Nothing Phone 3
Price (MRP): ₹62,999.00
Lights, Camera, Chennai—Nothing Phone 3 Takes Center Stage
Ratings
Overall
Design
Performance
Features
Value
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Bright, colour‑accurate 120 Hz AMOLED
Solid all‑round camera set with true 3× optical zoom
Endurance champ with rapid 65 W charging
Long software support: 5 OS upgrades & 7‑year patches
Made‑in‑India pricing perks and after‑sales ease
Cons:
Periscope softens past 6×
Glyph Matrix still draws stares—love it or hate it
Wireless charging stuck at 15 W
Brand Recognition: Competing with Apple and Samsung at this price point will be a major challenge in the status-driven Indian market.
⚡ Verdict
If you’re an Android power user bored of cookie-cutter slabs, or a creative who digs functional flair, the Nothing Phone 3 is the most distinctive flagship under ₹70 K right now. Hardcore mobile photographers may still prefer the Pixel 9 Pro’s computational magic, and spec chasers might eye OnePlus’s 100 W charging. But for the majority of Indian users craving flagship horsepower, all-day stamina, and a phone that sparks conversation every time it lights up, this is Nothing short of compelling.
Agree, disagree, or have a wild Glyph Matrix idea? Drop your thoughts below—let’s talk tech!
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Detailed Review
Nothing Phone 3 Review
“What if your phone’s back could talk back?” With the Nothing Phone 3, Carl Pei’s fledgling brand finally answers that question—then adds an emphatic Indian accent by building the handset in Chennai and shipping it here first. Two years after the Phone 2, this device steps squarely into flagship territory while trying to keep the playful soul that won fans in the first place. I’ve spent a hectic week with the retail Indian unit (12 GB + 256 GB, Dhoni‑blue SIM in tow), and here’s the unfiltered verdict.
Design & Build — Transparency Gets Pixel‑Art
Nothing’s “industrial‑sci‑fi” language returns, but the old light strips have evolved into a 489‑LED “Glyph Matrix.” Think dot‑matrix Tamagotchi glued under Gorilla Glass—capable of contact‑specific icons, progress bars, even mini games, all triggered by a new Glyph Button on the rear. It’s as quirky as Mrwhosetheboss’s b‑roll jokes, yet executed with MKBHD‑grade polish: uniform 1.87 mm bezels, IP68 sealing, and an 18 % slimmer frame than the Phone 2. At 203 g it’s not feather‑light, but the balanced weight distribution and matte‑finished recycled aluminium rails make it feel premium—not gimmicky.
Display — 4 500‑Nit Firepower
Up front sits a 6.67‑inch flexible AMOLED that peaks at a scorching 4 500 nits HDR and drops to 30 Hz for static content to save power. Colours pop without cartoonish oversaturation, and 2 160 Hz PWM dimming keeps late‑night doom‑scrolling easy on the eyes. Whether you’re bingeing Kota Factory or scouting IPO forms, this is flagship‑class canvas.
Performance — Mid‑Year Dragon, Full‑Year Pace
Powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (3.21 GHz peak) and LPDDR5X RAM, the Phone 3 breezes through Asphalt 10, Adobe Lightroom edits, and a spot of on‑device AI summarisation in Nothing OS 3.5. Geekbench 6 returns 2 120 single‑core and 6 304 multi‑core scores—snug between the OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25. Thermal throttling? Minimal during a 20‑minute BGMI session thanks to a beefed‑up graphite vapour chamber.
Cameras — 200 MP of Pragmatism
Nothing trades megapixel wars for three 50 MP shooters: main (Sony LYT‑808), 3× periscope telephoto, and 114° ultrawide, paired with a 50 MP selfie cam. Daylight shots show crisp detail and that signature “less‑saturated” Nothing look. Low‑light performance is a leap over the Phone 2 thanks to f/1.6 glass and OIS, yet falls shy of the Pixel 9’s Shadow Tone wizardry. The telephoto resolves distant signboards cleanly till ~6× hybrid; beyond that, it’s Instagram‑okay. Video tops out at 4K 60 fps with solid stabilisation and that cute red “rec” LED on the back.
Battery & Charging — Silicon‑Carbon Gains
India’s load‑shedding woes meet their match with a 5 500 mAh silicon‑carbon pack. In my mixed‑use loop (YouTube, WhatsApp, 5 G browsing, camera), I logged 11 h 42 m screen‑on‑time, finishing a 17‑hour day with 16 % left. Nothing’s 65 W wired brick (sold separately—boo) refuels 0 → 100 % in 38 minutes; 15 W Qi wireless takes about 1 h 50 m. That’s competitive with the OnePlus 13 and ahead of the iPhone 16e.
Software — Nothing OS 3.5 & the Long‑Haul Promise
Running Android 15 out of the box, Nothing now publicly promises 5 major OS upgrades and 7 years of security patches, catapulting the Phone 3 into the same longevity league as Google and trailing Samsung by just two versions on operating‑system support. New flourishes include Essential Search (system‑wide semantic lookup) and Flip‑to‑Record that instantly pulls up Dolby Atmos audio capture. The UI stays uncluttered—no Facebook bloat lurking.
Price & Value — Flagship, But India‑First
Made in Chennai, the Phone 3 lands at ₹62 999 (12/256) and ₹72 999 (16/512)—not cheap, yet cheaper than most silicon‑carbon, periscope‑equipped rivals. Early‑bird buyers snag Nothing Ear (₹14 999) free, a year of extended warranty, and up to 24‑month no‑cost EMI offers. Local production trims import duties, so spare parts should stay affordable—key for Indian pocketbooks.
While the specs are undeniably top-notch, the Phone (2) found its sweet spot by offering a near-flagship experience at a sub-premium price. At this new price, the Phone (3) is no longer the value champion. It's now a direct alternative. For the price, you're getting a unique design, incredible performance, and a clean software experience. But the brand cachet is still being built, and that's a tough hurdle to overcome in India's status-conscious market.
Where to Buy
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