Nothing Phone (3) will be powered by a Snapdragon 8-series chipset, but it’s not the one you expect

In a tech world chasing extremes, the most RAM, the brightest screen, the “Pro Max Ultra” of it all, Nothing is choosing a quieter lane. Ahead of its July 1 global launch in London, the Carl Pei-led company has officially confirmed the processor powering the upcoming Nothing Phone (3) – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. This is a stark contrast from what fans were expecting as the phone will likely be significantly costlier than its predecessor, as per leaks.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is not to be confused with the flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Elite or the upcoming ultra-premium 8 Elite 2 chip teased for late-2025 Android flagships. The 8s Gen 4 sits a tier below, which is brewing a whole new debate in tech communities in India, and across the globe, about whether this is the right move.

Nothing Phone (3) to be powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

Nothing shared the news in a post on X, confirming what recent leaks had suggested; the Phone (3) is going for balance over brawn. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s underpowered.

Built on the same architecture as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the 8s Gen 4 promises meaningful gains in real-world use including a 36 per cent CPU boost, 88 per cent GPU jump, and a 60 per cent bump in NPU performance over the Phone (2), according to Carl Pei.

ALSO READ: Nothing Phone (3) teased, but it may lose its signature glyphs

It’s powered by a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.2GHz, supported by Cortex-A720 and A520 cores, a setup aimed at delivering strong performance without the thermals or power draw associated with top-tier chips.

The result could be a phone that might deliver near flagship capabilities, but with fewer downsides. Think better efficiency, cooler operation, and a friendlier price tag.

However, with leaks hinting at a $799 (approximately Rs 68,000) price, the Phone (3) seems to be targeting that increasingly competitive “mid-premium” space. Unless they change up their pricing strategy for India, the Phone (3) lands in a space where brands are offering high-end performance without stretching past the Rs 1 lakh mark.

Rivals like the OnePlus 13S and the iPhone 16e offer higher-end silicon in similar price brackets, and Indian tech audiences, even Nothing’s fanbase, may question whether the 8s Gen 4 is enough for the price.

Nothing seems to be going for a more power-efficient processor; one that they believe complements the higher price point without sacrificing on endurance. But we’ll have to wait and see how this move lands. We’ll know more when the phone launches on July 1. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for all the latest on Nothing Phone (3) and the rest of the tech world.