Not anything Telephone (3) evaluate – is it in reality a worthy flagship?

Over the previous couple of years, Not anything has constructed a forged title for itself within the tech trade, generating plenty of distinctive, leading edge units and equipment and promoting them for reasonably priced costs. On the other hand, on July 1, 2025, the corporate dropped its first “true flagship” with a value to check. Whilst it definitely is exclusive, the Not anything Telephone (3) has already confirmed rather debatable because of its steep value, daring aesthetic, and a few attention-grabbing possible choices relating to its options and {hardware}. So, naturally, we needed to take hold of the chance to check it and spot the way it sizes up.

I won the evaluate unit on Friday, July 4, and I have spent the remaining week striking it thru its paces in day by day existence. So let’s check out my time with the Not anything Telephone (3) up to now to look the way it compares to the absolute best Android telephones available on the market, and, in fact, whether or not it lives as much as the price.

Except for the design, the cost is definitely one of the contentious issues about this telephone. Not anything is understood for generating one of the crucial absolute best price range telephones, so freeing a flagship-priced telephone with a much less robust chip than its competition in the similar value bracket is definitely a selection.

Opting for a value of $799 / £799 places the Telephone (3) in direct festival with one of the crucial largest units available on the market. For context, the Pixel 9, Samsung Galaxy S25, and the iPhone 16 all introduced at this value level, whilst the most recent telephone now we have reviewed with an 8s Gen 4 chip, the Poco F7, sits at simplest $399 / £389 for the 12+256GB model or $449 / £429 for the 12+512GB model.

The Not anything Telephone (3) does be offering any other nice options and specifications that can make the cost profitable for some, however the asking value does really feel rather steep within the present marketplace.

Efficiency and gaming

During the last week, my revel in with the Telephone (3) has been very clean. I have spent numerous time exploring Shibuya and the Metaverse in Personality 5 X, and feature been inspired with the fast loading occasions and the way beautiful the whole thing seems.

Sadly, as discussed above, the Not anything Telephone (3)’s chip is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 as an alternative of the Snapdragon 8 Elite many people anticipated for the cost. In case you are unaware, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a slightly new and forged chip, however is definitely thought to be mid-range, and many of the absolute best gaming telephones in a identical value vary characteristic the extra robust 8 Elite chip, which provides them a few 30-40% efficiency lead over the Telephone (3). This contains the Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, although the Telephone (3) is priced less than either one of those lately.

In keeping with Evangelidis, Not anything made this resolution as the usage of the 8s Gen 4 approach the Not anything Telephone (3) can give 5 years of tool updates and 7 years of safety updates, which is a considerable development over the Not anything Telephone (2)‘s 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of safety patches. However, whilst this extended give a boost to could also be excellent for the telephone’s longevity and worth for cash, it does introduce barriers for the ones of you taking a look to spend your entire time enjoying the absolute best cellular video games. Because of this, it additionally makes it tricky for the Not anything Telephone (3) to face out towards competition that supply the 8 Elite chip for a somewhat greater value.

Fortunately, although, I have no longer discovered the 8s Gen 4 to be underpowered up to now – and, as a consumer, you may no longer even realize the adaptation except you are making plans on coming into tremendous graphically in depth video games. Individually, I have basically been the use of the Not anything Telephone (3) to play the absolute best gacha video games, and function has been tremendous clean up till now. Video games like Genshin Have an effect on, Honkai Celebrity Rail, Personality 5 X, and Wuthering Waves all run like a dream on medium to top settings, with fast load occasions and little or no stuttering or efficiency dips. I have additionally discovered that the telephone has stayed strangely cool whilst enjoying P5X particularly, even after lengthy gaming classes all over a heatwave, although it does run somewhat sizzling when enjoying Genshin at the very best graphical settings.

Out of doors of gaming, the Telephone (3) is sensible for day by day use, whether or not you are the use of your entire favourite apps, gazing media, or surfing the internet. The whole thing is slick and fast, or even rotating your telephone ends up in a quick switchover time.

As discussed above, the Not anything Telephone (3)’s design has confirmed rather divisive since its unlock – much more so than the Not anything Headphone (1), which got here out on the similar time. Not anything’s earlier telephones have all featured visually pleasant geometric patterns and the original Glyph Interface, which has turn out to be a signature that enthusiasts sit up for with each and every tool. This interface normally options a number of Glyph lighting fixtures that include preset results tied to other ringtones and notifications, permitting you to inform in case you have a notification or name, even if your telephone is face down.

On the other hand, the slick lighting fixtures and round patterns now we have come to acknowledge don’t seem to be provide this time and are as an alternative changed with asymmetrical squares and contours beneath a clear glass again. The Glyph lighting fixtures also are changed with a small round display with a dot show referred to as the Glyph Matrix, which we will talk about additional within the options and tool segment of this evaluate.

Whilst the Glyph Matrix is definitely a fascinating (although quite gimmicky) characteristic, it sort of feels rather an bizarre selection to thoroughly step clear of the signature design other people have come to like, particularly to your first premium-priced handset. I believe the Glyph Matrix would’ve been higher won if it had been additionally accompanied by way of the ones futuristic gentle strips and round patterns sported by way of the former units.

As for the cameras, whilst their specifications are definitely spectacular (extra on that later), the entrance digicam and ultra-wide digicam each protrude rather a little, which feels somewhat dangerous. Most likely I am simply paranoid, however I believe it might be rather simple to scratch them or catch them on one thing whilst pulling your telephone from your pocket.

Fortunately, the telephone does include a pre-applied display protector and a transparent silicone case with raised edges for defense. As a facet be aware, I used to be additionally pleasantly stunned by way of the standard of the SIM tray ejector instrument, which, reasonably than a easy (and bendable) pin, is beautiful forged and springs with a transparent plastic grip for ease of use.

Just like the Headphone (1), the Telephone (3)’s distinctive design seems higher in actual existence, and it is indisputably grown on me since seeing it in individual. I feel if I would noticed this tool with out Not anything’s earlier telephones to check it to, I might’ve been much more inspired.

On the other hand, the from time to time unfinished strains, misaligned cameras, and the half-covered screw on the height do glance somewhat bizarre. It definitely has a divisive aesthetic, however I am nonetheless satisfied to look Not anything sticking to its motto of making leading edge and fascinating designs. Whether or not you like it or hate it, it’s going to definitely flip heads when you are out and about.

Like earlier Not anything telephones, the Telephone (3) additionally options an extra aspect button. Positioned at the proper aspect of the telephone, this button is referred to as the ‘very important key’, and you’ll be able to use it to take fast screenshots, report voice memos, and use AI research by the use of the Very important Area App. I just like the capability of having the ability to take a snappy screenshot or report a voice memo at the pass, nevertheless it does not in reality really feel helpful sufficient to warrant its personal devoted button. In truth, I will’t say I have discovered myself the use of it very a lot in any respect. No less than, no longer deliberately. The very important key being positioned beneath the lock display button makes it really feel so much like a quantity rocker, and has definitely resulted in numerous unintended presses as I have been being used to the telephone.

On height of that, the Not anything Telephone (3)’s display includes a contact sampling price of one,000 Hz, which surpasses even the ASUS ROG Telephone 9 Professional, leading to improbable responsiveness. That is in particular helpful when enjoying the absolute best FPS video games, the place each second counts.

It is very a lot a flagship display, boasting the similar pixel density because the iPhone 16. On the other hand, it does use the somewhat less expensive LTPS tech versus the LTPO tech hired by way of maximum flagship Android telephones. Which means, whilst different telephones are able to reducing their refresh price all of the manner down to one Hz, the Telephone (3) can simplest pass as little as 30 Hz.

This does not in reality have an effect on how the show seems, and also you most probably would possibly not realize it in any respect, nevertheless it does have an have an effect on at the telephone’s battery existence. Fortunately, it may possibly maintain that decrease energy potency as a result of, as we will spotlight later, the battery here’s a actual powerhouse.

The one thing more to notice is that the Telephone (3)’s show is safe by way of Gorilla Glass 7i, which is as soon as once more a midrange possibility when in comparison to different flagships’ tougher Gorilla Glass Victus or Victus 2. Like different options, this most probably would possibly not make a large distinction to maximum of you, however taking into consideration the truth that the Glyph Matryx desires you to stay your Telephone (3) face down as a rule, it feels a little of a dangerous selection.

Cameras

The Not anything Telephone (3) boasts 4 50MP cameras, which is in reality rather spectacular. Because of this, you are assured to get fine quality footage regardless of which digicam you are the use of. The TrueLens Engine 4 makes snapping professional-style photographs a breeze, boasting a portrait optimizer, movement seize mode, macro mode, and extra. The zoom is sensible, bearing in mind some very transparent photographs from afar, and the UI may be very intuitive and simple to navigate.

The bigger sensor with shallow intensity of box does imply that you can from time to time in finding main points popping out somewhat cushy while you zoom into footage you’ve gotten taken, and this softness too can raise over to photographs serious about the telephoto lens. On the other hand, the latter is the principle supply of your macro photographs, and lets you snap some in reality sharp and detailed close-up photographs. Alternatively, the ultrawide and selfie cameras are simply probably the most constant of the 4, and you’ll be able to get some in reality sharp and surprising photographs with them.

When it comes to video, the Not anything Telephone (3) helps extremely XDR video recording at 60 or 30 FPS, 1080p extremely XDR video recording at 60 or 30 FPS, and slo-mo in 1080p at 240 or 120 FPS. It additionally helps time-lapse recording at 4K/1080p.

General, the cameras are in reality forged, providing just about the whole thing maximum customers will need. They do not absolutely examine to the likes of the absolute best Google Pixel telephones, however with a little of fine-tuning, they are indisputably up there.

Bearing in mind the cost of the telephone, it might’ve been great to get an adapter for wall charging, nevertheless it works neatly with my iPhone plug, and that’s the reason a small grievance, in reality.

Alternatively, it does as regards to the whole thing you want it to for day by day use, boasting a in point of fact flagship battery, a good looking display, extremely rapid efficiency in terms of surfing and scrolling, minimum bloat, and extra. It additionally works rather well with all the most well liked Android video games available on the market at this time.

Individually, I would suggest this telephone in a heartbeat if it was once to be had for round $100 / £100 much less, so stay a watch out for any gross sales sooner or later. However, within the interim, it could be value taking a look to the contest if you wish to have price for cash.

Choices

No longer offered at the Telephone (3)? That is honest sufficient, in reality. In the event you’ve come this a long way, you almost certainly know what telephones I am gonna suggest, however listed below are some nice choices so that you can believe.

Samsung Galaxy S25

For round the similar value because the Telephone (3), you’ll be able to get the 128GB model of the Samsung Galaxy S25, entire with the extra robust Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Whilst the specifications are a little of a step down in any other spaces, this little attractiveness is lately one of the robust flagships available on the market, providing a height gaming revel in in a smaller package deal. Take a look at our complete Samsung Galaxy S25 evaluate to be informed extra.

iPhone 16

Sticking to a identical value bracket, Apple’s iPhone 16 is a surprisingly forged iOS telephone with top-tier efficiency, very good cameras, and extra, all at a cheap value. As soon as once more, it is a step down from the Telephone (3) in some spaces together with battery and show, however it is a nice possibility for day-to-day use and gaming alike, and it ceaselessly is going on sale. Take a look at our complete iPhone 16 evaluate to be informed extra.

And that is the reason the whole thing I have were given at the Not anything Telephone (3). In case you are nonetheless at the hunt for a brand new tool, ensure to try our height alternatives for the absolute best Samsung telephones, the absolute best iPhone, and the absolute best Xiaomi telephones to be informed extra in regards to the Not anything Telephone (3)’s competition.