Nothing Phone 3 Review: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 performance & 65W fast charging

Nothing has expanded its lineup with the Nothing Phone 3, a phone built around a 120 refresh rate on a AMOLED Flexible LTPS panel that makes scrolling feel buttery smooth. Designed for gaming, heavy users, media & streaming, it brings 5G connectivity, a large 5500mAh battery, a smooth 120Hz display, and the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset into one well-rounded package.

The phone sits at a competitive price in the Indian market. It doesn't try to compete with premium flagships — instead it focuses on delivering a balanced everyday experience, and in that mission it largely succeeds.

The phone sits at a competitive price in the Indian market in the Indian market. It doesn't try to compete with premium flagships — instead it focuses on delivering a balanced everyday experience, and in that mission it largely succeeds.

Design & Build Quality

At 218g, the Nothing Phone 3 feels noticeably heavy in the hand — the price you pay for that large battery inside to hold. With an IP68 rating, it offers real protection against dust and splashes for everyday use. A fingerprint sensor unlocks the phone quickly and reliably.

Design Rating: 7.3/10

Display

The phone features a 6.67-inch AMOLED Flexible LTPS panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1260 x 2800 resolution. Scrolling through apps, social media and websites feels noticeably smoother than standard 60Hz displays. With 4500 nits of peak brightness, it stays perfectly readable even outdoors. The ~460 PPI density keeps text sharp and crisp. Deep blacks and punchy colours make it excellent for OTT streaming and YouTube.

Display Rating: 9.6/10

Performance

Powering the Nothing Phone 3 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. Daily tasks such as browsing, video streaming, online classes, messaging and social media all run smoothly. It scores around 19,46,119 on AnTuTu, which is solid for this segment — casual games and multitasking are handled without major issues.

It runs Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.5 on top out of the box. The interface is clean, well-optimised and easy to live with day to day.

Performance Rating: 10/10

Camera Performance

The Nothing Phone 3 comes with a 50MP main camera along with additional sensors for depth and wide-angle shots. In daylight, the primary camera captures detailed photos with natural colours and good dynamic range. Video recording goes up to 4K, which is genuinely rare at this price point. Selfies come from a 50MP front camera — good enough for video calls and social posts.

Camera Rating: 7.7/10

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the biggest strengths of the Nothing Phone 3. The 5500mAh battery comfortably gets you through a full day of use. The 65W fast charging tops it up quickly whenever you do need to charge. It can even reverse-charge your earbuds or smartwatch in a pinch.

Battery Rating: 8.6/10

Software Experience

The phone ships with Android 15 and Nothing OS 3.5 on top. It comes with the usual preloaded apps, most of which can be disabled. For everyday use the software feels smooth and stable, and it stays that way over the long term.

Software Rating: 10/10

Should You Buy the Nothing Phone 3?

If you're looking for a phone for gaming and heavy users, the Nothing Phone 3 is a strong option. Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 performance and 65W fast charging are its standout strengths. It's not perfect though — no 3.5mm headphone jack and heavy build may bother some buyers. For students, office users and families looking for a dependable device in this budget, it is an easy recommendation.