Nothing has officially brought its flagship Nothing Phone 3 to Malaysia, with pre-orders opening in mid-July for delivery ahead of the general release on 1 August 2025. With breathtaking design, quirky features, and cutting-edge hardware, the Phone 3 signals Nothing’s ascent as a serious contender in the global smartphone arena.

Available in Malaysia with Sweet Early-Bird Perks

In Malaysia, the Nothing Phone 3 comes in two storage configurations:

• 12 GB RAM 256 GB storage – RM 3,299

• 16 GB RAM 512 GB storage – RM 3,799

Pre-orders began on 12 July, with a special “first wave” drop at Crossover Sunway Pyramid on 19 July, complete with complimentary gifts like Nothing-branded merch, a pair of Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds, and a one-year extended warranty for early adopters. Open sales will hit retailers and online shops starting 1 August.

Design: Whisper-Net Elegance Meets Playful Personality

Visually, the Nothing Phone 3 is unmistakably Nothing. It features a transparent, grid-patterned rear panel that reveals the tri-board internal architecture, offering a distinctive and futuristic aesthetic that sets it apart from mainstream flagships.

The real standout is the new Glyph Matrix, which replaces the traditional LED glyph lights with a compact 489-pixel LED display. This matrix handles notifications in a fun and interactive way and supports a suite of built-in mini-games and tools, including:

• Spin the Bottle, Rock-Paper-Scissors, Magic 8 Ball

• Functional widgets like a timer, battery gauge, digital clock, and phone-level

• Selfie-preview mode for framing high-quality selfies using the rear camera

A dedicated rear button lets users toggle through matrix modes, adjust brightness, and personalize icons. With the Essential Notifications system, users can assign unique visuals to specific app alerts that stay visible even when the phone is face-down.

Performance & Display: Smooth, Polished — Yet Not Top-End

Display

The Phone 3 boasts a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10 certification, and peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It offers a crisp, vibrant viewing experience, even under harsh lighting. However, it lacks LTPO technology, limiting the refresh rate drop to 30 Hz rather than the more efficient 1 Hz offered by top-tier flagships.

Processor & Performance

Under the hood is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, paired with either 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM. This setup delivers a smooth experience for daily tasks, media, and gaming. While it doesn’t match the raw performance of premium flagships using Qualcomm’s Elite-tier processors, it offers a strong balance of efficiency and speed. Thermal performance is generally good, though slight heat buildup can occur during intensive tasks.

Battery & Charging

A 5,150 mAh silicon-carbon battery powers the Phone 3, offering impressive longevity. It supports 65 W wired charging, 15 W wireless charging, and 7.5 W reverse wireless charging. The device can go from zero to full in under an hour. It consistently delivers over 8 hours of screen-on time, making it a reliable all-day companion. Wireless and reverse wireless charging add extra flexibility.

Additional features include IP68-rated dust and water resistance, Wi-Fi 7, eSIM support, stereo speakers, and an under-display fingerprint scanner.

Cameras: Versatile and Reliable, Though Not Best-in-Class

The rear camera system on the Phone 3 consists of three 50 MP sensors:

1. A wide-angle primary camera with optical image stabilization

2. A periscope telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom and macro mode

3. An ultra-wide sensor with a 114-degree field of view

The front-facing camera is also 50 MP, housed in a small punch-hole cutout. Overall, the camera system captures vibrant, sharp photos with good dynamic range and natural color tones. It performs well in daylight, with decent portrait effects and good detail preservation. Low-light performance is adequate but doesn’t compete with high-end flagships that include dedicated night photography enhancements.

The Phone 3 supports 4K video recording at up to 60 fps on both front and rear cameras, with features like optical image stabilization helping to maintain steady footage.

Software & Features: Clean, Playful, and Forward-Thinking

Running on Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, the Phone 3 delivers a clean and responsive software experience with thoughtful touches of flair. The interface is minimal, fast, and free of unnecessary bloat.

Nothing has committed to five years of Android updates and seven years of security patches, placing it among the industry leaders in software support longevity.

AI Tools and UI Enhancements

• Essential Search: A smart, AI-powered search bar that can answer questions directly from your app drawer

• Widget system: Redesigned with interactive elements that work seamlessly with the Glyph Matrix

• Personalized Themes: Deeper customization of fonts, icons, and color palettes

Despite some minor quirks in how widgets are arranged or removed, the OS is polished and intuitive. The integration between hardware and software—especially the way the Glyph Matrix works with system functions—is genuinely unique in the smartphone landscape.

How It Stands Out

While it may not outperform flagship models like the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 Pro in raw specs, the Nothing Phone 3 carves out a different identity. Its transparent design, interactive rear LED display, clean software, and thoughtful features all add up to a phone that feels more human and enjoyable to use.

It’s a phone for people who want technology to be fun, expressive, and reliable—without paying top-tier flagship prices.

Final Verdict

The Nothing Phone 3 is priced at RM 3,299 for the 12 GB 256 GB variant and RM 3,799 for the 16 GB 512 GB version in Malaysia. For users seeking a unique phone that blends personality with performance, this is a compelling alternative to the usual flagship crowd.

With its playful Glyph Matrix, strong battery life, fast charging, generous software support, and distinctive design, the Phone 3 stands out as one of the most interesting smartphones of the year.