“With the Phone (3), Nothing remains true to its philosophy of developing smartphones that are a little different from the competition.”
Publisher score: 85/100 · 13mo ago
$799 · Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 · 1y 3m old
Review
Radar

Image credit: Nothing Phone (3) official product image
Editor's Verdict
Let's be clear: the Nothing Phone (3) isn't trying to win a spec sheet war against established giants, and at $799, it shouldn't. What it *is* doing, however, is carving out a distinct identity in an increasingly homogenous upper-mid-range. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, while not the absolute top-tier silicon, delivers more than enough punch for day-to-day use and even some demanding gaming. The build quality, with its aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, feels premium, and the 120Hz OLED display is a joy to behold. Nothing's commitment to a cleaner software experience, coupled with a commendable update policy, further solidifies its appeal for those who value a refined user interface over bloatware.
But the real story here is the charm, the "novel appeal" as some are calling it. The Glyph Interface, now with its expanded Matrix, continues to be a polarizing yet undeniably unique feature. Whether it's a gimmick or a genuinely useful tool will depend entirely on your personal workflow and how much you embrace its eccentricities. While it may not be the "obvious best buy" when you stack it against every other phone in this price bracket, the Nothing Phone (3) is undoubtedly the most distinctive. If you're tired of the same old black slabs and crave a device that sparks conversation and offers a genuinely different user experience, then this is a compelling option that proves innovation doesn't always have to come with a flagship price tag.
Alternatives
Most positive review signal
“With the Phone (3), Nothing remains true to its philosophy of developing smartphones that are a little different from the competition.”
Notebookcheck · 85
Most cautious review signal
“It's not the best phone you can get for this price, but the Nothing Phone (3) is certainly unique among entry-level flagship phones.”
Expert Reviews · 69
This meta-score blends 9 publisher scores with 2 assessed scores — real published reviews that didn’t print a number, which we rate 0–100 from the reviewer’s written verdict. Assessed reviews are labeled as such.
“With the Phone (3), Nothing remains true to its philosophy of developing smartphones that are a little different from the competition.”
Publisher score: 85/100 · 13mo ago
“The Phone (3) isn't the obvious best buy in its class - but it is the most distinctive, and for some, that's more than enough.”
Publisher score: 4.2/5 · 15mo ago
“The Phone 3 is a much better phone than the two-year-old Nothing Phone 2, but it's also $200 more expensive, making any shortcomings more apparent.”
Publisher score: 81/100 · 14mo ago
“Nothing changes — substantially and for the better”
Publisher score: 4/5 · 15mo ago
“It's the best Nothing phone yet, offering a polished smartphone experience that's uniquely Nothing.”
Assessed from verdict: 80/100 · 15mo ago
“It's called a flagship, but sometimes it feels like a really good mid-ranger. Either way, this is another strong offering from Nothing.”
Publisher score: 8/10 · 13mo ago
“The Nothing Phone 3 matches Samsung and Apple flagships in price, but has its own novel appeal.”
Publisher score: 4/5 · 10mo ago
“It's not quite a flagship killer at £799/$799, but it's a charming slow-burner that makes you want to keep picking it up.”
Publisher score: 4/5 · 15mo ago
“The Nothing Phone 3 isn't the safest, most powerful, or highest specification smartphone you can buy, but it is unique, and often the most fun choice too.”
Publisher score: 7.5/10 · 13mo ago
“Nothing’s latest flagship phone may not be the best value, but it certainly has charm.”
Publisher score: 7/10 · 15mo ago
“It's not the best phone you can get for this price, but the Nothing Phone (3) is certainly unique among entry-level flagship phones.”
Assessed from verdict: 69/100 · 15mo ago
Nothing Phone (3) review
“After using it for the past few months, I actually think it's a pretty good option for its price.”
Source page · 9mo ago
Nothing Phone 3 review
Source page · 10mo ago
Nothing Phone (3) review
“This phone is a true flagship, but it's not the best phone you can buy at this price.”
Source page · 13mo ago
Nothing Phone (3) review
“With the Phone (3), Nothing remains true to its philosophy of developing smartphones that are a little different from the competition.”
Source page · 13mo ago
Nothing Phone (3) review
“The Nothing Phone 3 isn't the safest, most powerful, or highest specification smartphone you can buy, but it is unique, and often the most fun choice too.”
Source page · 13mo ago
Nothing Phone 3 review
Source page · 13mo ago
Nothing Phone (3) review
“The Phone 3 is a much better phone than the two-year-old Nothing Phone 2, but it's also $200 more expensive, making any shortcomings more apparent.”
Source page · 14mo ago
Nothing Phone (3) review
“However, unless you love the wacky design, the identically priced Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 are better long-term choices for most people.”
Source page · 15mo ago
Nothing Phone (3)