Options, Design, And First Impressions

Ever since Nothing hit the scene, I’ve discovered its merchandise to be on the very least fascinating and at the perfect nice. One of many foundational ideas of the corporate is its beautiful style in design. This was evident from the primary set of earbuds that hit the cabinets. Nothing’s clear design has been beautiful to behold. Then 2025 occurred.

Do not get me improper; it isn’t like Nothing took a (main) flip for the more severe. However after I reviewed the Nothing Telephone (3a) Professional, I famous that the again of the cellphone, whereas nonetheless retaining its clear roots, sported an enormous spherical digital camera bump that did not appear to do something besides account for the digital camera modules. Beforehand, the whole lot Nothing did from a {hardware} and software program standpoint had goal. That did not appear to be the case with the Nothing Telephone (3a) Professional’s digital camera bump. The Nothing Headphone (1) that I reviewed additionally sports activities a divisive design, evocative of a Eighties cassette tape. Whether or not or not you just like the design is decidedly a matter of opinion. It is positively…a design.

Lastly, we’ve got the Nothing Telephone (3), and it’s positively……a cellphone. Retaining in thoughts I’ve solely spent an hour with this machine, I’ve some preliminary intestine reactions. I am hopeful that maybe the design may develop on me, however I will have to spend so much extra time with the cellphone earlier than I can determine that out. This is what you will get in the event you choose one up.

Let’s begin off this dialog by declaring that design is subjective. You’re allowed to love what you want. It’s possible you’ll assume the Nothing Telephone (3) is the best factor since no matter got here earlier than sliced mattress. I’ll disagree with you, however that can be okay.

When the renders first got here out of the Nothing Telephone (3) I used to be not enthusiastic. I am not an enormous fan of the digital camera structure, nor the grid sample that surrounds the cameras and different doo-dads on the again of the cellphone. It is divisive. I get the sense I’ll really feel much less and fewer strongly about it as I spend extra time with the cellphone. Truthfully, by the tip of that first hour, I will not say I preferred it, however I began to get it a bit. It is totally different; that is for certain.

What I can say with confidence is that the design seems higher within the black colorway than the white. I feel one thing in regards to the black cameras on the white background actually make them stand out, and never in a lovely option to me. Black on black then again just isn’t as jarring. As a private rule, I hate photographing black telephones, however I dig this one. I’ll have extra absolutely fashioned opinions when my full assessment comes out. For now — eh.

Nothing is asking this cellphone its first “true” flagship and for essentially the most half, it is bringing the specs to match. The one nook that Nothing reduce comes within the Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor powering the entire package n’ kaboodle. I do not hate this name. Placing the Snapdragon 8 Elite on this cellphone would primarily be for bragging rights.

After all, Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing has been evaluating his firm to Apple from just about the primary day, so adopting the processor that lastly beat Apple’s cellphone processor would have been a pleasant coup for the corporate. That being stated, that might have been a pure — and costly — “bragging rights” transfer. I am completely at peace with this alternative. After all, we’ll see how issues shake out through the full assessment, however one factor at a time.

The largest place the place Nothing is punching onerous is within the cameras. There are 4 50-megapixel cameras on this cellphone, beginning with the selfie digital camera on the entrance, and persevering with to the again of the cellphone. The primary digital camera, the 3x optical digital camera, and the ultrawide are all 50-megapixel shooters. The final huge deal spec is available in Nothing’s first silicon carbide battery at 5,150 mAh. That is the development that the business is beginning to undertake en masse, so it isn’t a stunning transfer, however it’s a nice one.

The change I am arguably most enthusiastic about comes from the glyph. Glyphs have been part of Nothing telephones from the start, however this time round we’re getting a elementary change. As an alternative of LEDs lighting up across the again of the cellphone, Nothing has introduced a dot matrix interface display to the again of the cellphone.

The display is somewhat bigger than the digital camera lenses, and it has quite a lot of makes use of. Not are you simply getting a flash sample for sure callers. Now you will get full on photos and graphics on the display. It is smaller, so much less “in your face” however it’s a lot cleaner.

The display is a dot interface, like most different issues Nothing makes, and, along with caller patterns and whatnot, it’s also possible to play little mini video games like “Spin the Bottle”, “Rock, Paper, Scissors” and “Magic 8-ball”. It is lovely and I find it irresistible rather a lot. It additionally comes with the “…and we will not wait to see what the builders do with it” caveat. However, it is the function I am wanting most ahead to taking part in with.

Lastly, there’s my favourite a part of any Nothing cellphone — the software program. A lot of Nothing OS is similar OS and love. This summer season will see the launch of Nothing OS 4 constructed on Android 16, however we did not get a ton of particulars about that. However there are nonetheless issues to speak about.

One of many extra probably underrated options is Nothing’s Important Search. Nothing launched the Important house on the Nothing Telephone (3a) and Nothing Telephone (3a) Professional. Important search is a separate factor, and it indicators what Nothing appears to be calling it is AI options. Important search is much like a common search, however it provides some AI into the combination.

You may seek for your contacts, and your favourite internet pages, and the like, however it’s also possible to seek for solutions to questions answered by AI with out having to launch and app. That is probably helpful. Loads of AI friction entails the necessity to open a separate app and do what you should do. With this performing extra like a common search it is potential that may make AI options like this extra accessible.

What all that boils right down to is that it is a cellphone that has improved in quite a lot of significant methods. The one deadly flaw comes from the design that does not really feel intentional. It simply appears like rather a lot. Once more, design is subjective, so in the event you prefer it, you are golden.

I am excited to check out all the remainder of the cellphone — the cameras, the important search, and darn it, I am wanting ahead to making an attempt out these min video games on the Glyph interface. It is lovely and you may’t change my thoughts of that.

All of this comes at a fairly respectable value level at $799, and you should buy it within the U.S. with out having to enroll in a beta tester program. IP68 mud and water resistance are additionally on board. In each manner, it is a true flagship, however the proof might be within the pudding when the official assessment drops, so keep tuned.