF Phone 2 Pro to be Launched by Nothing: All You Need to Know
Nothing Phone (3) Honest Review: Unique Design and Stunning Display
The Nothing Phone (3) looks very different and fresh. The back shows grids, screws, and visible parts. It has a transparent design that is fun to see. The phone has a boxy shape with curved corners. It feels solid and looks stylish in your hand.
The phone size is 160.60×75.59×8.99mm and weighs 218 grams. It is heavier than many other top phones. But the curved edges make it easy to hold. It also has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
The frame, buttons, and SIM tray are made from 100% recycled aluminium. Even the box of the phone is fully plastic-free. This shows Nothing cares about the environment.
The display is a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen. It has 1260×2800 resolution with sharp and clear text. You get 4500nits brightness when playing HDR content. In outdoor sunlight, it can reach 1600nits brightness. It also supports 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+.
There is support for 2160Hz PWM dimming for eye comfort. The display is smooth, bright, and colorful. Watching videos or playing games feels great. It also has Widevine L1, so HD streaming is supported.
The only downside is the front waterdrop notch. It looks old compared to punch-hole designs. But the overall display quality is excellent for everyday use.
Glyph Matrix and Smart Features
The biggest highlight is the new Glyph Matrix display. It is a round LED dot display with 489 LEDs. It is placed at the top-right corner on the back. You don’t need to check the screen every time.
It shows time, battery level, and caller ID. You can assign different icons to different contacts. For example, set a pixel dog icon for your wife. When she calls, the dog icon lights up. This saves time and removes distraction.
The Glyph Matrix is controlled by the Glyph Button. A short press switches modes, and a long press activates features. It feels smooth and easy to use.
There are many fun options in the Glyph Matrix. These include Spin the Bottle, Rock-Paper-Scissors, Magic 8 Ball, and more. Some are made by the Nothing user community. Many more games and tools will be added soon.
There is also a feature that shows a pixel face preview. It helps take better selfies using the rear cameras. This is both useful and creative.
The Essential Notifications feature is also impressive. You can choose apps and contacts for special alerts. These alerts show in the Glyph Matrix with your chosen icon. It helps you know important notifications without unlocking the screen.
The Glyph Matrix brightness and timeout can be set in Settings. Some widgets like clock or battery can stay on always. This does not affect the battery much.
Smooth Software and Strong Performance
The phone runs on Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15. The interface is clean, colorful, and easy to use. The home screen has useful widgets that look fun. You can customize them to match your daily needs.
However, some small problems still exist. You cannot delete a full page of apps. You must remove each app icon one by one.
The phone has a smart feature called Essential Search. It works as a search bar and AI chatbot. You can ask questions like “Who is India’s Prime Minister?” or “How far is the moon?” It gives answers quickly without any extra steps.
The phone uses the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip. It is fast, smooth, and handles everything well. You can open multiple apps without any lag. Browsing, scrolling, and switching apps feels fast.
Gaming is also very smooth on this phone. Games like Call of Duty and BGMI run on high settings. The VC cooling system keeps the phone from getting too hot. Even after 45 minutes of gaming, it stays cool and smooth.
There are two variants available for this phone. One has 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The other offers 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. However, there is no 1TB storage option.
It also has an in-display fingerprint sensor. It unlocks the phone fast and safely every time.
The battery is 5,150mAh and uses silicon-carbon technology. It performs better than regular batteries. On a heavy-use day, you get 8 hours screen time. There was still 20% battery left by night. This makes it good for daily long use.
Market Position and Real Value
The Nothing Phone (3) Honest Review must cover pricing too. The phone costs Rs. 79,999 in India. It now competes with big phones like Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16.
Samsung Galaxy S25 is available at Rs. 74,999. The iPhone 16 starts at Rs. 79,900 and sometimes sells for less. Oppo Find X8 and Xiaomi 15 are cheaper too. So, Nothing must compete hard to prove its worth.
However, the brand is growing fast in India. According to Counterpoint, it grew 156% year-over-year. This is mainly because of the Phone 3a launch. It is now the fastest-growing brand in the country.
The premium price means users will compare it with top phones. But Nothing offers something special in return. Its design is fun, the software feels fresh, and performance is strong.
The red recording light at the back helps creators. It lights up during video and voice recording. This small touch makes it easy for people who record often.
Also, the back design is artistic and bold. The three-column grid with visible camera modules looks cool. It gives a techy, modern, and creative look.
The lens setup at the back is slightly raised. But the phone does not wobble on flat tables. This is good for people who type a lot.
The Bottom Corner
This Nothing Phone (3) Honest Review shows a fun and powerful phone. The Glyph Matrix, smart features, and design are unique.
The display is bright and great for watching videos. The performance is fast, and battery backup is strong. The price is high, but features are worth it. If you want something stylish and different, this phone is a great choice.
