Nothing Phone (3) review

Design and Durability

The small rear Glyph Matrix replaces the broad light strips used on Phone (2). It can show selected notifications and small interactive tools, controlled through a button on the back. Whether that is useful depends on how often your phone sits with its screen facing down; it is a preference to consider, rather than a reason to expect less screen time automatically.

For existing Nothing owners, the change also removes a familiar part of the earlier design. I would look at the actual notification functions you use before treating the more elaborate display as an improvement. A good case should leave its display and controls accessible.

IP68 is a welcome step up from Phone (2)’s IP54 rating. Nothing documents controlled immersion testing, but also warns that resistance wears down and discourages beach or pool use. The front uses Gorilla Glass 7i. These protections help the case for everyday durability without making the phone immune to drops or water damage.

Display

The display gives the phone a large, sharp surface for reading and photography, with OLED contrast for films and dark interfaces. The resolution is higher than Phone (2)’s 2412 × 1080, while the diagonal is almost unchanged.

The refresh technology is a less straightforward generational change. Phone (2) used LTPO with a documented 1–120 Hz range; Notebookcheck identifies the Phone (3) panel as LTPS.³ You retain smooth high-refresh scrolling, but lose the predecessor’s ability to reach that very low refresh floor. That is an efficiency tradeoff, not evidence by itself that the whole phone has worse battery life.

Nothing’s 4,500-nit peak figure also needs context. Its own specifications list a separate 1,600-nit outdoor brightness rating. I would not interpret the much larger peak number as continuous brightness across the display while reading outside.

Performance and Storage

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is capable, but it is not the Snapdragon 8 Elite used in some competing phones. Android Authority found everyday operation smooth while its CPU tests put the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13 ahead.¹ Those findings make the Phone (3) easier to recommend for general use than for someone buying mainly for the highest benchmark performance.

The two storage choices also change physical memory: 256 GB comes with 12 GB RAM, and 512 GB comes with 16 GB. Both pairs are offered in Black and White. There is no memory-card slot, so the larger version is most useful if you keep substantial video, games or offline media on the phone.

Storage-backed RAM Boost should not be added to the physical RAM figure when comparing phones. I would choose the capacity that fits your files first, rather than assume the larger memory number will make routine tasks visibly faster.

Cameras

Adding a dedicated telephoto is the clearest photographic improvement over Phone (2). The 3× lens offers a useful alternative to simply cropping the main camera, particularly for portraits and subjects you cannot approach. It can also focus close for macro work. Android Authority was positive about the telephoto’s versatility and the main camera’s natural-looking results.¹

The four 50 MP sensors do not make every camera equally capable. Tom’s Guide found the ultrawide behind the Galaxy S25 Ultra for detail, while liking the Phone (3)’s telephoto close-ups.² The main camera and telephoto are the stronger reasons to consider this system than the uniform megapixel count.

At very high zoom settings, Nothing can use generative processing to add detail. Its own description says that this engages beyond 30× and can be disabled. I would keep that distinction in mind for signs, documents or other subjects where invented detail would change the meaning of the photograph. The 3× optical lens and a 60× processed result are different tools.

Front and rear video can reach 4K at 60 fps. That is useful for motion and leaves more editing flexibility, but it also makes storage selection more consequential if you record often.

Battery and Charging

The US model has a 5,150 mAh battery. The larger 5,500 mAh figure seen in some descriptions belongs to the Indian version. Compared with Phone (2)’s 4,700 mAh specification, capacity has increased, while the wired charging ceiling rises from 45 W to 65 W.

Android Authority found wired charging effective with its compatible charger, but its battery results varied by task.¹ I would see quick replenishment as a clearer advantage than assume this phone will lead every competitor for endurance. Screen brightness, camera use and cellular reception still matter.

Nothing recommends PPS charging. The box includes a USB-C cable, a case and a pre-applied screen protector, but no wall adapter. A charger must support the appropriate power profile; its headline wattage alone is not enough to guarantee the phone’s maximum rate.

Wireless charging is convenient for regular desk or bedside use. Reverse wireless charging can help top up a compatible accessory, drawing from the phone’s own battery. Neither function is new relative to Phone (2), whose wireless and reverse-wireless limits were already 15 W and 5 W.

Connectivity

US network compatibility deserves a specific check. Nothing’s current carrier sheet lists 5G and LTE support for AT&T and T-Mobile with some missing bands, and says AT&T Wi-Fi calling is unavailable. For Verizon, it describes limited compatibility and requires customer-support involvement to register the IMEI before activation.⁴ I would confirm those requirements with the intended carrier before relying on the phone for a new line.

An eSIM can replace the second physical SIM; the combination does not provide three simultaneously active lines. NFC is present, and Wi-Fi 7 can take advantage of a compatible home network.

The wired connection is less advanced. Notebookcheck confirmed USB 2.0 transfer speeds.³ That matters if you regularly copy large videos to a computer, even though charging can be fast through the same USB-C socket. There is no 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Software and Support

Nothing’s interface is a central part of the appeal. Its visual customization and Essential tools offer ways to organize captures, notes and reminders, while the dedicated Essential Key gives those functions a physical shortcut. I would judge these tools by whether they help with tasks you already do, and check generated summaries against the original material when accuracy matters.

The phone launched with Android 15. Nothing’s current OS 5.0 page describes a phased Android 17 rollout for Phone (3), beginning in October 2026; arrival varies by region and carrier. Features that roll out separately or remain in beta should not be assumed available on every phone immediately.

The support promise is five years of Android updates and seven years of security patches from first availability on nothing.tech. It does not restart when you buy an older unit. That is a substantial remaining commitment for a 2025 model, though it is different from a promise of seven years of major Android updates.

The verified US Amazon listings state a one-year manufacturer warranty. That purchase coverage is separate from the software promise; the two-year European warranty described in some overseas reviews should not be assumed for a US purchase.

Alternatives

The Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13 are worth a current-price comparison if processor performance is the priority: both led the Phone (3) in Android Authority’s CPU tests.¹ I would weigh that performance advantage against the actual storage configuration being offered, rather than compare only starting prices.

For a Phone (2) owner, the telephoto camera, stronger protection rating and higher wired charging limit are concrete reasons to consider upgrading. The loss of LTPO and the replacement of the old Glyph strips make this a change of direction as well. Nothing now lists Phone (2) as finished with major OS upgrades, which adds another reason to assess its remaining useful life without confusing that announcement with an immediate end to security patches.

Verdict

The Phone (3) is most convincing when its design, software and telephoto camera all matter to you. I would choose it at a competitive price for that combination, with the carrier check completed first. Buyers who mainly want the fastest processor or high-speed wired file transfers have clearer reasons to shop elsewhere.