Nothing Phone (3) Review: The Most Interesting Phone of 2025?

The Nothing Phone (3) is the latest flagship from Nothing, arriving nearly two years after the Phone (2). It brings a fresh and unusual design, powerful specs, and some unique features that set it apart in a crowded smartphone market.

Design and Display

The back of the Phone (3) stands out with a polarizing three-column grid layout and an off-centered periscope zoom camera. This look is quite different from previous Nothing phones and definitely catches the eye. 

The front features a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with slimmer bezels than before, offering a bright display that can reach up to 4,500 nits peak brightness and supports an adaptive refresh rate from 30 to 120 Hz.

The phone is a bit thicker and heavier than expected, mainly due to its large 5,150 mAh silicon carbon battery, which should help with endurance.

Glyph Matrix and Unique Features

A major new addition is the Glyph Matrix—a monochrome display made of 489 LEDs on the back. It goes beyond simple notifications, allowing users to assign custom images, animations, and app-specific messages. It even includes games like Spin the Bottle and Rock Paper Scissors. A dedicated Glyph Button lets users scroll through different modes with tactile feedback1.

Nothing is also releasing a developer SDK to encourage creative new uses for the Glyph Matrix, hinting at more innovative features to come1.

Cameras and Performance

The Phone (3) upgrades its camera system to four 50MP sensors, including a main 1/1.3″ sensor with optical image stabilization, a 3x periscope zoom lens, and a 114° ultrawide lens. The front camera is also 50MP, promising sharp selfies.

Under the hood, it runs on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, paired with Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15. The software is smooth and minimalistic, with an upcoming update to Nothing OS 4 planned later this quarter.

Build and Durability

The frame is made from aluminum, with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the back and Gorilla Glass 7i on the front. Notably, the Phone (3) is the first Nothing phone to feature IP68 water and dust resistance, a welcome upgrade for durability.

Verdict

The Nothing Phone (3) is a bold step forward for the brand, combining flagship-level specs with a distinctive design and playful features like the Glyph Matrix. While its heavier build might divide opinions, it offers strong performance, great cameras, and a fresh user experience that could make it one of the most interesting phones of 2025.