After using the Nothing Phone (3) daily for a month, I can confidently say this is one of the most balanced devices Nothing has ever made. It’s not just about specs on paper — it’s about the feel, the experience, and the small details that make it stand out.
Comfort & Build
The first thing that struck me was how comfortable it feels in hand. Even though it’s thicker than some flagships, it never feels cumbersome. The premium glass and aluminium build give it that solid, high-end feel you want from a flagship. Weight distribution is spot-on — it’s substantial without being fatiguing.
Display
The screen is simply gorgeous. Colors are rich, accurate, and natural, with deep contrast and great brightness levels for outdoor use. Honestly, I haven’t enjoyed looking at a phone screen this much in years — it’s easily my favorite display on any Nothing phone so far.
Glyph Matrix
The new Glyph Matrix is more than just a light show. With features like battery indicators, timers, a volume gauge, a fun “spin the bottle” game, and even a mini-level tool, it’s surprisingly practical. It does come at the cost of the original Glyph’s iconic look, but in terms of functionality, it’s a clear step up.
Cameras
The main camera delivers vibrant yet natural colors, with excellent white balance and sharpness. Night shots are true-to-life rather than artificially brightened. The periscope telephoto is great for both zoom and creative macro shots. Post-processing speed is the fastest I’ve ever seen on a Nothing phone, and RAW mode delivers strong results for those who want more control.
Full-resolution shots are crisp, but for most use cases, the binned images look just as good. Autofocus has been reliable with the latest updates — no issues there.
Performance & Heat
Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, the Phone (3) flies through daily tasks and handles gaming effortlessly. In very hot conditions (e.g., 37°C outdoors), I’ve noticed it can warm up, but it’s never been a recurring issue beyond extreme weather. Essential Space — which lets you capture, annotate, and summarize content with a single key — is faster here than on the Phone (3a Pro) or CMF Phone 2 Pro. Meeting summaries in PDF format have been a game-changer for my workflow.
Battery Life
With my usage, I’ve been consistently getting around 9 hours of screen-on time. Charging is quick, wireless charging is convenient, and it comfortably lasts a full day, even with heavy use.
Size Matters
After a month, I’ve realized this might be the perfect size for a Nothing flagship. The Phone (3a) Pro now feels oversized to me — the (3) hits a sweet spot between portability and screen real estate.
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🗣 Quick Q&A from the Community
@betancourt_dm – Comfort in hand & RAW/full-res photos?
It’s extremely comfortable despite the added thickness. RAW mode works great for editing flexibility, and full-res shots are sharp, but the 12MP binned images are already excellent for most scenarios.
@Lordington – Upgrade from Phone (1) to Phone (3)?
Absolutely. The Phone (1) is still capable, but the jump in camera quality, performance, and features makes the upgrade more than worth it.
@Rajkuma15786 – Glyph Matrix usefulness vs classic Glyph?
It’s much more useful, though I do miss some of the original’s aesthetic.
Camera placement? It’s intentional and i love it.
Pricing in India? Can’t speak to pricing decisions.
@sagus_helgy – Overheating?
Only in extreme heat outdoors. Normal use indoors is fine.
Unfocused images? Haven’t experienced focus issues on recent firmware.
Screen time? Around 9 hours with my setup.
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💬 What do you think of the Phone (3) so far? Have you tried Essential Space yet? For me, it’s become one of the standout features of the entire experience.
