In the mobile industry, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t but the fact remains that despite what the naysayers will have you believe; we need more Android phones that take risks.
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From the top of the price totem to the bottom of the bargain basement, Android phones almost always end up feeling the same. Ther are minor exceptions, but we need more OEMs trying new things, out there things, and maybe things that people might not gel with. Glowing boxes with a camera attached. The equation hasn’t exactly changed all that drastically – foldable not withstanding.
What makes a “flagship”?
The Nothing Phone 3 is a prime example of this conundrum, isn’t it? For years, the rallying cry from hardcore tech fans and, maybe to a lesser extent, casual consumers alike has been for something different. Something that doesn’t just ape the status quo.
So, when a company like Nothing comes along, with its transparent designs, its unique Glyph interface, and a commitment to software that feels distinctively…Nothing, you’d think it would be universally lauded, right?
Well, things are a bit murky in that department. And I think the Nothing Phone 3 is proof that you can’t please everyone, despite it being an Android phone that should be worthy of some level of mass attention for trying something new or at least attempting to remix the recipe we’ve all become accustomed to.
While there’s certainly a passionate fanbase, the broader narrative often pivots in this space. People want innovation, which is exactly what brands should do. However, when a company like Nothing pushes for a distinctive design or approach, or tries to differentiate itself through aesthetics and user experience, some still find a reason to grumble. Let’s be real for a second here, and put the cards on the table.
The Nothing Phone 3, at its core, is really good. I think if you are someone that often uses a Pixel, it’s almost the ideal alternative for you.
I’m going to start with the battery. Because this is the most consistent thing about the Phone 3. I’m not sure it quite surpasses the Galaxy S25 Ultra on that phone’s best days, but it’s arguably more consistent.
Nothing OS 3.5 is one of the most interesting and detail-oriented takes on Android you can get. In fact, it could be the best of the bunch right now. I’m genuinely excited to see what Android 16 brings to the table with Nothing OS 4.0.
The performance is better than a Pixel, too — like, noticeably so. It’s snappy, clean, and familiar but different at the same time.
My only real gripe? And it’s a significant one for many people weighing up their options in a crowded market: it’s a little bit overpriced for what’s actually packed inside.
This isn’t to say it’s not worth the money for its best bits, but the price point sometimes clashes with the internal specifications, leading to that familiar murmur of discontent from you out there and maybe those of us reviewing these devices. I think it strikes at the heart of my argument here and is a testament to the challenge of being different in a market obsessed with spec sheets.
How many compromises are you will to make with an Android phone?
Is downgrading marginally in most – but not all – areas enough reason to complain? I think yes, but at the same time, do you lose out drastically? Probably not. Does the Nothing Phone 3 feel noticeably less polished than a Google Pixel? I have to say, it’s a resounding no.
I’m going to coin this now. The Phone 3 is a Poco for Pixel fans. That’s basically all you need to know.
I initially started out thinking about doing a flat review of this phone. Instead, it had me thinking about the entire space and the context of this specific phone launch.
It’s easy to throw the word “gimmick” around when a company tries to do something new or out there. The Glyph Matrix little LED section is a prime example of that in action. Is it useful? I’m not entirely sure. Is it unique? Certainly. It’s not something we’re used to seeing, but it could lead to something else that we eventually see more widely – providing it takes off. It’s fine to be sceptical because the industry doesn’t always evolve in the ways we expect. Innovation comes rapidly, then slows right down as everyone falls in line.
Take for example Samsung. Make no mistake, the company is the undisputed king of the Android hill, especially regarding flagship devices. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, for instance, is a monumental achievement in every single area – an incredible device, there is no doubt about it.
As an entire package from back to front, display to cameras, it’s fantastic.
But where’s the risk? Where’s the genuine innovation beyond minor, iterative hardware revisions? Honestly, it feels like they’re excelling despite playing it safe with the physical stuff. I have said as much in my long-term review.
Each year, the Ultra gets a bit better, a bit faster, a bit more refined, but it’s rarely a leap these days. It’s a series of careful, calculated steps. And while that delivers consistent excellence among a sea of chasing Android phones, it doesn’t exactly set the world on fire or push the industry forward in terms of design or truly novel experiences. The things that I think tech is supposed to do or supposed to offer.
Instead, the “risks” – if you can even call them that in the grand scheme of things – are being taken in other areas that can evolve faster. Things like the software, albeit on a much smaller, safer scale.
One UI 8, for example, adds a slew of visual changes and functional refinements. These aren’t just random tweaks dreamt up in a design lab; they’re the direct result of common problems and complaints users have been voicing for years. Think about it: interface inconsistencies, performance hiccups, or features that simply didn’t make sense. Samsung, to their credit, are listening, which is good. They’re addressing user feedback and refining the One UI experience. But refining isn’t the same as redefining. It’s patching potholes, not building a new road as it were.
Finding the middle
So, is there a happy medium? Absolutely. I firmly believe there is.
We need brands that can listen to consumers, understand their pain points, acknowledge the desire for something fresh and exciting, and then still take those necessary, bold risks.
Risks that might not pay off immediately, risks that might alienate a few, but risks that ultimately push the entire Android ecosystem forward. Because that’s how we get Android phones that don’t just work well, phones that don’t just offer incremental upgrades, but phones that genuinely wow us, inspire us, and make us excited about the future of mobile technology again. Granted I’m almost always excited. It’s almost a dead cert at this point that if things don’t change, we’ll continue to have this same conversation year after year.
Now, back to the Nothing Phone 3 because that’s where we started. Most of the fallout is that this is being sold as a “flagship”. To be honest, I think this term is almost meaningless or has lost all meaning at this stage. Yes, this is the best phone in Nothing’s lineup. It’s technically a flagship phone from Nothing. But many misinterpret this as meaning “it is comparable to other ‘flagship phones from Samsung and Apple’” — you can sort of see what I’m alluding to here.
I like to take things in isolation first, then we can work out the wider context. In a silo, the Phone 3 is as good a phone experience as most other modern phones. In fact, I’d say in some areas, more so. However, when we take into account other phones, it maybe isn’t quite as good from every single angle.
There is a lot of pressure put on the design. Despite the protestations, Glyph Matrix is a gimmick. Plain and simple. It’s something you won’t even think about. I applaud the risk. It’s polarising almost on purpose. You have to stand out in this game, that’s a given. I think Phone 1 and Phone 2 did that. They were fine.
The Phone 3 is different. It’s good in all areas. OnePlus wasn’t able to say the same after 3 mainline releases, and if that means more off-the-wall designs and things you’ve never seen on a phone before. According to the internet, you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t, and I’m totally here for it.
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