Here is my review of Nothing Phone (3) 📱after using it for more than a month 🗓️ under the India Community Review Program.
If you have seen or heard about Labubu, you will understand what I mean. It is like that quirky little thing that some people find super cute 🥰 while others find downright strange👽. But for sure you cannot ignore it. This is exactly how the Nothing Phone (3) feels to me 💯.
Just like a Labubu, it is unique🆕, quirky✨, polarising😵, divisive🧐 and for sure a conversation starter🗣️. It is not for everyone. Phone (3) transparent back, asymmetrical camera placement and dot-matrix Glyph Matrix defines its character.
⚠️While unlike Labubu, Phone (3) is not just a collectible. It is actually a great daily driver providing you with an allround flagship smartphone experience📱. It offers a balance⚖️ of unique design✨ and real-life utility✅.
✏️Design: A Phone that stands out
- Unconventional looks are unique and polarising
- Looks much better in real life as compared to the render and photos
- Attracts attention & a conversation starter – Several people noticed camera arrangement and always ON clock on Glyph Matrix
- People always have a reaction when they see it. Just like a Labubu !!!
🏍️Performance: Smooth, that’s it
- Snappy performance; more than enough for everyday use and gaming
- Once I tried moving from Phone (2) to Phone (2a) but it felt like a performance downgrade. Phone (3) clearly feels almost flagship level even after coming from decent Phone (2). Didn’t ever notice that Phone is lacking any power
- 8sGen4 obviously not the top of line chipset; would have preferred 8 Elite given phone is marketed as “flagship"
📱Software: Minimal yet thoughtful & useful
- As always, Software remains the 2nd biggest highlight (after back design)
- Same smooth, clean & useful android implementation; Android 16 already in works
- Essential universal search useful, but needs some improvements in terms of response time & tutorials
⚪Glyph Matrix: Still confused about my views
- Quite unique idea; could have been bigger in size I think
- Still not sure if it is actually useful or just a playful gimmick
- Will await to see more useful official or community built Glyph toys; not used the existing toys much in day-to-day life, apart from the Always ON clock
- Hoping that the Glyph lights will stay on A series phones
📸Camera: When it said “flagship”, here it meant fully
- Another area where Phone (3) excels
- Flagship level camera with nice portrait shots; solid macro shots as well
- Periscope zoom redefines the photography; used such zoom capabilities for the first time & now I cannot go back to Phone (2)
- Improvement possible – Shutter speed
🔋Battery: One day battery, nothing more, nothing less
- Lasts full day with moderate to heavy use – surfing, social media, music on TWS, multiple calls & some video watching
- Fast 65W charging along with decent wireless charging an added plus
- No heating issues
💲Pricing: The cost of being unique
At INR 80,000 it is pricey for sure🤑. It is overpriced, definitely yes. It is priced higher in India vs globally, unfortunately yes🙂↕️. Just on specs, you will find better specs for this price any day. But one thing is for sure that this phone is not just about hardware, it is about the statement it makes. The price defines its exclusivity, making it rare and more of a collectible, may be much like a Labubu💯.
📈📉Beyond the trend📉📈
Also, I feel Labubu may be just a collectible trend, that excites for a while and then fades⚠️. While Phone (3) feels bigger than just a trend💯. With a bold design choice, smooth clutter free software experience, benchmarked performance, flagship level camera setup and a premium pricing, I feel this phone will be less of temporary fad but actually a defining milestone / inflexion point in the Nothing journey of building a premium technology brand✨✅.
