Thursday 05 February 2026 12:04 pm | Updated: Thursday 05 February 2026 12:05 pm
Testing the Nothing Phone 3: A London-Based Tech Innovation
By: Steve Dinneen, Life&Style Editor
With rumours suggesting that London-based phone company Nothing could launch a new handset as early as March, we decided to take its current flagship device, the Nothing Phone (3), for an in-depth test drive. This review explores whether this quirky offering stands out in a market dominated by sleek, uniform designs.
The Evolution of Mobile Phone Design
In 2007, the mobile phone landscape was transformed forever when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, effectively ending the era of Nokias and Motorolas. Apple's rise to become the world's most valuable company solidified the dominance of the black oblong form factor—a palm-sized glass rectangle that has become ubiquitous.
Since then, attempts to deviate from this design have largely failed. The BlackBerry, with its once-popular physical keyboard, faded into obscurity, and efforts to revive flip-phones have struggled. The anticipated entry of Apple into the foldable screen market later this year could mark the biggest shake-up in a decade, but some companies are already charting a different path.
Nothing's Unique Approach
London-based Nothing, founded by Carl Pei—a co-founder of OnePlus—aims to address what he describes as a "boring" industry. The company's first phone, released in 2022, featured a clear glass shell that exposed the internal components, along with programmable "glyphs" on the back that flash for notifications. While it remained a palm-sized glass rectangle, it offered a distinctive aesthetic unlike anything else on the market.
Hands-On with the Nothing Phone (3)
The Nothing Phone (3) represents the company's first foray into the premium market, retailing at £799 and positioning itself as a direct competitor to the iPhone 17. This device feels genuinely different, often prompting comments when placed on a table, and comes with a range of features that make it a strange, idiosyncratic joy to use.
The front of the phone features a 6.7-inch 120Hz QHD+ OLED screen that is perfectly serviceable, though not groundbreaking. However, flipping it over reveals the true intrigue: a glass back that showcases neatly presented circuitry, reminiscent of Steve Jobs' emphasis on internal tidiness. The white version, which includes a subtle red square for contrast and three protruding camera lenses, is particularly appealing.
Innovative Features and Customisation
On the right-hand side, a touch-sensitive button with haptic feedback activates the "glyph matrix," a circle of white LEDs that can be programmed for various displays. Users can set it to show the time, a countdown timer, battery charge, or even a video dot matrix of their face. Additional playful options include spin-the-bottle games and a tamagotchi-style pet that hatches from an egg. With support for user-created mods, the dedicated fanbase is expected to develop a wide array of creative "toys."
Minimalist Android Experience
One of the major selling points of the Nothing range is its customised version of Android. While reskins of Google's software are often avoided, Nothing's approach is a perk, leaning heavily into a dot matrix aesthetic with minimalist black and white icons. Elements like the charging indicator and volume control are rendered in a cool, retro-futuristic dotted interface, evoking imagery from a Ridley Scott film. Pre-installed apps, including a useful custom voice recorder, are functional and free of bloatware.
Technical Specifications
Delving into the tech specs, the Nothing Phone (3) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, offering fast performance that feels instantaneous, though it lags slightly behind top-end Android handsets. The battery provides nearly two full days of use, which is ample for most users. It features three 50-megapixel cameras on the back—including a three-times optical zoom and an ultrawide lens—along with a 50MP selfie camera on the front. While these cameras meet expectations for an £800 phone, they may not satisfy keen photographers. The fingerprint scanner is excellent, but this device is not about maxing out hardware; instead, it offers something rare in the mobile world: fun.
Conclusion: A Phone for Enthusiasts
The Nothing Phone (3) is designed for hobbyists and nerds who appreciate owning something unique and seldom seen. While major players in the smartphone market have little to worry about, Nothing has carved out a niche with this innovative, playful device that challenges conventional design norms.
