I Love the Look of the Nothing Phone 3

11 hours ago 7
Image of a Nothing phone being used

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UK-based phone-maker Nothing says that its new Phone 3 is its first "true flagship," featuring a high-end processor and a potentially powerful triple-camera array. I've been hands-on with the phone at its London launch event, and I'm quite impressed so far. 

The phone goes on sale in the US, the UK and Europe next week for $799 or £799. 

Scroll through this gallery to see more of this unusual Android phone.

Image of a Nothing phone being used

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The main new feature is the Glyph Matrix, a small dot-matrix display on the back of the phone. It can be used to show standard things like battery levels or incoming notifications, but can also be put to more fun uses, including functioning as a spin-the-bottle or as a Magic 8 Ball. 

Image of a Nothing phone being used

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The 6.67-inch display looks pretty decent, though I'll reserve judgement on how well it copes under the midday summer sun until I can take it out of the dark venue where Nothing held its launch. 

Image of a Nothing phone being used

4 of 15Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The Glyph Matrix is arguably a novelty, but when so many phones are so similar, it's nice to see something a bit quirky like this. 

Image of a Nothing phone being used

5 of 15Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Nothing's software skin remains quite stark and monochrome, but I like it. The phone will receive four years of software updates and a total of seven years of security updates, meaning it should still be good to use in at least 2032. 

Image of a Nothing phone being used

6 of 15Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The front-facing camera has a 50-megapixel resolution.

Image of a Nothing phone being used

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Seen first on the Nothing Phone 3A, the Essential Space is basically a repository for your voice notes, screenshots and other items. It uses AI to summarise your musings and try to provide some clarity to your daily stream of consciousness. 

Image of a Nothing phone being used

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There's a dedicated Essential Space button on the side; press and hold it to record notes directly into Essential Space. As a busy journalist always wanting to keep track of my random thoughts when I'm working, this really appeals. 

Image of a Nothing phone being used

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The key specs of the phone. The Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 processor should provide plenty of power for your daily needs.

Image of a Nothing phone being used

10 of 15Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The interface is very monochrome. I like it, though I do sometimes forget which apps are which. 

Image of a Nothing phone being used

11 of 15Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The 6.67-inch display makes the phone quite large, but it's comfortable enough for me to use one-handed.

Image of a Nothing phone being used

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It retains the transparent design seen on all of Nothing's phones.

Image of a Nothing phone being used

13 of 15Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The "inside" of the phone has this cubist layout that reminds me a touch of the Bauhaus art style. I'm here for it.

Image of a Nothing phone being used

14 of 15Andrew Lanxon/CNET

CNET's Katie Collins enjoyed playing rock-paper-scissors with the Glyph Matrix interface.

Image of a Nothing phone being used

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Collins described the Glyph Matrix as "her favorite thing about the phone."

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