The Nothing Phone (3) won’t be released until next year

Nothing is known for its proactive and involved community, whose feedback has seemingly direct influence on how the next generation of the young company’s devices are shaped. But considering the amount of hype the brand generates, expectations are high.

In July 2023, the Nothing Phone (2) arrived on the scene, as an improved version of the original Nothing Phone (1), so based on conventional smartphone timelines, it stands to reason that the Nothing Phone (3)’s launch should be around the corner, but that isn’t the case.

The company’s CEO, Carl Pei, has spoken about Nothing’s next-generation flagship phone, and it’s bad news if you were hoping for a launch anytime soon. Here’s everything you need to know.

When will the Nothing Phone (3) be released?

After its predecessors arrived in 2022 and 2023 respectively, it seems reasonable to assume that the Phone (3) would arrive around the same time this year. However, according to a post shared by Pei on X (formerly Twitter) in early June, Nothing’s next flagship doesn’t look set to debut until next year.

There's been a lot of hype around AI. Some great, some confusing. It’s great to see new companies rethinking the user experience and form factors. However, there is no doubt that smartphones will remain the main consumer AI form factor for the foreseeable future. With over 4… pic.twitter.com/ERJc7xhwBa

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) June 5, 2024

Pei stated that “it’s important we get the product [Phone (3)] right, integrating hardware and AI”, so we assume that will be the main focus point and the reason why the Phone (3) won’t be released this year; Nothing wants to provide customers with a refined product that showcases the best of its AI efforts.

While this means we still don’t know the exact release date of Nothing’s next-gen phone, looking at the launch dates of previous generations, we can estimate from an informed position:

• Nothing Phone (1): July 2022
• Nothing Phone (2): July 2023

We therefore expect the Phone (3) to be released in July 2025.

How much will the Nothing Phone (3) cost?

The prices of previous models during their initial launches were as follows:

• Nothing Phone (1): £399/€469
• Nothing Phone (2): £579/$599/€649

Phone (1) was one of the best mid-range phones of 2022, with price a big factor in that. Its successor raised the bar by including a flagship chipset – hence the price rise – though it still didn’t leverage the absolute-latest and greatest silicon at the time of launch.

If Nothing decides to once again use a more powerful flagship SoC, such as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, then the price of the Phone (3) may increase once again.

According to 91Mobiles, however, the upcoming phone might cost between ₹40,000 to ₹45,000, similar to the launch price of Phone (2) at ₹45,000. This translates to around £579/$599, matching the Phone (2)’s launch price.

What specs and features will the Nothing Phone (3) have?

So far, there have been quite a few leaks concerning the Phone (3). Android Headlines reported on a mysterious phone, codenamed ‘Tetris’, which was thought to be the Phone (3).

However, following BIS certification (via 91Mobiles), the device in question is instead expected to be the first smartphone from CMF (Nothing’s value-led sub-brand). To quote, “the device with code name ‘Tetris’ and model number ‘A015’ is not Nothing Phone 3”. Regardless, this doesn’t prevent us from theorising a little about the ways in which Phone (3) might improve over its predecessor.

Design

Previously, the Nothing Phone has compromised on build quality in order to meet its price point. With the third iteration, we hope to see improvements in protection and durability. The adoption of newer glass technology – possibly the robust Gorilla Glass Victus – could further enhance the device’s overall build quality.

A notable improvement could also be made in the device’s water and dust resistance. The IP54 rating of the Phone (2) falls short of the more common IP68 rating, found on most flagship smartphones. Elevating to at least IP68 would bring the Phone (3) in line with industry standards.

Screen & Speakers

We do not expect many changes to the display on the Phone (3), compared to its predecessor. The Phone (2) has a 6.7-inch OLED panel that can refresh at up to 120Hz and uses LTPO tech to scale that refresh rate right down to 1Hz when not needed, to save battery.

Its weakest attribute is brightness, with an outdoor panel average of 1,000nits and peak brightness of 1,600nits, falling short in real-world use. As such, a brighter panel would be welcome on the Phone (3).

Improving sound quality and internal speakers would also contribute to a more satisfying audio experience, even for those who primarily use Bluetooth earbuds. Nothing might have its own Ear (2) earbuds, but you don’t want to have to use them all the time.

Performance

Despite featuring a powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, we had some concerns about the user experience slowing down and stalling, in our Phone (2) review.

The Nothing Phone (3) could address this by considering an upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that powers many 2023 flagships. Or it could go all-out and opt for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 – positioned between the 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3 – which would allow it to rival the best Android phones, in terms of performance.

This upper mid-tier chip boasts impressive specs, including a Cortex-X4 core at 3GHz, three performance cores at 2.8GHz, and four efficiency cores at 2GHz. However, the delayed launch of the phone may affect chip choice considerably, with Qualcomm usually introducing its new generation of mobile silicon around November each year.

Differentiating the Phone (3) from its predecessors could attract a new, larger audience too. Introducing it as a premium model – in light of the company’s recent foray into greater affordability with the budget-friendly Nothing Phone (2a) – would allow customers to pick the phone which best suited their budget.

Glyph Interface

Building on the strides made with the Phone (2), software refinement remains essential. The Glyph Interface’s features – though innovative – need practical enhancements. Continued efforts to attract third-party support for Glyph features could significantly broaden its appeal.

The Glyph Interface has the potential to be a key selling point of the Phone (3). Exploring innovative uses, such as creating a universal standard for broader applications, and collaborating with major retailers for unique Glyph features could further its unique appeal.

Cameras

Upgrading the camera setup would also be welcome. In particular, by introducing a better primary sensor and addressing issues with the ultrawide. Low-light performance, colour reproduction, and reduced shutter lag should also be priorities for the Phone (3).

Battery & charging

The Phone (2) features a sizable 4,700mAh battery, with support for 45W wired fast charging. It is likely that Phone (3) will receive exactly the same treatment, as that still places it above more premium phones like the latest iPhones, Galaxys and Pixels.

Nonetheless, expectations remain high for even more advanced fast charging technology and an increased battery capacity, with improved battery density being one direction we’ve seen rivals like Honor and Sony pursue.

Software

Considering a 2025 launch, the Phone (3) will most arrive running on Android 15 and Nothing OS 2.5 or Nothing OS 3, out of the box.

As Pei said on X in June 2024, the Phone (3) will be the centrepoint of the company’s AI efforts. Therefore, we can expect lots of AI features, even if the specifics haven’t been revealed yet.

We’ll update this article once more is revealed about Phone (3). In the meantime, take a look at our picks of the current best Android phones and the best mid-range phones, to see what else is out there.