Nothing Phone (3) launches with a radical design, Glyph Matrix, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

At its summer hardware event in London, Nothing unveiled what it’s calling its ‘first-ever flagship’ – the Nothing Phone (3). After weeks of leaks, speculation, and more cryptic teasers than necessary, we finally have the official details. And yes, it’s definitely a statement piece.

The Phone (3) sports a radically different, and let’s be honest, slightly polarising design, complete with an off-centre camera module and a revamped Glyph Matrix that now resembles a retro dot-matrix display. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. Not quite the top-tier ‘Elite’, but still a solid performer on paper. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know about this latest phone.

Nothing Phone (3) launched: All you need to know

Let’s start with the obvious – the Glyph interface is gone, replaced by a new Glyph Matrix that turns the rear of the phone into a mini dot-matrix display. It can show timers, battery levels, and even host micro-games like Spin the Bottle and Magic 8 Ball. Whether you find that playful or pointless, it’s a conversation starter, and that’s really the point.

On the front, you get a 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and a blinding 4,500 nits peak brightness (in HDR). Bezels are just 1.87mm thin, giving it a screen-to-body ratio of 92.89 per cent, which is among the highest in its class.

ALSO READ: Nothing Phone (3) to be made in India

Powering the show is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, which isn’t Qualcomm’s top-tier ‘Elite’ silicon but still packs impressive performance gains over the Nothing Phone (2). You get a 36 per cent faster CPU, 88 per cent better GPU, and 60 per cent better AI task handling when compared to its predecessor. The phone runs Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, with the promise of Android 16 and OS 4.0 landing later this year.

For now, it runs on Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.5 out of the box. Nothing also guarantees an impressive five years of major Android updates and seven years of security updates.

Camera-wise, this is Nothing’s most serious attempt yet. A 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3× optical zoom is joined by a 50MP main sensor with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide. There’s 4K 60fps video across all lenses, and a 50MP selfie camera with autofocus.

It also introduces new AI features like Essential Search, Flip to Record, and Essential Space, which turns your notes and voice memos into an organised “second brain” (Nothing’s words, not ours). While every brand is jumping on the AI bandwagon, Nothing’s approach feels a bit more grounded. Less “Gemini-in-your-phone” and more ambient utility.

Powering it all is a 5,500mAh silicon-carbon battery with 65W wired and 15W wireless charging. And yes, it’s IP68 rated, so water and dust aren’t really a worry.

Nothing Phone (3): Price and availability

The Nothing Phone (3) is available in two simple yet elegant colourways – Black and White, and also two storage variants. The base 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant will set you back by Rs 79,999 (Rs 62,999 with bank + exchange offers), while the top-end 16GB RAM + 512GB storage model is priced at a whopping Rs 89,999 (Rs 72,999 with bank + exchange offers), making this Nothing’s most expensive smartphone offering yet.

Pre-bookings begin today, and early adopters get a pair of Nothing Ear (worth Rs 14,999) and an additional 1-year warranty for free. The device goes on sale from July 15, 2025, via e-commerce sites and retail outlets like Croma.

The Nothing Phone (3) isn’t perfect, but it’s not trying to be. It’s trying to be different. And honestly, that might be exactly what the smartphone world needs right now. For more of the latest in the world of tech, stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma.