Hi, I just wanted to share my similar feelings.
When I saw some initial “leaks”, I thought this was a joke and could only be fake. Then the phone got announced a week ago and I almost thought this was some sort of joke. Being an avid Phone (2) user, the launch left me so disappointed, I pretty much didn’t even bother any further with the long awaited successor.
It wasn’t until two days after when I really started looking at it, watching hands-on videos and reading opinions. Still wasn’t impressed, let alone sold. I will skip this one as my NP2 still works well.
Then came Friday it was just after 2pm CET and I placed my order for a white Nothing Phone (3).
What happened?
Like with some previous products, the design grew on me. When the (2a) originally got launched, I almost felt the same way as I did with Phone (3). When the (3a) got launched, especially the Pro model, I initially didn’t really feel it. For all these a-series devices it took a couple of days until I started to appreciate the design. The (3a) Pro in particular in my opinion is one of the best looking phones out there, I started liking it even more than my Phone (2). The more I’ve looked at the new Nothing Phone, the more I started to like it - and it still keeps growing on me. In fact I am already getting impatient for the delivery.
I still dislike the fact they fully dropped the Glyph LED and I hope they will bring them back and combine them with their new Matrix. However I am willing to give their idea a fair chance and the frank, I kind of like it already, I just wish it wouldn’t be so small.
Last but not least the price and of course the ongoing debate or rather disappointment, this isn’t a true flagship. I get and even can kind of understand the nay-sayers, however me personally, I am not a spec based customer. As long as the phone performs very good, I don’t care what’s under the hood. Same thing regarding the critics regarding the optical fingerprint scanner: The NP3’s biometrics are very reliable, fast and responsive - that’s what I care for, I never had any security worries, let alone accidents in the past regarding the optical scanners.
What matters for me is design and a good, functional, performant overall package. The Nothing Phone (3) delivers, the design might be very polarizing, but I like it, maybe even especially for that very reason. This even will be my first white phone, I thought if I am going with this, I will go all in and get the high contrast color. Since first reviews start pouring in, I have zero buyer’s remorse anymore: Excellent build quality, good display, full IP68 rating, good cameras which don’t need to hide from high-class competition, good performance and last but not least, finally, a much more competetive update policy, which makes this phone also interesting for people who like to keep their phones not only for two or three years, but way beyond that.
