Nothing launched the Phone 2 at just $599, and it quickly earned a spot as one of the best value flagships around. But things have changed since then. The new Nothing Phone 3 starts at $799, and with that price tag, Nothing is clearly announcing that it’s ready to go toe-to-toe with Samsung, Google, Apple, and the other big names in the premium smartphone space.
But here’s the thing: one of the biggest hardware choices Nothing has made for its “true flagship” isn’t exactly, well, “flagship.” The Phone 3 runs on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, which isn’t a top-tier chip. Most premium phones right now are running the Snapdragon 8 Elite or MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400, both of which are strong performers. However, Nothing is betting that everything else the Phone 3 offers will convince you to look the other way.