Nothing Phone 3 Review: They Lied!
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Promos
So you want to be a flagship? Nothing Phone 3: geni.us MKBHD Merch: shop.mkbhd.com Playlist of MKBHD Intro music: goo.gl Phone provided by Nothing for review. ~ twitter.com @MKBHD @MKBHD
The Nothing Phone 3 review presents a mixed verdict on whether Nothing has truly stepped into flagship territory with its latest device. The host opens by acknowledging the controversial look that has polarized opinions, arguing that design quirks aside, the phone must prove its value through performance and features. He notes that Nothing markets the Phone 3 as a flagship, yet price and component choices invite comparison to established flagships from Samsung, Google, and Apple. Across the first segment, he highlights the large 6.67 inch OLED display, impressive brightness, and a high refresh rate, while pointing out that the front glass uses Gorilla Glass 7i, a mid-range option, not the premium Victus line. The camera setup is described as the strongest Nothing has offered, with a 50 MP main sensor and a 3x telephoto, but the footage and auto focus show occasional softness that keeps it a notch behind leaders like the Galaxy S25, Pixel 9, and iPhone 16. The reviewer emphasizes the software as a redeeming feature, praising Nothing OS 3.5 for its tasteful Android skin, useful AI-assisted space, and the promise of five years of software updates, which he contrasts against the raw hardware leaps of other flagships. In the closing sections, he weighs the Glyph Matrix back display as a functional but arguably gimmicky feature, and culminates with a position that the Phone 3 should be valued for its software polish and unique design rather than chasing the top-tier specs alone. The overarching conclusion is tempered: the Phone 3 is compelling for non-traditional flagship buyers, but its price makes it a challenging recommendation when competing devices offer more performance for the money. The reviewer suggests that if you prioritize software experience, battery life, and design originality over pure benchmarking, Nothing’s offering remains appealing, albeit with caveats around value for money and camera aggression in real-world usage.
Topics · technology · smartphones · review · design · software
Questions answered
- Is the Nothing Phone 3 a true flagship when priced at 799, or is it better viewed as a value-oriented alternative with flagship-like software?
- The reviewer argues it is not a true flagship in terms of top-tier hardware, and the price makes it hard to defend against bona fide flagships. Yet the software, design, and battery life offer compelling reasons for buyers who prioritize experience and uniqueness over raw specs.
- What are the standout strengths of the Nothing Phone 3 according to the review?
- Strong software experience with Nothing OS 3.5, five-year software update promise, excellent battery performance, a bright and large 6.67 inch display, and a stationary camera system with notable 50 MP main sensor and 3x telephoto.
- What are the main weaknesses highlighted in the review?
- The camera sometimes feels slightly soft, the processor is not the cutting-edge flagship chip, and the back Glyph Matrix can come off as gimmicky. The display glass is mid-range Gorilla Glass 7i, which may affect durability perceptions at flagship pricing.