Nothing unveils the flagship Phone (3) and transparent Headphone (1)

UK-based tech brand Nothing, known for its bold design language, has introduced two new premium devices: the Nothing Phone (3) flagship smartphone and its first over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone (1). Both products blend cutting-edge technology, striking aesthetics, and a strong focus on user experience. The phone features an upgraded lighting system and powerful internals, while the headphones offer a transparent design and audio technology developed with KEF.

Nothing Phone (3): A True Flagship with Glyph Matrix and a Built-in Game

Design & Glyph Matrix

Nothing Phone (3) is being positioned as the company’s first true flagship. It showcases a refined design with premium materials—metal and glass—and introduces a new take on Nothing’s signature lighting. Replacing the previous Glyph interface, the new Glyph Matrix is a monochrome LED display made up of 489 individual LEDs located in the top-left corner of the back panel. It can display notifications, system status, animations, and even interactive mini-apps such as a stopwatch or a “Spin the Bottle” game. A new Glyph Button allows for custom control of the feature.

The phone also sports ultra-slim bezels (1.87 mm) and IP68-rated water and dust resistance, and comes in black and white color variants.

Key Specifications

• Display:67" AMOLED, 1.5K resolution (1260x2800), 120Hz refresh rate, 4500 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ support, Gorilla Glass 7i (front), Gorilla Glass Victus (back).
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (8 cores, up to 3.2 GHz), with 36% CPU, 88% GPU, and 60% NPU performance improvements over the Phone (2).
• Memory: Up to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage.
• Cameras:
  • Main: 50 MP (1/1.3", OIS, 4K @ 60fps)
  • Periscope Telephoto: 50 MP (3x optical zoom, OIS, macro from 10 cm)
  • Ultrawide: 50 MP
  • Selfie: 50 MP
• Battery: 5150 mAh (5500 mAh in India), 65W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging.
• OS: Nothing OS 3.5 (based on Android 15), with 5 years of Android updates and 7 years of security patches.
• Extras: Wi-Fi 6E, 5G, NFC, eSIM, in-display fingerprint reader.

Performance & Software

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 provides strong performance for gaming, multitasking, and AI-powered tasks. The minimalistic Nothing OS 3.5 features tools like Essential Search and Flip to Record for streamlined user interaction. The camera suite leverages TrueLens Engine 4 for advanced image processing, noise reduction, and natural color rendering.

In Geekbench benchmarks, the Phone (3) scores 2076 in single-core and 6577 in multi-core performance—making it competitive in the flagship space.

Price & Availability

• 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage: $799
• 16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage: $899
  Sales begin July 15, available through Flipkart, Vijay Sales, Croma, and other retailers. Pre-orders open July 4, with Indian buyers receiving a free pair of Nothing Ear

Nothing Headphone (1): Transparent Over-Ears with KEF-Engineered Audio

Design & Audio Technology

The Nothing Headphone (1) is the brand’s first full-sized headphone, co-developed with British hi-fi specialist KEF. Its standout feature is a fully transparent design, staying true to Nothing’s industrial-chic identity.

Weighing 329g, the headphones feature 40mm drivers with nickel-coated polyurethane diaphragms, delivering rich and detailed sound. Supported audio codecs include AAC, SBC, and LDAC, along with spatial audio and adaptive bass enhancement.

Noise Control & Features

The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system suppresses noise by up to 42 dB across a wide 2000 Hz range. A transparency mode lets ambient sound in. Controls include physical buttons and a scroll wheel for intuitive navigation.

Other features include:

• Bluetooth 5.3 with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair.
• Multipoint connectivity (up to 2 devices).
• Low-latency mode for gaming.
• Custom sound profiles and an 8-band EQ.
• Find My Device support and head detection.

Battery Life

• Up to 80 hours without ANC.
• Up to 35 hours with ANC (AAC codec).
• Up to 30 hours with ANC and LDAC.
• Fast charging: 5 minutes = 5 hours of playback.
  LED indicators show battery levels at a glance.

Price & Availability

Nothing Headphone (1) is priced at $299 and is available now. Early reviews highlight the distinct look and premium sound quality, positioning them as strong competitors to high-end models from Sony and Bose.

The Bigger Picture: Nothing in the Premium Space

Nothing continues to gain ground in the premium device segment. The Phone (3) stands toe-to-toe with rivals like the OnePlus 13 and Vivo X200 Ultra, offering a distinctive visual identity and long-term software support. The shift from the traditional Glyph Interface to the Glyph Matrix has sparked debate among fans, but as users on X point out, the new LED display brings more functionality and interactivity.

Meanwhile, the Headphone (1) stands out in a crowded market with its transparent aesthetic and KEF-tuned audio, with some users comparing their look to “a cassette tape for your ears.”