Nothing presents the Phone (3), its first true flagship

Until now, the London-based firm Nothing had been dedicated to launching mid-range smartphones, although, yes, they were totally different from any other mobile phone on the market. Transparent designs, sets of lights on the back to give notifications and alerts... An unmistakable and original 'Nothing' aesthetic that has been gaining the favor of an increasing number of consumers year after year, until exceeding, since its founding in 2020, seven million devices sold (between mobile phones and headphones). A success to which the firm has responded with terminals that are always different in terms of design and functionality, but also increasingly better equipped in terms of processors, cameras, batteries and hardware in general. Without going any further, the Phone (2) from two years ago had nothing to do in terms of features with the Phone (1) from the previous year.

Curiously, and although it was expected, Nothing did not launch its new and long-awaited Phone (3) last year. Instead, the firm reinforced its offer last March with a Phone (3a) that, as an appetizer, already showed promise, with great improvements in the photography section. To which a new economic line was added, represented by the CMF Phone 1, where CMF defines the three strong points of the series: Color, Material and Finish. Carl Pei himself, CEO of Nothing, confirmed at that time that they were not yet ready for the new Phone (3), and that they had decided to take more time to integrate artificial intelligence capabilities and offer the best possible user experience in their new flagship.

Now, the time has come, and Nothing has just launched its new Phone (3), a terminal that the brand itself defines as its first 'true flagship'. A smartphone that not only represents an evolution of the previous model, but a true revolution in the way we interact with our mobile phones.

Nothing about the Phone (3) is fortuitous; every curve, every transparency, and every light is thoughtful and fulfills a specific mission. Its commitment to a transparent aesthetic remains, of course, although it must be said that the Glyph interface reaches a new dimension in this new model. In terms of design, the Phone (3) is a bold fusion of aggressive geometry and refined modules, inspired, according to the brand, by modern architecture. The arrangement of its three columns at the rear seeks visual harmony, while the edges, now more rounded, promise improved ergonomics.

The front bezels have been slimmed down to 1.87mm, 18% thinner than the previous Phone (2), making its display even more immersive. But the real star of the show isn't on the front, but on the back. There, in the top right corner, is the Glyph Matrix, a small, circular, monochrome display made up of 489 micro-LEDs that, far from being a mere aesthetic whim, has been designed to be both intelligent and expressive. In fact, it's capable of even more than the old Glyph interface it replaces, reinforcing Nothing's classic goal of reducing dependence on the main screen. The mini display is dynamic, forming abstract symbols and graphics with its micro LEDs, which demonstrate different functions and uses.

In this way, notifications from each app, contact alerts, and real-time progress indicators take on a new life. In addition, Glyph Toys are introduced, a playful extension of the Glyph Matrix that adds quick tools and mini-games such as a mirror, digital clock, stopwatch, and battery indicator. Ideas have even been co-created with the user community, giving rise to mini-apps such as 'Magic 8 Ball' and 'Leveler,' accessible from the new Glyph button, also located on the back and which, in addition to adding interaction, allows you to change the matrices and widgets displayed in the circle.

As if that weren't enough, the Glyph Matrix also serves as a flashlight, or to display the volume... It also has a small red light (which can be deactivated) that, as a nod to old-fashioned video cameras, flashes when recording images or voices. In short, the back of the new Phone (3) opens the door to a completely new user experience. A new feature will soon allow you to press and hold the Glyph button to see the name or number of a contact during a call.

These exclusive features are complemented by the use of premium materials and an improved IP68 rating (a certification that guarantees dust resistance and allows the phone to be submerged to a depth of 1.5 meters for up to half an hour). This is a significant improvement over the IP64 rating of the Phone (3a) Series.

At the heart of the Phone (3) beats the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. This chip, manufactured with 4nm technology, not only guarantees unprecedented performance, but is a clear indication of Nothing's ambition to compete in the league of the big boys. It consists of an eight-core CPU, with speeds of up to 3.2 GHz and a Qualcomm Adreno 825 graphics processor that guarantees always fluid and lag-free images. The Neural Processing Unit (NPU), meanwhile, gives the terminal AI capabilities that are unprecedented in the brand. The numbers speak for themselves: 36% more CPU power, 88% graphics improvement, 60% faster AI tasks and 125% faster image recognition compared to the previous Phone (2).

The move to AI on the Phone (3) isn’t just an afterthought, it’s a thoughtful and natural integration, as opposed to what Carl Pei describes as the “rushed addition” of AI in the industry. Based on Android 15 (with guaranteed updates to Android 16 and OS 4.0 in Q3 2025, plus 5 years of Android updates and 7 years of security patches), Nothing OS 3.5 aims for a fast, fluid experience with a focus on utility and a unique design.

Key AI-powered features include Essential Search, a universal search engine accessed by simply swiping up from the home screen. It can find contacts, photos, files, and even provide quick answers about the weather or specific events. Flip to Record, meanwhile, lets you transcribe and summarize meetings by simply holding down the Essential Key, a new physical button on the right side, and flipping the phone face down.

All of this within a new environment, Essential Space, which Nothing describes as a 'second memory', a private space for storing ideas, notes and content organized by AI, and which, according to the firm, is already used weekly by one in five users of the previous Phone (3a), which already included this feature. Access to Essential Space is carried out through the aforementioned Essential Key button. If we press it once, the terminal captures the screen or sends a photo from the camera application directly to Essential Space. A long press and a voice memo will be recorded, ready to be transcribed on the device. A double press, from anywhere, takes us directly to Essential Space.

The new Phone (3) does not skimp on the photographic section either, and pending an in-depth analysis of the terminal, which we will leave for the coming weeks, the firm ensures that its new camera system is capable of achieving sharp close-ups with x6 optical zoom without any loss, incredible photographs in low light thanks to a 1 / 1.3 "main sensor, and recording video in 4K quality at 60 fps with great sharpness and total optical stabilization in all lenses. In addition, it includes preset settings developed with professional photographers to achieve a 'cinematic' finish instantly.

For the first time at Nothing, we're looking at a triple rear camera and a front camera, all equipped with 50-megapixel sensors. We're talking about a 24mm main sensor, accompanied by a 114-degree wide-angle lens and a periscopic telephoto lens with a 6x optical zoom. This is capable, as we've said, of taking lossless photos and increases to 60x in digital zoom, but at the same time, thanks to the seven layers of the lens, it's also capable of acting as a macro lens.

The Phone (3) display is Nothing’s brightest and sharpest to date: a 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED panel, with a resolution of 1,260 x 2,800 pixels and a density of 460 pixels per inch. The screen reaches a brightness of up to 4,500 nits, ensuring visibility in any lighting conditions. The refresh rate is adaptive, from 30 to 120 Hz, and the 1000 Hz touch response promises a smooth, jump-free experience when browsing or swiping the screen. The screen ratio is 92.89%, a more than respectable figure and on par with the competition.

In terms of autonomy, the Phone (3) incorporates a 5,150 mAh battery with silicon-carbon technology, the largest of the firm to date, which according to the brand is capable of exceeding two days of use. Once again, we will have to test it. The 65W fast wired charging allows a full charge in just 54 minutes, and it is compatible with 15W wireless charging. While the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro already had 5000 mAh batteries and 50W fast charging, the Phone (3) improves those capacities. The battery's resistance over time is also a point to take into account. Nothing, in fact, ensures that it maintains more than 90% of its maximum capacity after 1,200 charge cycles, which is equivalent to about 3 years and 4 months of daily use.

The firm, of course, hasn't forgotten its commitment to sustainability. The Phone (3) boasts a carbon footprint of 51.3 kg CO2e, the lowest of any Nothing phone. This is achieved through the use of 100% recycled aluminum in the midframe, 100% recycled tin in six circuit boards, over 85% recycled steel in several parts, and over 60% sustainably sourced plastic parts. The packaging is 100% plastic-free and uses 60% recycled fiber, in addition to reducing emissions through the use of renewable energy in manufacturing.

The new Nothing Phone (3) will be available for pre-order from July 4th on the Nothing website and will go on official sale on July 15th. The device will be available in two configurations: 12GB RAM + 256GB storage for €799; and 16GB RAM + 512GB storage for €899.

A price, of course, that is high, and one that places the firm for the first time in an extraordinarily competitive segment dominated by true technology heavyweights. It remains to be seen whether the originality of the design and the new user experiences of the Phone (3) are enough, or not, to encourage consumers to invest in this device.