Oh, Carl Pei, what have you done? Nothing Phone (3) was supposed to be the culmination of the idea of "technology with a soul", where design is more important than faceless megapixels and gigahertz. Instead of enthusiastic exclamations, we have an internet full of bewilderment, frustration, and memes about the "flagship that forgot to be a flagship".
Just think about it: a company that has been playing on the field of flagship killers for years has suddenly decided to sit down at the table with the adults - Samsung, Google and Apple. The price is $799, like the Galaxy S25 or Pixel 9. And that's where the magic began. Well, not magic, but rather cognitive dissonance.
On the one hand, the design is gorgeous, as always. The new Glyph Matrix looks wildly stylish, the display dazzles with 4,500 nits of brightness, the materials are top-notch, and even IP68 protection has finally arrived. And with 7 years of security and 5 years of updates, it's honestly impressive.
Nothing Phone (3). Illustration: Nothing
The Glyph Matrix is a miniature monochrome display made up of 489 micro-LEDs arranged in a matrix. It can display simple graphics, text, and even animated icons. That is, instead of abstract lines and flashes, you can now see specific things - the clock, weather forecast, charge status, timer, or the name of the caller.
Another gimmick is the so-called Glyph Toys. These are simple interactive things like Magic 8 Ball, levels, spinners, or sundials that you can play with right on the back of your phone.
But then we open the specifications... and we see the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. In short, it's like buying a sports car that looks like a million bucks, but has a golf cart engine under the hood. Plus, there's a camera. No, the sensors seem to be gorgeous: four 50 MP, including a periscope. But the official sample photos look like they were processed with the "HDR to the max and let the world burn" filter.
And this raises a key question: what is $799 for? For the style? For the atmosphere? For the Glyph Matrix that shows the clock and plays Magic 8 Ball? (This is such a cult American toy for predicting the future or for funny jokes that looks like a big black billiard ball with the number 8).
It seems that the maker of Nothing has decided to play a game that it hasn't quite understood yet.
Being an "alternative to the flagships" is one thing. Being a flagship is quite another.
They are no longer the rebels challenging Samsung. They are now trying to be Samsung. And this is where it gets interesting: will the community want to pay the price of a real flagship for the aesthetics and philosophy of "nothing"?
The main thing is that this is no longer a story about affordable beauty. This is a story about how much you are willing to pay for style. Or for your smartphone to be able to wink at you from the back.
Nothing Phone (3). Illustration: Nothing
Well, Nothing, now either you prove that a flagship is not only about numbers, or you will face a harsh market where no one overpays for beautiful light bulbs.
It will be interesting. Indeed.
He joined the gg team in 2011. Henri is a man of varied interests and writes about gadgets and military equipment. He has a good understanding of consumer electronics and a lot of experience with a variety of gamer hardware.
