I Tried the Nothing Telephone 3 and It Undoubtedly Did not Stay As much as the Hype

Nothing made issues tough for itself by calling its newest cellphone its first “true flagship.” It means that it’s a contender to premium telephones such because the iPhone 16 Professional or the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however it merely is not. As a substitute it is a stable midranger, providing first rate efficiency and a number of quirky options for a comparatively reasonably priced worth. 

At $799 (£799), the Nothing Telephone 3 is the most costly cellphone the corporate has made, and it backs this up with a stronger processor, higher cameras and a further yr of software program assist in comparison with its earlier fashions. Nevertheless it’s additionally an actual combined bag of issues I like and issues I actually do not. 

7.3

Nothing Telephone 3

Like

• 
  Superior macro pictures mode
• 
  Good software program assist interval
• 
  Quirky design stands out from the group

Don’t love

• 
  Digital camera efficiency total disappoints
• 
  Processor lags behind flagship rivals
• 
  Rear Glyph Matrix is arguably a gimmick
• 
  Battery life is underwhelming

The square-blocks-under-transparent-glass design is arguably enjoyable, however it’s not with out its issues. The cameras are principally underwhelming apart from its surprisingly good macro mode, and the software program options are mainly the identical as you may discover on the corporate’s less expensive 3A Professional. At a worth that matches each the Pixel 9 and iPhone 16, the Nothing Telephone 3 is finest seen as a midtier cellphone at a flagship worth. 

Nothing wanted to push for higher efficiency — particularly from the cameras — or drop the worth by at the least 100 bucks. Because it stands, this cellphone is tough to advocate over the Pixel 9. A “flagship” it is not, and my recommendation to Nothing could be to stay to what they do finest: quirky telephones with reasonably priced worth tags. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Quirky design and Glyph Matrix

The Glyph Matrix, as Nothing calls it, is the standout new characteristic for this cellphone. It is mainly a small, spherical, dot-matrix show within the high proper of the cellphone’s again that exhibits issues like incoming notifications, the time, and even little mini video games. It is a cute thought, and whereas I do like with the ability to see who’s calling me when my cellphone is face down on my desk, I feel its use is restricted total. 

You may play video games like spin the bottle on it, however as a married 37-year-old, my need for a morally ambiguous likelihood kiss with a drunk buddy at a home celebration has fortunately been left behind in my teenage years. Even then, spin the bottle is arguably the spotlight of the Glyph Matrix proper now, and whereas Nothing says the SDK is open for third celebration builders to make use of, I am not satisfied it is a characteristic that has longevity. 

However I am notably peeved that it is come at the price of the Glyph lights that had been the hallmark of Nothing’s earlier telephones. The Nothing Telephone 1 and 2 had been suffering from giant LEDs that flashed to let you understand about notifications, and whereas their existence was arguably extra for aesthetics, it was enjoyable to see one thing a bit completely different in cellphone design. These lights are gone, mixed and shrunk into the Glyph Matrix. Positive, that is nonetheless quirky, however I want Nothing had stored the larger glyph lights too — I do not see any motive why each variations of Glyph cannot co-exist right here.

The broader design remains to be undoubtedly Nothing, with a clear outer shell that gives the look you are trying into the bodily coronary heart of the cellphone. The white mannequin exhibits this off significantly better than the black possibility, in case you’re unsure which colour you like. I fairly just like the blocky design, however a few issues irritate me. 

First, the telephoto digicam unit is weirdly off-center, sitting a lot nearer to the cellphone’s edge than the unit beneath it. It seems like a mistake and I discover it off-putting. Then there’s the semicircle strip beneath the flash — it seems prefer it’s purported to mild up just like the “glyphs” of older Nothing telephones, however it would not. It is simply… there. I might put cash on there initially being a plan for this to mild up however it obtained axed as a cost-cutting measure alongside the way in which.

Nice, I could be nit-picking right here. For transparency, I am somebody who will get irritated once I see barely off kerning in posters and adverts. I cringe once I stroll round city and see the rampant misuse of apostrophes and I really feel bodily compelled to say “fewer” when somebody incorrectly makes use of “much less” in a sentence. I am a pedant, positive, however relating to costly tech, pedantry is essential. If there’d been extra pedantry at Nothing then we would not have off-centre cameras and I might in all probability give it one other star on this assessment. Perhaps.

Nothing Telephone 3: Mediocre cameras, rad macro mode

The cellphone packs three rear cameras: an ordinary large angle, an ultrawide and a telephoto zoom providing 3x optical zoom and 6x mixed optical and digital zoom. All three cameras provide 50 megapixels of decision and all of them are finest described as merely “nice.” 

In good outside situations the publicity from the principle digicam is first rate, with pretty correct colours and loads of element. Some HDR scenes can look a bit unnatural with weirdly-lightened shadows and toned down highlights. Nonetheless, I’ve seen worse. 

As the sunshine begins to fall it appears to wrestle extra with white steadiness, usually leaning into cyan tones which give low-light pictures an unnatural look. 

The ultrawide lens captures even exposures, however there’s usually a noticeable colour shift between the usual and large views. There’s additionally a whole lot of chromatic aberration seen on areas of distinction, particularly in direction of the sting of the body which suggests low high quality optics. I’ve additionally seen odd picture processing points, together with bizarre element smoothing and in a single occasion, an individual’s hair tinged shiny inexperienced. 

The zoom lens is hit and miss. At 6x zoom on an overcast day, it does a good job of capturing a fair publicity with crisp particulars. Different instances it struggles, usually making a bizarre mushy glow round topics, particularly in areas of excessive distinction. 

Taken at 6x zoom, this shot of swans and signets has blown-out highlights and a weird haze across the swans that makes it seem like these naff photographs from the ’80s with Vaseline on the lens. I’ve seen this on a number of take a look at pictures and I am disenchanted to see such vital picture high quality points. What’s inflicting it? Tough to say definitively, however just like the wide-angle lens I might guess at low-quality plastic optics on the zoom lens.

Whereas I am disenchanted total with the Nothing Telephone 3’s digicam, it does have one saving grace: its macro mode. Most telephones provide some sort of shut up capturing for macro scenes, however nothing like this one.

I have been capable of get some actually nice shut up photographs of bees on flowers that aren’t simply well-exposed, but in addition pin-sharp and with great-looking colours. Like most macro modes it may be extremely prone to motion, so I hammered the shutter button taking quite a few pictures of every scene after which merely deciding on the best-looking one later, however that is the identical approach I work once I take macro pictures professionally — it is by no means a case of taking one picture and it being excellent right away. 

It is the a technique that the Nothing Telephone 3’s digicam outperforms its rivals. I attempted taking related macro pictures with the iPhone 16 Professional and it could not even come near what I might obtain with the Nothing cellphone. 

However in most different respects the Nothing’s cameras aren’t nice and if pictures is essential to you then I might counsel trying elsewhere. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Processor and battery efficiency

The cellphone runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor which put in affordable scores on our suite of benchmark checks. Its scores put it rather more in keeping with final yr’s flagships just like the Galaxy S24 and Xiaomi 14, however a good step behind current-gen fashions such because the Galaxy S25, iPhone 16 or OnePlus 13. 

In on a regular basis use, the cellphone feels nippy, with easy navigation across the interface, apps that load shortly and demanding gaming in Genshin Affect and PUBG being dealt with simply, even at max graphics settings. The cellphone may not be up there with at this time’s flagships on paper, however it’s obtained greater than sufficient grunt to deal with virtually something you’d wish to throw at it. 

The cellphone’s 5,150-mAh battery makes use of silicon carbon know-how that Nothing says ends in higher longevity. On our rundown checks, battery life is distinctly common, with outcomes from each our video streaming drain take a look at and 45-minute endurance take a look at placing it beneath each the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13, however extra in keeping with the less expensive Nothing Telephone 3A. Like all telephones, you must anticipate to offer it a full recharge each evening. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Software program and updates

The cellphone runs Android 15 at its core however Nothing has slapped its personal interface excessive, which supplies it a powerful look. It leans on monochrome aesthetics, with most app icons being turned black and white and textual content being faraway from many areas of the homescreen in a bid for a extra minimalist look. I fairly prefer it, though typically it is tough to work out precisely which app is which. You may flip it off if it is to not your style although.

The cellphone has varied AI instruments scattered round — together with Google’s Gemini, accessible by an extended press of the ability button — however it’s the Important Area that stands out. Important Area is finest regarded as a repository to your stream of consciousness all through the day. There is a devoted {hardware} button on the aspect of the cellphone; press it as soon as and it will take a screenshot to retailer in Important Area. Lengthy press it and you may report a voice word that can then be transcribed with AI with key factors being pulled out to remind you later. 

Nothing is slowly constructing the device out so as to add deeper performance — the brand new model has an extended voice report operate that can transcribe conferences for you — and whereas I do not suppose it is a motive to decide on a Nothing cellphone over every other, it is an fascinating device that you could be discover helpful. 

The issue is that each the long-lasting monochrome interface and Important Area device are additionally discovered on Nothing’s less expensive Telephone 3A, so there’s nothing distinctive right here that might justify you spending twice the worth to purchase the highest mannequin. 

Nothing has stated that the Telephone 3 will obtain 4 years of software program updates and a complete of seven years of safety assist which means this cellphone ought to nonetheless be secure to make use of in 2032. 

Nothing Telephone 3: Do you have to purchase it?

Nothing has tried arduous to distinguish itself from the market through the years by providing quirky telephones at costs that considerably undercut its rivals. Calling the Telephone 3 its first “true flagship” is a dangerous technique and one which I do not really feel has paid off right here. This cellphone may need higher-end elements than a few of its cheaper siblings, however it’s not a “true flagship”, particularly not when measured in opposition to rivals just like the iPhone 16, Pixel 9 or Galaxy S25. The Telephone 3 lacks the processor and digicam efficiency I might anticipate to see at this degree. 

Its battery life, too, is disappointing, and whereas the Glyph Matrix is actually a singular addition, it is arguably a gimmick that probably will not add a lot worth to your long-term expertise with the cellphone. 

At its full $799 retail worth, this cellphone is at the least $100 too costly. If you happen to can decide it up with a good low cost then it is value contemplating. If you happen to merely just like the aesthetics of the cellphone and its monochrome interface however do not care about digicam efficiency, look towards the Nothing Telephone 3A — it is half the worth however simply as enjoyable.