From my point of view, Nothing has done something truly rare in tech: they’ve built a brand that stands out with a bold, iconic design language. Over the last 3 years, their designs have been so unique that they became instantly recognizable.
But now, other brands have noticed — and they’re catching up fast. Whether they’re copying or just competing, they’re definitely stepping into that design space with transparent backs, funky lights, and new camera setups.
Today, brands like POCO, Realme, and iQOO aren’t sitting still. They keep experimenting with new looks and designs in every launch, while also packing in crazy-powerful chipsets and feature lists longer than your grocery bill (even if half of them are “just for the spec sheet” 😉).
For example:
POCO F7 — semi-transparent design.
iQOO 13 — dynamic lights around the camera module.
Realme 12 Pro+ — Trying new transparent designs for their upcoming launch.
These brands might not have Nothing’s unique design language, excellent software experience, or that special “Nothing” vibe — but they’re competing hard, and doing it at aggressive price points.
💰 And let’s be real — most consumers are always looking for good value for money. When other brands offer something similar at much lower prices, many consumers will compromise on something. Some won’t compromise on brand, while others won’t compromise on price — and that’s perfectly normal!
Now, Nothing as a company — and we as fans — have always seen it as the brand that nails it: premium feel, minimalistic but expressive design, balanced performance, and that iconic Glyph interface — all at prices that make sense.
Until now.
With Phone (3), it feels like the magic formula slipped a bit. The new glyph matrix feels less iconic, the overall design feels half-cooked, and most importantly… the price tag? Ouch. 😬
In India, at this price point of ₹80K, Phone (3) isn’t really in the competition — it’s just out of the league.
I’m not just talking about specs for the sake of it — it’s all about whether the price truly matches what users get in real-world value.
Honestly, after seeing Phone (3), I feel like we didn’t really need this phone in this form. Instead, Nothing could have made a “Phone 3a Pro” and called that “Phone 3” — using the same Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, paired with Phone 3’s upgraded cameras, and then proudly called it their first true flagship.
If they had launched that at ₹40K–₹45K, it would have been an instant market-breaking deal — a real flagship killer with that special Nothing twist. 💥
Right now, Phone (3) feels like a half-step. But a Phone 3a Pro at that price? That would’ve been game over for the competition. 🔥
Of course, for some fans, this new design might still feel fresh and exciting — and that’s totally fine! This is just my take as someone who genuinely loves Nothing and wants to see it reach its full potential.
In short: I went from “Take my money!” 💸 to “Maybe I’ll wait for Phone (4).” 🤷♂️
In the end, it’s not about hating — it’s about hoping Nothing keeps that magic alive, just at the right price. ✨
