Nothing Phone (3): A Bold Step or a Misstep?

A Bold Move in the Smartphone Market

Nothing, a startup renowned for its distinctive phone designs, has unveiled the Phone (3), priced at $799. This device is poised to take on industry giants like Samsung and Apple. The company's emphasis has always been on design and software, setting its phones apart with transparent elements and customizable features.

Design and Features

The Phone (3) retains the transparent design but introduces a new circular second screen called the Glyph Matrix. This screen displays basic information such as time and battery level. It also includes fun mini-apps like spin the bottle and rock, paper, and scissors. However, the practicality of this second screen is questionable. It doesn't address the issue of having to turn the phone to read messages. While it's visually appealing, it's not yet highly functional.

Performance and Display

The phone is equipped with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, which is a step below the top-tier processors found in other flagship phones. It features a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with vibrant colors but lacks HDR support for Netflix. The camera setup includes three 50-megapixel cameras, though the color accuracy needs improvement to rival other flagship phones.

AI Features

Nothing has incorporated AI features like Essential Search, which utilizes Google's Gemini models to search the web. There's also a meeting note transcriber that summarizes key points. However, these features are not unique and are similar to what other phone manufacturers offer.

Availability and Pricing

The Phone (3) is available through Nothing's website, Amazon, and Best Buy in the U.S. and Canada. Priced at $799, it competes with the Samsung Galaxy S25, Google Pixel 9, and the iPhone 16. In India, the phone starts at ₹79,999, which is higher than the iPhone 16 and the Galaxy 25. Initial reactions suggest that customers find the price steep, which could impact sales.

Conclusion

Nothing aims to challenge the big players in the phone market. However, the Phone (3) is more of a cheaper alternative rather than a direct competitor. The phone boasts some interesting features but needs to improve in areas like camera quality and practicality to truly stand out.