Nothing Phone 3 specifications and in-depth review

Nothing Phone 3

Manufacturer: Nothing

The Nothing Phone (3) is a mid-to-upper-tier Android smartphone running Android 15, built around a 6.67″ OLED display with a 460 ppi pixel density, 120Hz refresh rate, and a 1000Hz touch sampling rate. It carries a triple 50 MP rear camera system with optical image stabilization, 3x optical zoom, and 4K 60fps video recording, alongside a 50 MP front camera. The phone weighs 218 g, measures 9 mm thick, and holds an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Under the hood, the Nothing Phone (3) is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 on a 4 nm process node, paired with 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM running at 4800 MHz and 512 GB of internal storage. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC, 5G, dual SIM with eSIM support, and USB Type-C. The 5150 mAh battery supports 65W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. Audio is handled by stereo speakers and three microphones, with aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, and LDAC codec support for wireless audio.

Pros
  • IP68 waterproofing provides solid protection against dust and water ingress
  • Triple 50 MP rear camera system with optical image stabilization and 3x optical zoom supports versatile shooting scenarios
  • 65W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging cover a wide range of charging needs for a 5150 mAh battery
  • Wi-Fi 7 support alongside Bluetooth 6 and 5G places the device at the current edge of wireless connectivity
  • The 6.67-inch OLED display offers a 460 ppi pixel density, 120Hz refresh rate, 1000Hz touch sampling, and HDR10+ support for a detailed and responsive screen experience
  • Comprehensive wireless audio codec support including aptX Adaptive and LDAC caters to high-fidelity Bluetooth listening
Cons
  • No 3.5 mm headphone jack requires adapters or wireless headphones for wired audio
  • Charger is not included in the box despite supporting 65W fast charging
  • No expandable storage slot limits flexibility beyond the fixed 512 GB internal capacity
  • Lacks crash detection and satellite SOS, which are absent safety features found on some devices in this category
  • No 3D facial recognition or iris scanner means biometric options are limited to the fingerprint scanner only
Who is this for?

This device is well-suited to users who prioritize a capable photography experience, given its triple 50 MP rear camera system with optical image stabilization, 3x optical zoom, RAW capture, and 4K 60fps video recording across a versatile range of shooting modes. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset paired with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and 512 GB of storage makes it a strong fit for users who run demanding applications, multitask frequently, or engage in extended gaming sessions. The combination of Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G, and NFC alongside dual SIM and eSIM support also makes it a practical choice for connectivity-focused users or frequent travelers who need flexible network options and fast wireless throughput.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who rely on a 3.5 mm headphone jack for wired audio will find no such port available, making this device a poor fit for those with existing wired headphone setups or a preference for analog audio connections. The absence of crash detection and satellite SOS means it is not well-suited for users who place a premium on advanced safety features during outdoor activities or remote travel. Additionally, the lack of an external memory slot makes it a less practical option for users who regularly work with large local media libraries and prefer the flexibility of expandable storage rather than being bound to a fixed internal capacity.

Design:

water resistance Waterproof
weight 218 g
thickness 9 mm
width 75.6 mm
height 160.6 mm
volume 109.27224 cm³
Ingress Protection (IP) rating IP68
has a rugged build
can be folded

The Nothing Phone (3) has a non-folding, standard slab form factor standing 160.6 mm tall, 75.6 mm wide, and 9 mm thick, with a total volume of 109.27 cm³ and a weight of 218 g. It carries an IP68 rating, classifying it as waterproof and offering solid protection against dust and water ingress. The device does not feature a rugged build designation beyond that certification.

Display:

Display type OLED/AMOLED
screen size 6.67"
pixel density 460 ppi
resolution 1260 x 2800 px
refresh rate 120Hz
touch sampling rate 1000Hz
brightness (typical) 800 nits
has branded damage-resistant glass
Gorilla Glass version Gorilla Glass 7i
supports HDR10
supports HDR10+
Always-On Display
supports Dolby Vision
contrast ratio 1000000:1
Has a secondary screen
has a touch screen

The Nothing Phone (3) uses a 6.67″ OLED/AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 1260 x 2800 px and a pixel density of 460 ppi, delivering sharp and detailed imagery alongside a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a typical brightness of 800 nits. The panel runs at a 120Hz refresh rate with a 1000Hz touch sampling rate, and is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i. It supports both HDR10 and HDR10+, includes an Always-On Display mode, and does not feature Dolby Vision or a secondary screen.

Performance:

internal storage 512GB
RAM 16GB
AnTuTu benchmark score 2084000
Chipset (SoC) name Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
GPU name Adreno 825
CPU speed 3 x 3.01 & 2 x 2.8 & 2 x 2.02 & 1 x 3.21 GHz
Geekbench 6 result (multi) 6833
Geekbench 6 result (single) 2041
GPU clock speed 1150 MHz
Has integrated LTE
RAM speed 4800 MHz
semiconductor size 4 nm
Supports 64-bit
DirectX version DirectX 12
Has integrated graphics
OpenGL version 3.3
OpenGL ES version 3.2
Uses big.LITTLE technology
CPU threads 8 threads
Has TrustZone
maximum memory bandwidth 76.8 GB/s
OpenVG version 1.2
OpenCL version 2
L2 cache 6 MB
eMMC version 5.1
maximum memory amount 24GB
uses multithreading
GPU execution units 3
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 12.5W
DDR memory version 5
supported displays 1
L3 cache 8 MB

The Nothing Phone (3) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, a 4 nm octa-core SoC with 8 threads arranged in a big.LITTLE configuration running at speeds of up to 3.21 GHz, paired with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM at 4800 MHz and 512 GB of internal storage, with a maximum supported memory amount of 24 GB. The chip integrates an Adreno 825 GPU clocked at 1150 MHz with 3 execution units, supporting DirectX 12, OpenGL 3.3, OpenGL ES 3.2, and OpenVG 1.2, along with OpenCL 2 and a single display output. The SoC includes integrated LTE, TrustZone security, and multithreading support, with a thermal design power of 12.5W and a maximum memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Cache configuration sits at 6 MB L2 and 8 MB L3, and the platform scores 2,084,000 on AnTuTu, with Geekbench 6 results of 2041 single-core and 6833 multi-core.

Cameras:

megapixels (main camera) 50 & 50 & 50 MP
wide aperture (main camera) 1.68 & 2.68 & 2.2f
Has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) main camera
megapixels (front camera) 50MP
has built-in optical image stabilization
video recording (main camera) 2160 x 60 fps
Has a dual-tone LED flash
number of flash LEDs 2
has a CMOS sensor
has continuous autofocus when recording movies
Has phase-detection autofocus for photos
supports slow-motion video recording
has a built-in HDR mode
has manual exposure
has a flash
optical zoom 3x
has manual ISO
has a serial shot mode
has manual focus
has a front camera
Has laser autofocus
Shoots 360° panorama
has manual white balance
shoots raw
has touch autofocus
can create panoramas in-camera
wide aperture (front camera) 2.2f
Has timelapse function
Has a front-facing LED flash
has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) front camera
Has a RGB LED flash

The Nothing Phone (3) features a triple-lens rear camera system, with each lens resolving at 50 MP and apertures of f/1.68, f/2.68, and f/2.2 respectively, backed by CMOS sensors, optical image stabilization, and 3x optical zoom. Video capture reaches up to 4K at 60 fps, and the system supports continuous autofocus during recording, phase-detection autofocus for stills, touch autofocus, slow-motion recording, timelapse, HDR mode, panorama, burst mode, and RAW shooting, alongside manual controls for exposure, ISO, focus, and white balance. Lighting is handled by a dual-tone, two-LED flash, though there is no RGB flash or laser autofocus. The front camera is a single-lens 50 MP shooter with an f/2.2 aperture; it does not include a front-facing flash or a secondary front lens.

Operating system:

Android version Android 15
has clipboard warnings
has location privacy options
has camera/microphone privacy options
has Mail Privacy Protection
has theme customization
can block app tracking
blocks cross-site tracking
has on-device machine learning
has notification permissions
has media picker
Can play games while they download
has dark mode
has Wi-Fi password sharing
has battery health check
has an extra dim mode
has focus modes
has dynamic theming
can offload apps
Has customizable notifications
has Live Text
has full-page screenshots
supports split screen
gets direct OS updates
has PiP
Can be used as a PC
Has sharing intents
has a child lock
Supports widgets
Is free and open source
Has offline voice recognition
has voice commands
Tracks the current position of a mobile device
is a multi-user system
has Quick Start

The Nothing Phone (3) runs Android 15, an open-source platform that supports multi-user accounts, split-screen multitasking, Picture-in-Picture, widgets, sharing intents, and the ability to play games while they download. Privacy tooling includes clipboard warnings, location privacy options, camera and microphone access controls, and app tracking blocking, though Mail Privacy Protection and cross-site tracking blocking are not present. Customization options extend to theme customization, dynamic theming, dark mode, and an extra dim mode, while productivity is aided by full-page screenshots, a media picker, customizable notifications, notification permission controls, Live Text, Wi-Fi password sharing, and app offloading. The OS also includes on-device machine learning, offline voice recognition, voice commands, phone tracking, a battery health check, and a child lock, but does not offer focus modes, Quick Start, or the ability to function as a PC desktop environment, and OS updates are not delivered directly from the platform vendor.

Battery:

battery power 5150 mAh
has wireless charging
Supports fast charging
charging speed 65W
wireless charging speed 15W
has reverse wireless charging
reverse wireless charging speed 5W
comes with a charger
has a removable battery
has a battery level indicator
has a rechargeable battery

The Nothing Phone (3) houses a non-removable rechargeable 5150 mAh battery with a battery level indicator. It supports fast wired charging at 65W, wireless charging at 15W, and reverse wireless charging at 5W, covering a broad range of charging scenarios. The device does not come with a charger included in the box.

Audio:

has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
has stereo speakers
has aptX
has LDAC
has aptX HD
has aptX Adaptive
Has a radio
number of microphones 3

The Nothing Phone (3) features stereo speakers and three microphones, but omits a 3.5 mm headphone jack and has no built-in radio. For wireless audio, it supports a comprehensive set of codecs including aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC, catering to a wide range of Bluetooth audio devices and quality tiers.

Connectivity & Features:

has 5G support
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
SIM cards 2 SIM, 1 eSIM
Bluetooth version 6
has an external memory slot
Has USB Type-C
has NFC
download speed 4200 MBits/s
upload speed 3500 MBits/s
Has a fingerprint scanner
has emergency SOS via satellite
has crash detection
has a gyroscope
Has a heart rate monitor
has GPS
has a compass
supports Wi-Fi
Has an infrared sensor
has an accelerometer
has a cellular module
Has a barometer
Uses 3D facial recognition
Has an iris scanner
Stylus included
supports Galileo
Has motion tracking
Has optical tracking
Has a built-in projector

The Nothing Phone (3) supports 5G cellular connectivity and covers Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6, and 7, with download speeds reaching 4200 Mbits/s and upload speeds of 3500 Mbits/s. It accommodates two physical SIM cards plus one eSIM, and connects via USB Type-C, Bluetooth 6, and NFC. For navigation and sensing, the phone includes GPS with Galileo support, a gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass, while biometric security is handled by a fingerprint scanner. There is no external memory slot, infrared sensor, barometer, heart rate monitor, 3D facial recognition, iris scanner, or built-in projector, and the device does not include crash detection, satellite SOS, motion tracking, optical tracking, or a stylus.

Miscellaneous:

has a video light
Has sapphire glass display
Has a curved display
Has an e-paper display

The Nothing Phone (3) includes a video light for illumination during video recording, while its display is flat rather than curved and uses neither sapphire glass nor an e-paper panel.

Final Verdict

The Nothing Phone (3) presents a well-rounded specification set that positions it confidently within the upper tier of the Android smartphone segment. Its triple 50 MP camera system with optical image stabilization and 4K 60fps video, combined with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, gives it genuine capability across photography, video, and sustained performance workloads. Add to that a 5150 mAh battery with 65W wired and wireless charging flexibility, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and a sharp 120Hz OLED display, and the device covers most everyday and demanding use cases with confidence. Users who can work around the absence of a headphone jack, expandable storage, and advanced safety features like satellite SOS will find the Nothing Phone (3) a technically comprehensive and capable daily driver.

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