Verdict: The Phone (3) is a flagship only in Nothing's
With the Phone (3), Nothing remains true to its philosophy of developing smartphones that are a little different from the competition. This is evident in the transparent back, the asymmetrical arrangement of the cameras, the slim and fast Nothing OS 3.5, and extras such as the Glyph Matrix with its 486 LEDs.
With five years of OS updates and software support until 2032, the Nothing Phone (3) provides further reasons for consideration. Other plus points include the bright AMOLED screen, the good camera system, and the large and fast-charging battery, which should last a whole day of intensive use.
That being said, the Nothing Phone (3) also has some minor weaknesses. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is fast but doesn't quite match the €799 asking price purchase price for the base variant.
Additionally, you don't get an LTPO AMOLED but only an LPTS display. Nothing also cuts corners on the display glass. While many similarly priced smartphones rely on Gorilla Glass Victus, the Nothing Phone (3) only features the less resistant Gorilla Glass 7i.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
The Nothing Phone (3) with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage has an RRP of €799 while the 16 GB / 512 GB version will set you back by €899. Both versions are available for around €100 less at online stores such as Amazon DE.
The smartphone can also be currently had unlocked for $719 for the 12 GB / 256 GB variant while the 16 GB / 512 GB version retails for $799 on Amazon US.
Table of Contents
- Verdict: The Phone (3) is a flagship only in Nothing's
- Specifications
- Build: Glyph Matrix replaces the Glyph interface
- Features: Up to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage
- Software: Android updates until 2032 and an SDK for the Glyph Matrix
- Communication and GNSS: Fast Wi-Fi 7 and accurate navigation
- Phone functions and voice quality
- Camera: 50 MP in a pack of four
- Accessories and Warranty: No power adapter included
- Input devices and operation: Responsive Nothing phone
- Display: 120 Hz LTPS AMOLED with 90 Hz PWM
- Performance: Nothing Phone (3) with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- Gaming: Smooth gameplay guaranteed
- Emissions: Hot Nothing smartphone
- Energy: Nothing Phone (3) with silicon-carbon battery
- Notebookcheck's overall impressions of the Nothing Phone (3)
- Potential alternatives in comparison
The Nothing Phone (3) is a real flagship smartphone, claims the company. What is certain is that it outshines all previous Nothing phones in terms of performance, battery size, and software support.
However, our review also shows that Nothing has scaled back the hardware ingredients just enough in some areas so that there is no noticeable disadvantage for users.
The Nothing Phone (3), therefore, feels like a high-end smartphone, without actually being one.
Specifications
Build: Glyph Matrix replaces the Glyph interface
With its 1.86 mm thin display frame, the Nothing Phone (3), which is available in black and white, makes a high-quality visual impression. There is also nothing to complain about in terms of workmanship. However, the phone does make a subtle crackling noise when twisted.
The biggest innovation compared to its predecessor is on the transparent back. The iconic Nothing design is still there, but the Glyph interface has been replaced by the Glyph Matrix — a small monochrome display with 489 LEDs.
The Glyph Matrix is located in the top right-hand corner and shows, for example, the battery level or provides information about incoming messages. The displays (aka Glyph Toys) can be switched via a white button underneath. The red LED signals ongoing audio and video recordings by flashing.
Features: Up to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage
The Nothing Phone (3) offers NFC, Bluetooth 6.0, and Wi-Fi 7. Two nano SIMs fit into the SIM slot. An eSIM can also be used instead of the second physical SIM.
The USB-C port only works at USB 2.0 speeds and achieves 36.7 MB/s in the copy test with the Samsung PSSD T7.
Software: Android updates until 2032 and an SDK for the Glyph Matrix
The Nothing Phone (3) runs Nothing OS 3.5, which is based on Android 15. Nothing promises five years of OS upgrades up to Android 20. Android security updates will be available every 2 months for seven years.
Nothing OS 3.5 extends the standard Android interface with an independent design and the Essential Space — an AI hub that helps users with everyday tasks.
Essential Space receives its input from the user. If you press the Essential button, it takes a screenshot or takes the image from the camera app along with an optional note. The button can also be used to start audio recordings.
Captured information is automatically transcribed and added to the AI hub. This can be called up and browsed by pressing the button twice.
With the Glyph Matrix, users do not have to make do with the ready-made Glyph Toys. Interested users can join the Nothing developer programs on GitHub, download the SDK, and develop their own Glyph Toys.
Sustainability
The frame, buttons, and SIM tray are made from 100% recycled aluminum. The product packaging is plastic-free and consists of 30% recycled paper fibers.
Nothing does not offer spare parts or repair manuals. However, the smartphone can be sent directly to the manufacturer for repair.
Communication and GNSS: Fast Wi-Fi 7 and accurate navigation
In addition to strong cellular frequency coverage, the Nothing Phone (3) scores with fast and stable Wi-Fi 7.
We measured transfer rates of up to 1,856 Mbps in combination with our reference Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 reference router.
| Networking | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
The Nothing Phone (3) is well suited for navigation. In the test, it guided us almost as precisely to our destination on a 10 km cycle route as the Garmin Venu 2 fitness smartwatch.
Phone functions and voice quality
The Nothing Phone (3) supports VoLTE and Wi-Fi calls. It delivers good voice quality during calls and also suppresses ambient noise efficiently.
Camera: 50 MP in a pack of four
The main, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto cameras of the Nothing Phone (3) each have a resolution of 50 MP.
The selfie camera also has a 50 MP sensor, which allows the smartphone to take appealing portraits and deliver very usable quality for video chats. Videos can be recorded with all lenses in good quality at a maximum of 4K 60 fps.
In daylight, the main camera equipped with a fast 1/1.3-inch sensor takes beautiful photos that impress with their high dynamic range and realistic colors but sometimes appear blurred. In low light, the large sensor manages to capture many details.
The ultra-wide-angle camera does a good job, but its photos are quite washed out at the edges. The telephoto camera also takes on the task of a macro lens and achieves good image quality if you limit yourself to the 3x optical zoom. The digital zoom works up to 60x, but subjects already become blurred at 5x magnification.
Image comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main CameraMain CameraUltra-wide5x ZoomLow light
Accessories and Warranty: No power adapter included
The scope of delivery includes a USB-C cable, a SIM eject tool, and a booklet with safety instructions. A protective film is applied to the display at the factory. Nothing does not offer a 65 W power adapter in its online store.
The Nothing Phone (3) comes with a 24-month warranty in the EU.
Input devices and operation: Responsive Nothing phone
Thanks to the clear Nothing OS 3.5, the fast Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, and the high touch sampling rate of the responsive AMOLED screen, the Nothing Phone (3) is very smooth to use. The linear vibration motor fits in well with this, as it provides precise haptic feedback.
The optical fingerprint sensor under the display unlocks the smartphone without any noticeable delay. The smartphone can also be unlocked using 2D Face Unlock, which also works reliably, but is much less secure.
Display: 120 Hz LTPS AMOLED with 90 Hz PWM
The AMOLED screen can get very bright but does not reach the peak brightness of 4,500 cd/m² promised by Nothing for a long time in the test.
With a pure white background, the display has an average brightness of 1,535 cd/m². The brightness values are roughly the same in small picture areas (1,517 cd/m²) and in HDR mode (1,475 cd/m²).
The screen accommodates sensitive users with a fairly high PWM dimming frequency of 1,086 Hz (manufacturer's specification 960 Hz), which is also characterized by a low amplitude.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 98 %
Center on Battery: 1548 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE ColorChecker Calman: 2.2 | ∀{0.5-29.43 Ø4.82}
ΔE Greyscale Calman: 3.7 | ∀{0.09-98 Ø5.1}
95.5% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.26
CCT: 6787 K
| Nothing Phone (3) AMOLED, 2800x1260, 6.7" | Google Pixel 9 Pro OLED, 2856x1280, 6.3" | Nothing Phone (2) OLED, 2412x1080, 6.7" | OnePlus 13 AMOLED, 3168x1440, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy S25+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 6.7" | Xiaomi 15 OLED, 2670x1200, 6.4" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 42% | 16% | 22% | 4% | 10% | |
| Brightness middle | 1548 | 2083 35% | 951 -39% | 1155 -25% | 1371 -11% | 1021 -34% |
| Brightness | 1535 | 2016 31% | 948 -38% | 1155 -25% | 1370 -11% | 1018 -34% |
| Brightness Distribution | 98 | 84 -14% | 98 0% | 98 0% | 96 -2% | 98 0% |
| Black Level * | ||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.2 | 0.7 68% | 1 55% | 1 55% | 2.7 -23% | 1.3 41% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.5 | 2 64% | 2.2 60% | 1.8 67% | 4.2 24% | 2.9 47% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.7 | 1.1 70% | 1.6 57% | 1.6 57% | 2 46% | 2.2 41% |
| Gamma | 2.26 97% | 2.22 99% | 2.203 100% | 2.3 96% | 2.03 108% | 2.25 98% |
| CCT | 6787 96% | 6560 99% | 6516 100% | 6503 100% | 6450 101% | 6658 98% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 90 Hz Amplitude: 12.96 % Secondary Frequency: 1086 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 90 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 90 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8280 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks flat, but this is due to the scaling. The info box shows the enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness)
The AMOLED panel's color profiles are well tuned. We found the colors to be most accurate in the Standard color mode (the default setting is Vivid).
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.17 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.5895 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.5825 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 4 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.4 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 7.86 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.9615 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 6.902 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 19 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (31.9 ms). | ||
The Nothing Phone (3) performs well outdoors. Its fast-responding brightness sensor can increase the brightness of the viewing-angle-stable screen to such an extent that it is easy to read even on sunny days. If the brightness sensor is deactivated, the maximum brightness drops to 774 cd/m².
Performance: Nothing Phone (3) with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
Nothing equips the Phone (3) with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. The 4 nm SoC is officially considered a cheaper alternative to the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
The Nothing Phone (3) therefore has more than enough power for all everyday tasks and, supported by 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM, is not slowed down by many apps being opened at the same time.
| UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3769 - 81594, n=141, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 (16446 - 17213, n=2) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ (Chrome 133.0.6943.137) | |
| OnePlus 13 (Chrome 131) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 (233 - 237, n=2) | |
| Nothing Phone (3) (Chrome 138.0.7204.179) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) (Chrome 114) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=153, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ (Chrome 133.0.6943.137) | |
| Nothing Phone (3) (Chrome 138.0.7204.179) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 (339 - 347, n=2) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 585, n=136, last 2 years) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) (Chrome 114) | |
| Speedometer 3.0 - Score | |
| OnePlus 13 (Chrome 131) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ (Chrome 133.0.6943.137) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Nothing Phone (3) (Chrome) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 (19.7 - 21.3, n=2) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1.03 - 34, n=108, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ (Chrome 133.0.6943.137) | |
| OnePlus 13 (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 (137 - 184, n=2) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) (Chrome 114) | |
| Nothing Phone (3) (Chrome 138.0.7204.179) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 273, n=147, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ (Chrome 133.0.6943.137) | |
| OnePlus 13 (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Nothing Phone (3) (Chrome 138.0.7204.179) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 (71781 - 71875, n=2) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) (Chrome 114) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=205, last 2 years) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=158, last 2 years) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) (Chrome 114) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 (521 - 534, n=2) | |
| Nothing Phone (3) (Chrome 138.0.7204.179) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| OnePlus 13 (Chrome 131) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ (Chrome 133.0.6943.137) | |
* ... smaller is better
| Nothing Phone (3) | Google Pixel 9 Pro | Nothing Phone (2) | OnePlus 13 | Samsung Galaxy S25+ | Xiaomi 15 | Average 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -63% | -42% | -13% | -16% | -11% | -10% | -40% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 3720.79 | 1717.9 -54% | 1949.5 -48% | 3984.23 7% | 4057.35 9% | 3934.92 6% | 3675 ? -1% | 2198 ? -41% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 3270.73 | 253.53 -92% | 1517.6 -54% | 3684.36 13% | 3311.02 1% | 3889.06 19% | 3072 ? -6% | 1800 ? -45% |
| Random Read 4KB | 438.57 | 218.41 -50% | 287.5 -34% | 301.29 -31% | 294.51 -33% | 296.95 -32% | 382 ? -13% | 295 ? -33% |
| Random Write 4KB | 585.11 | 261.55 -55% | 403.8 -31% | 344.63 -41% | 351.16 -40% | 360.36 -38% | 463 ? -21% | 338 ? -42% |
Gaming: Smooth gameplay guaranteed
With the Adreno 825-GPU of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 the smartphone runs current games smoothly. This is also shown by the fps measurements with the Gamebench tool.
The smartphone achieves maximum frame rates in all graphics settings and is only slowed down by the games' internal fps limits.
In PUBG Mobile, however, attaining 120 fps is possible at the lowest detail level.
Emissions: Hot Nothing smartphone
Surface temperatures
The Nothing Phone (3) can get very warm under load. In the stress test with Burnout Benchmark, we measured surface temperatures of up to 52.1 °C. You won't want to touch the smartphone under this kind of load.
The 3DMark stress tests show that the smartphone quickly throttles the SoC performance under load — to less than 60% of the initial performance in the worst case.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 52.1 °C / 126 F, compared to the average of 35.2 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 247 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 51.4 °C / 125 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.9 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 32.9 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Steel Nomad Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
Loudspeaker
Although the stereo speakers hardly produce any bass, they score points for their otherwise well-balanced sound characteristics with linear mids and highs.
External audio devices can be connected to the smartphone via USB-C and Bluetooth 6.0.
Nothing Phone (3) audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (93.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 35%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 23% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 72% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy S25+ audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.3% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.3% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.7% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 7% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 86% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 35%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 28% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Energy: Nothing Phone (3) with silicon-carbon battery
Power consumption
The fairly energy efficient Nothing Phone (3) can be charged with up to 65 W speeds.
According to Nothing, a charging cycle takes 54 minutes — we measured a time of 55 minutes with the 65 W Ugreen 2C1A power supply unit. The battery is already 80% charged after 34 minutes.
| Off / Standby |   0.03 / 0.35 Watt |
| Idle |  0.4 / 0.7 / 1.21 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Nothing Phone (3) 5150 mAh | Google Pixel 9 Pro 4700 mAh | Nothing Phone (2) 4700 mAh | OnePlus 13 6000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S25+ 4900 mAh | Xiaomi 15 5400 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -35% | -66% | -106% | -21% | -26% | -54% | -84% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.4 | 0.59 -48% | 0.9 -125% | 0.86 -115% | 0.45 -13% | 0.5 -25% | 0.79 ? -98% | 0.865 ? -116% |
| Idle Average * | 0.7 | 1.1 -57% | 1.1 -57% | 1.74 -149% | 1.09 -56% | 1.11 -59% | 1.07 ? -53% | 1.428 ? -104% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.21 | 1.2 1% | 1.4 -16% | 1.85 -53% | 1.13 7% | 1.13 7% | 1.345 ? -11% | 1.592 ? -32% |
| Load Average * | 7.15 | 5 | 10.69 | 14.41 | 8.91 | 7.62 ? | 7.2 ? | |
| Load Maximum * | 20.37 | 10.4 | 11.92 | 16.37 | 9.3 | 8.92 ? | 10.8 ? |
* ... smaller is better
Battery life
The Nothing Phone (3)'s 5,150 mAh cell is the largest battery in a Nothing Phone to date and also clearly outperforms its predecessor in terms of capacity.
The test candidate is also ahead in terms of battery life. With a runtime of nearly 18.5 hours in the WLAN test, it leaves the Nothing Phone (2) and the Google Pixel 9 Pro behind it.
| Battery Runtime - WiFi v1.3 | |
| Nothing Phone (3) | |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
| Nothing Phone (2) | |
| OnePlus 13 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25+ | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
Notebookcheck's overall impressions of the Nothing Phone (3)
The Nothing Phone (3) combines an unusual design with powerful hardware, good cameras, a large battery, and updates until 2032.
However, this high-quality 6.67-inch phone is not exactly a flagship smartphone as advertised by Nothing.
Nothing Phone (3)
- 08/25/2025 v8
Manuel Masiero
Total Sustainability Score: Potential alternatives in comparison
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 84.8%  | Nothing Phone (3) Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SM8735 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 825 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: $799.00 List Price: 899 Euro | 218 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.67" 2800x1260 460 PPI AMOLED |
2. 85.7%  | Google Pixel 9 Pro Google Tensor G4 ⎘ ARM Mali-G715 MP7 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 128 GB | Amazon: 1. $875.00 Google Pixel 9 Pro - Unlocke... 2. $1,594.00 Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold - Un... 3. $799.00 Google Pixel 9 - Unlocked An... | 199 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.30" 2856x1280 495 PPI OLED |
3. 87.4% v7 (old)  | Nothing Phone (2) Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 730 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB | Amazon: 1. $7.99 NECARSIN [2+2 Pack] for Noth... 2. $11.99 Foluu Clear Case for Nothing... 3. $3.99 Ytaland for Nothing Phone 2a... List Price: 699€ | 201.2 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" 2412x1080 394 PPI OLED |
4. 87.6%  | OnePlus 13 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: 1. $13.98 [2+2 Pack] for OnePlus 13 Sc... 2. $11.98 uShield 2+2 Pack Screen Prot... 3. $12.00 4 Pack For OnePlus 13 Screen... List Price: 720€ | 213 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.82" 3168x1440 510 PPI AMOLED |
5. 88.4%  | Samsung Galaxy S25+ Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB | Amazon: 1. $7.58 firtstnow 3 Pack Glass Scree... 2. $7.58 firtstnow 3 Pack Glass Scree... 3. $16.99 Super Fast Charger Type C, 2... List Price: 1149 Euro | 190 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.70" 3120x1440 513 PPI Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
6. 88.4%  | Xiaomi 15 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: 1. $209.98 XIAOMI Watch S4 Smartwatch w... 2. $35.99 JOYFAR Portable-Charger-Powe... 3. $6.99 MAS CARNEY USB C Earphones W... List Price: 760€ | 191 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.36" 2670x1200 460 PPI OLED |
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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