The Nothing Phone 3 is quirky and peculiar. It has riled up the Nothing lovers and haters alike. Social media boards point out that lots of people don’t like that digital camera structure, value, or have polarizing views on the Glyph Matrix. I is perhaps on the much less fashionable finish for each. I preferred the Nothing Phone 3’s odd design selections once I first noticed it in individual on the London launch occasion. I used to be shocked by the worth, certain. But I wished to present it a attempt nonetheless.

I’ve now used the Nothing Phone 3 for a couple of days, and I like how it feels in my hand. I don’t thoughts the bizarre digital camera setup and fairly love the remainder of the design. I haven’t observed its processor, for higher or worse, and each time I flip it round, I pause for a second to have a look at that unusual again structure. The Glyph Interface has been extra enjoyable than earlier than, and the blinking purple dot is a pleasant addition. It’s all a part of the quirky design.

But you don’t purchase a telephone for its quirks. Most individuals search for the most effective worth proposition of their new telephone, and the Nothing Phone 3 isn’t for most individuals. It doesn’t have the “flagship” chipset, and I wouldn’t charge its cameras the most effective within the phase. However the Nothing Phone 3 has grown on me. At $799, it isn’t a very good worth proposition, but it won me over anyway.

I really like Nothing OS for its widgets and clear but customizable design. It isn’t the barebones Pixel-level clear or crammed with customizations like Xiaomi’s HyperOS. Nothing OS is a mixture of each of their finest elements. And it is now extra necessary than ever with the Phone 3’s polarizing design. I really like the power so as to add Fast Settings as one-tap widgets. For instance, I’ve a QR code scanner for funds and a Wi-Fi toggle, which turns a three-step process right into a single faucet.

I’ve grown used to the Nothing Phone 3 as a result of there’s not a lot to complain about within the software program or the in-hand really feel. I don’t play cell video games, so I’m not involved in regards to the processor. And extra so as a result of I haven’t had any stutters or lags in day-to-day utilization which may set off me to search for a extra succesful telephone. Add to it, the Important Key (with Important House) is a pleasant method to shortly save story concepts once I’m studying one thing on Chrome. (The Important Search’s velocity wants enchancment, although.)

The 6.67-inch AMOLED display is large and immersive and comfortably legible in most environments, but you will get a brighter show on the similar value, relying on the place you reside. In my utilization, the Nothing Phone 3 has lasted me a full day with ease. Notably, I’ve the 5,500mAh battery variant, versus the 5,150mAh cell you’d discover on US or UK items. I received as much as eight and a half hours of SoT with social media hopping, intensive Reel-watching, WhatsApp messaging, utilizing Slack for work, and snapping a couple of images.

The issue is that the Nothing Phone 3a Professional gives the same expertise at a extra inexpensive value. Important House, all-day battery, large display, no-lag efficiency – it’s all up for grabs beneath $500.

For $799, you get the enjoyable of the Glyph Matrix, the most effective cameras Nothing has put on a telephone, and longer software program help.

The Nothing Phone 3 options some unusual design selections that play across the edges of uniformity. The periscope telephoto digital camera sits near the sting, away from the remainder of the structure; the Glyph Matrix display appears oddly positioned when it’s not in use. And but, there’s a sense of uniformity in the remainder of the telephone’s design. The Nothing Phone 3 has a sure whimsical vibe to it that I really like.

I’ve mentioned prior to now how Glyph Lights have been in-your-face and caught me off guard in sure situations in public. The Glyph Matrix, on the opposite hand, has been extra useful and enjoyable for me. It’s just like the notification gentle from Android telephones of the previous, solely charged as much as put the “enjoyable” in “operate.” I really like the customizability it gives with the mix of 489 LEDs and a bodily button to manage it.

As an illustration, I’ve set it as much as notify me of calls from three contacts (with three separate icons) I by no means need to miss a name from. So, once I’m in the course of typing a narrative, I can look over on the small display and resolve whether or not to attend the decision or not. Is it doable to take action with the telephone positioned on a desk and the display dealing with you? Completely. At all times-on show can do this. But I are inclined to preserve my telephone the other way up as a result of I don’t need to be bothered by each notification. With the Glyph Matrix, I can select what will get my consideration extra selectively and add a personal touch to it.

Aside from the notifications, the Glyph Matrix can present a digital clock, enable you take a selfie by mirroring your face in black-and-white pixels, supply a stopwatch, battery indicator, digital camera countdown timer, and point out quantity ranges. There are additionally enjoyable video games like Spin the Bottle, Magic 8 Ball, and Rock-Paper-Scissors, that are social gathering tips for essentially the most half.

I’m trying ahead to what third-party builders and the group construct for Glyph Matrix. It’s at a nascent stage proper now, just like the Dynamic Island was when it first launched with the iPhone 14 Professional sequence. I’d love for meals supply apps to indicate me the ETA of my order.

As for the optics, I wasn’t anticipating a lot from the Phone 3’s cameras as a result of my overview unit had very dangerous shutter lag. Nothing mounted it with an replace, and the 50MP triple digital camera array now delivers spectacular outcomes. It isn’t the most effective within the phase and struggles in low gentle, but on the similar time, it shoots images with good colours, loads of element, and good publicity. I traveled with it to London, and the 3x optical zoom got here in useful. The ultrawide and selfie cameras, alongside Nothing’s digital camera filters spherical up the expertise fairly properly.

I didn’t count on the Nothing Phone 3 to develop on me. I nonetheless contemplate it costly at $799, but I’ve loved utilizing it and see potential within the Glyph Matrix. It isn’t a value-for-money contender but the brand new Nothing telephone delivers top-notch software program, enjoyable design quirks, 5 years of OS upgrades alongside seven years of safety updates, all-day battery life, and a passable digital camera efficiency. You will get a extra succesful flagship telephone with longer software program help but it won’t be this enjoyable to make use of.

The Nothing Phone 3 is now out there within the US with out the necessity for a beta program and may work with all the foremost carriers.