The rumour mill says a London-based phone company, Nothing, could launch a new handset as early as March. To get you ready, we spent some time using its current flagship, the Nothing Phone (3), to see what it’s really like day to day.
A Quick Look Back at Smartphone History
Back in 2007, the mobile world changed overnight. When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone, it reshaped the industry and pushed older designs into the background. Since then, most phones have followed the same basic idea: a palm-sized glass rectangle. Many attempts to break away from that shape have struggled, from physical keyboard phones to flip phones, trying to make a comeback. Rumours suggest Apple may enter the foldable market later this year, which could shake things up again.
How Nothing Tries to Stand Out
While most brands stick closely to familiar designs, London-based Nothing has tried to do things differently. Founder Carl Pei, a co-founder of OnePlus, started the company to tackle what he felt was a growing problem in smartphones. “The industry was just so boring”. The brand’s first phone arrived in 2022 with a clear glass back that showed off the internal parts. You could even customise flashing “glyphs” on the back for notifications. It was still a glass rectangle, but it definitely looked different from anything else around.
The Nothing Phone (3) First Impressions
The Nothing Phone (3) marks the company’s move into the premium market. With a price of £799, it goes head-to-head with high-end devices like the iPhone 17. From the moment you pick it up, it feels like something unique. It is the kind of phone people notice when you place it on a table, and it comes packed with features that make using it feel fun and a little quirky.
The Design and Display:
On the front, you get a 6.7 inch 120Hz QHD+ OLED display. It looks good and works well, even if it does not push boundaries. The real personality shows when you flip the phone over. The glass back reveals neatly arranged internal components, giving it a striking and distinctive look. The white version stands out especially well, with a small red square adding contrast alongside the three camera lenses.
Glyph Matrix and Unique Features:
On the right side, there is a touch-sensitive button with haptic feedback that activates the “glyph matrix”. This circular LED display in the top corner can show all sorts of things. You can use it to check the time, set countdown timers, or monitor battery life. It can even create a dot matrix video of your face using the camera or host small interactive features like spin the bottle. There is even a Tamagotchi-style virtual pet you can hatch and look after. Since Nothing allows user-created mods, fans are likely to come up with all kinds of creative ideas for it.
Software Experience and Interface
One of the standout aspects of Nothing phones is their customised version of Android. While many phone makers add heavy software layers that people often dislike, Nothing’s version feels fresh and stylish. The interface uses a black and white dot matrix design that gives it a retro futuristic look. Everything from volume sliders to charging indicators follows this theme. When the phone starts up, a cheerful dot matrix phone greets you, and even the weather is displayed through playful dotted graphics. The built-in apps are genuinely useful, including a handy voice recorder that works well for interviews, and there is no unnecessary bloatware cluttering the experience.
Nothing Phone (3) tech specs:
It almost seems beyond the point to go into the tech specs, but here goes: it runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, fast enough that everything feels instantaneous but lagging behind top-end Android handsets. You get almost two full days out of the battery, which is plenty. There are three 50-megapixel cameras on the back, including a three-times optical zoom and an ultrawide lens, and a 50MP selfie camera on the front. These have the functionality you would expect from an £800 phone but not much more. If you’re a keen photographer, this could be a deal breaker. The fingerprint scanner is great.
Performance and Camera Experience:
In everyday use, the phone feels quick and responsive. Apps open smoothly, and most tasks run without issues. Battery life is impressive, often lasting close to two days with regular use. The camera setup is capable and offers the features you would expect at this price point, though serious photography enthusiasts may want something more advanced.
Who This Phone Is Really For:
This is not the phone to buy if you are only focused on having the absolute best hardware. Instead, Nothing has created something rare in today’s smartphone market, a device that feels genuinely fun to use. It appeals to tech fans, hobbyists, and anyone who enjoys owning something a little different from the crowd. While major smartphone brands continue to dominate the market, Nothing has carved out a unique space by focusing on creativity and personality.
