Nothing.
Just so you know, I have autism and dyslexia, so it can be hard for me to get my thoughts out clearly without spending 3 hours checking grammar and structure. AI helps me express my thoughts more clearly, but these are still my thoughts.
I’m making this post because I don’t think Nothing fully understands what its own community actually values with this latest phone.
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When I think of Nothing, I think of trust: trust that you’ll give us the best experience possible for the price while delivering a design we can’t get anywhere else.
I’m not here to argue whether the Phone (3) is better or worse than the 3a Pro or Phone (2). But as someone who came from OnePlus — my OnePlus 7T Pro is still my favourite phone after 6 years — I know what it feels like when a brand truly gets it. Back then, I was happy to give up wireless charging or a top camera system if everything else was best-in-class. With OnePlus, it often was.
And Carl, you know this. You built OnePlus, and you know while most people in an Apple or Samsung store don’t care about specs, it’s different for Nothing and OnePlus buyers. We check chipsets, sensors, update policies, and real-life camera performance because that’s who we are. Specs might not matter to the “average consumer,” but your community isn’t average. We care.
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I get what you’re trying to do with the Phone (3): refined design, Matrix LED, your vision of a “dream phone.” But let’s be real: the bar for value has changed. Prices have dropped while specs have gone up. A OnePlus 13 with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage can be found for £750, and objectively, it outperforms the Phone (3) in power, cameras, and long-term support.
That’s not a Nothing problem, that’s market reality.
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The Phone (3) itself isn’t bad – it’s just bad for the price. Telling the community we’re “wrong” for saying this isn’t it. We don’t hate the design. It’s clean, unique, and the Matrix system is genuinely interesting.
But here’s what I see: you’re acting like two different companies.
On one side, there’s the Nothing that’s honest and transparent, telling us how much it costs to build a phone and launching Community Editions.
On the other, there’s a Nothing that suddenly feels like Apple, acting like you’re always right and the community is wrong when we question a product or price.
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t go from “we’re building a community phone” to “take it or leave it.” From the outside, it just looks like ego.
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You’re not Apple, Samsung, or Google (yet), and you’re not in a place to demand premium pricing without flagship specs. You’re Nothing, and that’s why people want to support you. But we need a device that’s genuinely the best for its price.
Your UI and cameras have improved, and credit where it’s due. But let’s also be real: there are still camera issues on the Phone (2) and 3a people keep reporting. If prices are going up, you need to fix these first so people trust they’re getting a reliable device, even if it doesn’t have top specs.
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Design isn’t the problem. The price-to-spec ratio is.
It’s like calling a sports car a supercar based only on looks while ignoring what’s under the hood. Your community notices what’s inside their phones, even if “most people” don’t.
If the Phone (3) launched at £700, it would have been an easy recommendation. I truly believe that. Instead, it feels like you’re trying to justify a high price without flagship specs, hoping design alone will carry it.
I also think if the Phone (3) had been released without the “flagship” label, it might have landed better with the community. Letting the phone speak for itself, without that extra expectation, could have made people see it for what it is rather than comparing it to flagship standards right away.
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Design does matter.
That’s one reason I love Nothing. But for a phone you’ll keep for 2–6 years, specs are even more important. Design can’t make up for weak specs over time, especially for your community.
Accessories are different. Nothing’s Ear and Ear (a) are incredible for their price. They’re well-designed, sound great, and don’t change much year to year, so I’d happily pay more for them. That’s where the balance between design and performance feels right.
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Honestly, with all these opinions flying around, this is exactly why I love Nothing. We might not all agree, but the fact that this community exists, where we can openly share and learn from each other, is rare and worth appreciating.
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At the end of the day, I want Nothing to win. I want people to have real choices beyond Apple and Samsung. I want Nothing to grow into a big name while staying true to what makes it different.
This post isn’t hate. I’m just a fan who genuinely wants to see Nothing succeed, and I believe conversations like this help make that happen.
Thanks for reading. ❤️
Over time, my opinion has shifted, and I’ve realised there were a lot of questions I didn’t fully think through before.
For example, I used to be really against the Phone (3)’s price, but I’ve been asking myself: if the Phone (3) had launched at £850 but with upgraded flagship specs, would that have been a good phone? In my opinion, yes—I think I would have seen that as a fair, exciting product, especially if the design, software, and long-term experience matched the price.
The second question I keep coming back to is: how much does design actually matter when pricing a phone? We talk a lot about specs and software, but design is a big part of Nothing’s identity. I’m curious, how much extra are people truly willing to pay for a unique design that feels different from everything else?
These are the questions I’m asking myself now. I don’t have all the answers, but I think it’s good for us as a community to think about them openly, rather than just saying “too expensive” or “specs matter more.” Because for some people, design is worth paying more for, and for others, it isn’t—and that’s okay.
