Updated: July 2, 2025 | Written by Mohit Singhania | TechMasala.in
Nothing has unveiled its latest smartphone, and it’s taking some real risks this time. The Phone 3 is now official in India and globally, and Nothing is calling it their first true flagship. Love it or hate it, the design is bold and the price is ambitious. But let’s get to what really matters. Is the Phone 3 actually worth it?
Let’s break it all down in a way that actually makes sense.
Nothing Phone 3’s Price Game: Premium, But Make It Tempting
You’ve got two choices in India. The 12GB + 256GB model is priced at ₹79,999, while the maxed-out 16GB + 512GB version will cost you ₹89,999. These numbers clearly signal that Nothing wants to play in the big leagues now.
But here’s where things take a turn. Depending on how you look at it, this is either a smart pricing strategy or a confusing value puzzle.
Pre-book the Phone 3 and you’ll get a free pair of Nothing Ear earbuds, along with an extra year of warranty. Add in ₹5,000 off with select cards and a decent exchange offer, and the effective price for the base model drops to just ₹62,999.
So yes, it’s a flagship phone on paper. But Nothing is throwing in just enough to make sure the price doesn’t scare everyone away.
Looks That Divide. And Define.
Let’s not dance around it. The design is what everyone’s staring at. The Phone 3 doesn’t just look different, it looks like someone had fun breaking all the design rules. The cameras are scattered, the glyph lights have turned into a full-on “glyph matrix,” and there’s a red square that glows when you hit record.
Some folks call it bold. Others say it’s a hot mess.
But here’s the thing. Nothing isn’t copying anyone, and that’s a rare move in a market packed with clones.
You still get clean, flat aluminum sides, a perfectly balanced display, and premium materials all around — Victus on the back, the new Gorilla Glass 7i up front. It’s available in black and white, both of which look slick, if not a little eccentric.
And honestly, that glowing red square? Strangely satisfying.
Nothing’s Wildest Idea Yet: The Glyph Matrix
The old light strips are gone. Instead, you now get a dot-matrix display on the back, proudly called the Glyph Matrix. It flashes the time, shows battery percentage, and throws in a few quirky animations while it’s at it.
There’s a button right next to it that lets you cycle through features. You’ll find mini games like Rock-Paper-Scissors, and even a retro selfie preview that looks straight out of an SNES game.
It’s a little weird, definitely different, and honestly, pretty fun to play with.
Nothing’s even opening it up to developers with a full SDK. That means new tools, games, and maybe even custom alerts — if people actually use it. It could turn into something big… or just stay a clever party trick.
The Specs Say Flagship, and This Time, They Mean It
Powering the Phone 3 is the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, a chip that has proven itself with impressive benchmarks. Whether you’re juggling apps, gaming for hours, or shooting high-res videos, it handles it all without breaking a sweat.
Battery life is getting a real boost this time. The Indian variant packs a bigger 5,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, paired with 65W fast charging and 15W wireless. For long workdays or weekend Netflix binges, this upgrade actually matters.
On the back, you get a triple 50MP setup that covers wide, ultra-wide, and periscope telephoto. Nothing says it can shoot 4K at 60fps across all lenses and even pull off macro shots through the telephoto. That sounds impressive, but we’ll have to wait and see how it holds up outside the spec sheet.
The screen might just be the star of the show. It’s a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with sharp 1.5K resolution, buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh, and a crazy 4,500 nits peak brightness. Translation: you’ll see everything clearly, whether it’s harsh sunlight or moody HDR scenes.
It’s also built to last, with IP68 dust and water resistance, Android 15 from day one, five years of OS updates, and seven years of security support. For anyone who plans to keep their phone for the long haul, this matters more than you think.
So, Should You Actually Buy the Nothing Phone 3?
That depends entirely on what kind of person you are.
If you’re someone who wants your phone to feel like it belongs to you, not just every other user on the street, then the Nothing Phone 3 might hit the right notes. It doesn’t follow the usual script. It looks different, feels unique in the hand, and throws in a few playful ideas that most big brands wouldn’t dare to touch.
But if you’re the kind who prefers a safer bet, one that follows the crowd with mainstream design and familiar features, then you might find this phone a bit too quirky for your taste.
Nothing is not trying to copy anyone. It is not chasing after Samsung or Apple. It is writing its own playbook, and for the first time, it looks serious about the long game.
Final Thoughts
The Nothing Phone 3 is not just another new phone. It is a declaration.
It comes with bold design choices, a few clever tricks up its sleeve, and a price that says, “We belong in the flagship league.” Sure, it may not have the most powerful processor in the world, but it makes up for that with character, ambition, and confidence.
It is a phone for people who are tired of boring rectangles. For those who still get excited when a device does something unexpected. For those who believe that tech should have a personality.
No, it’s not perfect. But it’s not trying to be.
It is trying to be interesting. And in 2025, that alone makes it one of the most important phones of the year.
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