Lost My Nothing Phone (3) Within a Month 💔

Ankit

I pre-ordered the Nothing Phone (3) despite the mixed reviews because I loved my experience with the Phone (1). I usually upgrade every two years, but this time I waited especially for the (3). Its design and performance really impressed me, even though I faced some minor network issues. I was hopeful they’d be fixed with Nothing OS 4, and I even applied for the closed beta (though didn’t get in).

Sadly, I never got the chance to enjoy it fully. Just last week, while walking near my office and reading something on the screen, a bike rider snatched it out of my hands. I chased after him and filed a police complaint, but honestly, I don’t expect to get it back.

This was the most expensive phone I’ve ever owned. Over time I’ve bought several Nothing products— Ear (1), Phone (1), chargers, CMF Watch Pro, Ear (2024)— and I really love the ecosystem. That’s why losing the Phone (3) so soon, barely a month after purchase, hurts even more. I can’t afford to buy it again, so my plans to experience it have sadly come to an end.

It’s heartbreaking to wait so long for a product and then lose it before truly using it. I hope others are able to enjoy their Phone (3) as much as I was looking forward to.

Ant-e-so-shial

Ankit have you filed a police complaint?

Coldpaw

Ankit That’s sad to hear, I already read this seems to be a trending scheme in more and more big cities, with thieves snatching phones via fast e-bikes or scooters. I guess the question is futile, but have you tried the “find my mobile”-feature in order trying to locate your phone?

logithan_t

Ankit phone

So sad hearing it seriously

CMF1_hacker

London be like that bruv

Ankit

Ant-e-so-shial Yes, i have. I have also registered my IMEI number on CEIR website for blocking and tracking.

Ankit

Coldpaw Yes, I have, however the last location showing is near the location it was stolen, after which it has been powered off.

NaveenSingh_ipxaAMfFeU

Did you get the bikes licence plate number?

Ankit

NaveenSingh_ipxaAMfFeU No, wasn’t able to.

Dan_ie

I am so sorry this happened to you, and so many other people!

I’d just like to clarify, you didn’t loose your phone, it was stolen from you, snatched off your hands! It’s not your fault. Yes, there’s ways of preventing this things form happening, but it’s sad that a person can’t walk freely on the streets while reading or sending a message.

For future reference and for the benefit of others, there’s a couple of features in the OS that can help when something like this happens.

Settings -> Security and privacy -> More security and privacy -> Power off verify: when the device is locked password is needed to turn it off
Settings -> Security and privacy -> Device unlock -> Theft protection: there’s a few options in here, like “Theft detection lock” which locks the phone when it detects it was snatched off your hand.
Settings -> Lock screen -> Quick settings: disable this so they can’t swiped down on the lock screen to turn off wifi and mobile date.

I know these things won’t prevent the theft, but they might improve the chances of tracking it or simply making it harder for the perpetrators.

Ankit

Dan_ie Thanks for your advices.

krizxjr

If you had enabled the power off verify feature, you could have tracked the phone.

Ant-e-so-shial

krizxjr Nothing phones only have verify to power off when the screen is locked.

saurabh_2105

Same bro, I lost my phone 1 within a month 🥲, also got a notif from CEIR that my phone turned on but police didn’t did anything.

krizxjr

Ant-e-so-shial

Yeah, that’s the point ? 😀

Ant-e-so-shial

krizxjr so when we are using our mobile phone and a guy on bike snatches it from our hands, the will still be unlocked, which let’s the theif switch off our phone without any need to verify…🙂

krizxjr

Ant-e-so-shial

Probability might be low they will be switching the phone off on the run.

My guy, we should not argue about this, just hope the phone turns off, so we don’t have to grieve about turning this particular settings off which could have helped us

georgios1

That is sad to hear. It appears to be becoming increasingly common in the UK. I wish you could find it; unfortunately, there are many more important crimes that the police chase every day, so I would not expect them to spend any effort on such cases.

There is the “Theft Detection Lock” feature under the “Security and privacy” -> “Device unlock” menu, but I have never tried it to see if it works. I will give it a go tomorrow by “stealing” my own phone

Ant-e-so-shial

krizxjr it’s not about argument I was just presenting an edge case. As a developer we should consider this kind of edge cases while developing a feature.

And the thieves do switch the phone OFF on the go, asap. It’s not that hard understand and visualise how they do that.