My Experience with the Nothing Phone (3) – As a Consumer, Not a Reviewer
I’ve been using the Nothing Phone (3) as my primary device for a while now, and I thought I’d share my experience — purely as a consumer, not as a tech reviewer.
Over the years, I’ve used a lot of phones — from the old keypad era to BlackBerry, to the rise of touchscreen phones. I’ve spent time with iPhones, Samsungs, Google phones, and many others. I’ve never been a reviewer, but I’ve always been curious about brands that try to do something different.
That curiosity grew when Carl Pei left OnePlus and announced Nothing. From their very first product, I’ve followed them closely. I bought their first earbuds, then the Nothing Phone (1), used it for a year, upgraded to the Phone (2) and stuck with it for two years. Along the way, I even tried their CMF phone lineup (3A and 3A Pro). So, when the Nothing Phone (3) launched as their “first true flagship,” I knew I had to try it.
Now, when this phone came out, there was a lot of negativity online. Many reviewers and friends told me not to go for it — some said it was overpriced, some said the processor wasn’t flagship-level, others told me to get the Galaxy S25 or the iPhone 16 for the same money. Even I had second thoughts after buying it. “Did I make a mistake?” I wondered.
But here’s what happened: week by week, those doubts faded. I started to really enjoy using this phone.
For me, a phone is never about a single spec — not just the processor, or the camera, or the display. It’s about how all the components come together to give you a seamless experience. And that’s where the Nothing Phone (3) shines.
Every box I needed ticked got ticked — whether it was work, office tasks, social media, watching videos, or just day-to-day usage. It might not have the absolute best of everything, but the overall experience feels complete, fluid, and reliable. That matters more to me than chasing benchmarks or spec sheets.
Yes, it’s true that the price is higher compared to what people expect from the specs on paper. But we also need to understand that a young company like Nothing doesn’t have the same production scale as Apple or Samsung. Their component costs are naturally higher. With time, as they grow, I believe they’ll reach that scale and be able to deliver even more competitive pricing.
At the end of the day, I’m glad I didn’t listen to the reviewers. This phone works beautifully for me, and I’d encourage anyone curious to try it themselves — go to a showroom, or borrow a friend’s, and see how it feels in your hand before making a judgment.
Nothing is one of the few companies still trying to make tech fun, different, and a little risky. And I think that’s worth supporting.
So yeah — thank you, Nothing. The Phone (3) has truly delivered for me.
“Not for everyone, perfect for someone.” – Carl Pei
Maybe I am that someone.
@Carl @Akis @AdamBates
