# I still need a new phone and I’m losing hope - Nothing Phone (3)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2fqp_S43bo
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/C2fqp_S43bo
Generated: 2025-07-16T20:25:22.257+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The Nothing Phone (3) falls short of being a true flagship, featuring a last-generation Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 chip that compromises battery life compared to modern flagships. Despite its unique transparent design, all 50MP cameras, and new dot LED Glyph interface, the phone's performance and some software quirks prevent it from competing at the top tier, though it offers IP68 water resistance and fast charging at a higher price point than its predecessor.

**Key Points:**
- The Nothing Phone (3) is not a 'true flagship' as initially hyped, utilizing a last-generation Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor instead of the latest chip.
- Battery life is a significant drawback, with the Phone (3) lasting only 14 hours and 2 minutes in video playback tests, considerably less than competitors like the Samsung S25 Edge's 21 hours and 7 minutes.
- All four cameras (telephoto, wide, ultra-wide, and selfie) feature 50MP sensors, offering high resolution across the board, though the rear camera's lens flare is an issue.
- The phone features a new dot LED Glyph interface, replacing the full Glyph of the Phone (2), which Linus finds more practical for notifications and includes interactive 'Glyph Toys.'
- The display offers a high resolution (1260x2800) with up to 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and an impressive 4500 nits peak HDR brightness.
- The Nothing Phone (3) is IP68 water and dust resistant, supports 15W wireless charging, 5W reverse wireless charging, and includes WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
- The price has increased by $100 over the Nothing Phone (2), now starting at $799 for the base model, making its value proposition questionable given its 'almost flagship' status.

![Screenshot at 0:22: Man holding the white Nothing Phone (3) with its transparent back design visible, next to its open box.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-00-22.png)

**Context:** Linus Sebastian, a tech reviewer, discusses the newly released Nothing Phone (3). He expresses his long-standing desire to fully embrace Nothing's unique phone designs but has been consistently let down by previous models due to various 'deal-breakers.' This video serves as his first impressions and a detailed review of the Nothing Phone (3), focusing on whether it finally delivers on the promise of a 'true flagship' experience.

## Detailed Analysis

The Nothing Phone (3) was highly anticipated as Nothing's first true flagship, but it ultimately disappoints by not delivering a top-tier experience. While its transparent design, clean Nothing OS, and unique features like the new dot LED Glyph interface are appealing, the phone uses a last-generation Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor. This choice significantly impacts battery life, with the Phone (3) achieving only 14 hours and 2 minutes in tested video playback, far less than the Samsung S25 Edge's 21 hours and 7 minutes, despite having a large silicon carbide battery. All four cameras (telephoto, wide, ultra-wide, and selfie) boast 50MP sensors, and the display offers a 1260x2800 resolution with up to 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and an impressive 4500 nits peak HDR brightness (though real-world HDR is closer to 1535 nits). Connectivity is strong with Bluetooth 6 and WiFi 7. The phone is heavy at 218g and features Gorilla Glass 7i. The new dot LED Glyph interface replaces the Phone (2)'s full Glyph, offering simpler notifications and interactive 'Glyph Toys' like a digital clock and Magic 8 Ball, which Linus finds more useful than the previous iteration. Wired charging is fast at 57 minutes, and it includes 15W wireless charging with 5W reverse wireless charging. The Phone (3) is also Nothing's first device with IP68 water and dust resistance. However, the price has increased by $100 over the Nothing Phone (2), now starting at $799 for the 12GB+256GB model and $899 for the 16GB+512GB model, making its 'almost flagship' status a harder sell against true current-gen flagships.

### Initial Impressions & Design

- Reviewer expresses desire to love Nothing phones due to cool transparent design and clean OS
- Nothing Phone (3) features a transparent back, revealing internal components, but the camera placement is noted as controversial
- The Phone (3) includes a clear plastic case in the box, which highlights the transparent design.

### Hardware Specifications

- The phone features a USB 3 Type-C port and a dual SIM tray, but no expandable storage
- It includes a noise-canceling microphone and an extra speaker at the top for potentially better stereo sound
- The Phone (3) is notably heavy at 218g, partly due to its silicon carbide battery.

### Performance & Battery Life

- The Nothing Phone (3) uses a last-generation Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor, which is a significant step down in performance and efficiency compared to the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- Battery endurance tests show the Phone (3) lasting 14 hours and 2 minutes, considerably less than the Samsung S25 Edge's 21 hours and 7 minutes
- Wired charging is quick, completing in 57 minutes, and it supports 15W wireless charging with 5W reverse wireless charging.

### Display & Connectivity

- The display boasts a 1260x2800 resolution with 460ppi and up to 120Hz dynamic refresh rate
- Peak HDR brightness reaches 4500 nits in specific test files, though real-world HDR is around 1535 nits and SDR is 770 nits
- The Phone (3) is the first Nothing phone with IP68 water and dust resistance, and it features advanced connectivity with Bluetooth 6 and WiFi 7.

### Camera System

- All four cameras (3x telephoto, wide, ultra-wide, and selfie) are 50MP, offering high resolution across the board
- The selfie camera provides sharp images without excessive beauty filters
- The rear camera struggles with light rejection and lens flare, suggesting potential software fixes are needed.

### Nothing OS & Glyph Interface

- The Phone (3) replaces the full Glyph interface of its predecessor with a smaller dot LED display, which Linus finds more useful for simple notifications and interactive 'Glyph Toys'
- Glyph Toys include a digital clock, spin the bottle, battery indicator, stopwatch, and Magic 8 Ball, though only two can be active at a time
- The Essential button allows for quick voice notes, which can be transcribed and summarized by AI, though its overall utility is questioned.

### Pricing & Value

- The Nothing Phone (3) is priced at $799 for 12GB+256GB and $899 for 16GB+512GB, a $100 increase over the Nothing Phone (2)
- While the reviewer believes it's worth the extra $100 compared to the Phone (2), its value against other current-gen flagships with superior processors is debatable.

![Screenshot at 0:22: Man holding the white Nothing Phone (3) with its transparent back design visible, next to its open box.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-00-22.png)
![Screenshot at 0:34: Close-up of the Nothing Phone (3)'s transparent back, showing internal components and a QR code sticker.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-00-34.png)
![Screenshot at 1:16: Close-up of the Nothing Phone (3)'s bottom edge, showing the USB-C port, speaker grille, and SIM tray.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-01-16.png)
![Screenshot at 2:30: Man holding the Nothing Phone (3) with an overlay listing its 50MP cameras (3x Telephoto, Wide, Ultra-Wide, Selfie).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-02-30.png)
![Screenshot at 2:55: Comparison shot of the Nothing Phone (3) (left) and Nothing Phone (2) (right), highlighting the different Glyph interfaces.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-02-55.png)
![Screenshot at 4:57: Man holding the Nothing Phone (3) with an overlay showing its battery endurance test results (14h 2min) compared to Samsung S25 Edge (21h 7min).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-04-57.png)
![Screenshot at 6:55: Man reacting with a clenched fist as an overlay shows the Nothing Phone (3)'s peak brightness of 4500 nits HDR.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-06-55.png)
![Screenshot at 10:27: Man holding the black Nothing Phone (3) with the dot LED Glyph interface displaying a 'Walkman' animation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-10-27.png)
![Screenshot at 13:17: A selfie taken with the Nothing Phone (3)'s front camera, showing the reviewer smiling with good sharpness.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-13-17.png)
![Screenshot at 14:55: Man holding the Nothing Phone (3) horizontally, displaying an AR feature that overlays a spinning record onto a real-world object, showing heavy processing.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/C2fqp_S43bo/00-14-55.png)