A year ago, I called it the most outrageous flagship on Android, and I don’t regret it. At a price of 70 thousand rubles, the Nothing Phone (3) with a matrix display on the back, a “spin the bottle” game, and asymmetrical cameras looked like a designer manifesto that people were being charged for. Now it costs 34 thousand on AliExpress. And you know what? I’ve changed my mind. Here are five reasons why.
A failed smartphone turned into a top pick for its price
How Much Does the Nothing Phone (3) Cost Now
The Nothing Phone (3) price has had an interesting journey. At launch in July 2025, AliExpress offered it for 55 thousand rubles, while official retail was around 70 thousand. Now it’s 34 thousand for the 12/256 GB version. A 21-thousand-ruble drop in one year — that’s literally the market changing its perception of the smartphone.
At 34 thousand rubles, the Nothing Phone (3) competes with completely different devices. Among the most discounted smartphones, this is one of the most interesting cases: flagship ambitions at a mid-range price.
The Most Unusual Smartphone in 2026
The most unusual smartphone in 2026 is definitely not a Chinese flagship with a square camera module. The Nothing Phone (3) looks different from everything else on the market, and that’s no longer a disadvantage — it’s an advantage.
Against the backdrop of identical Chinese phones, this smartphone feels stylish
The Glyph Matrix (matrix display on the back) has settled into several real-world use cases over the past year. Notifications without unlocking the phone, a timer in plain sight, a recording indicator in the form of a red square. This isn’t “playing spin the bottle,” as I sarcastically wrote a year ago — it’s a living interface that you get used to faster than you’d expect.
A stylish smartphone with a transparent back and asymmetrical design stands out in 2026 against the backdrop of identical Chinese flagships. My colleague Ivan Gerasimov has been using the Nothing Phone (3) for several months — his real owner review says exactly this: you get used to the unconventional design and then miss it when you go back to regular smartphones.
A Smartphone with Generous Memory
Here’s the main argument of 2026 that didn’t exist at launch. There’s currently a memory shortage on the market: manufacturers are massively shifting to configurations with less memory to keep prices down. Even the OPPO Find X9 Ultra at 100 thousand rubles on AliExpress offers only 12 GB of RAM.
The smartphone offers a huge memory reserve for its price
The Nothing Phone (3) offers the following options:
- 12/256 GB — from 34,000 rubles;
- 16/512 GB — from 40,000 rubles.
16 GB of RAM in 2026 during a shortage — that’s seriously impressive. A browser with a dozen tabs, several heavy apps in the background, no reloads when switching — the smartphone doesn’t hesitate where competitors start unloading processes. At 34 thousand rubles, the 12/256 configuration looks very attractive.
Nothing Phone (3) Specs in 2026
The Nothing Phone (3) specifications offer arguably the best balance on the market, and you can see for yourself:
| Specifications | Nothing Phone (3) |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.67 inches, AMOLED (2800×1260), 1-120 Hz |
| Main Camera | 50 (OIS) + 50 + 50 (OIS) MP |
| Front Camera | 50 MP |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 |
| Memory | 12/256 or 16/512 GB |
| Battery | 5150 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired, 15W wireless |
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 isn’t the top-tier chip, but it’s powerful enough for any everyday tasks and most games. The Nothing Phone (3) camera with its triple system and a 1/1.31-inch main sensor shoots confidently: not on the level of Leica flagships, but honestly good for its price. The 3x periscope telephoto covers most zoom shooting scenarios.
Nothing OS with Android Updates
The Nothing Phone (3) in 2026 is not an outdated device — it’s quite current. The smartphone launched on Android 15, has already received the Android 16 update, and will continue to be updated all the way to Android 20. Security patches will keep coming until 2032.
The shell is snappy and minimalistic
This is a serious argument when buying a smartphone for several years. Most Chinese competitors promise 3-4 years of updates. Nothing promises 5 major Android updates and 7 years of security patches — that’s Samsung flagship-level support, but at a third of the price.
Nothing OS as a shell is minimalistic, fast, and free of bloatware. The Nothing Phone (3) works the way a flagship should: no ads, no pre-installed apps, no forced services. This is appreciated by those who are tired of HyperOS with ads and unnecessary widgets.
Who Should Buy the Nothing Phone (3)
You should buy the Nothing Phone (3) in several scenarios:
- you want powerful hardware and a good camera but aren’t ready to pay for an expensive flagship;
- you’re tired of identical Chinese smartphones and want something visually unique;
- long-term support is important to you;
- you need a smartphone with a decent amount of memory without overpaying.
Don’t buy it if maximum battery life is critical (5150 mAh is an average figure), or if you want a telephoto longer than 3x or a camera system on par with Leica/Hasselblad (you’ll have to pay more for other manufacturers). An affordable and good smartphone — that’s exactly what the Nothing Phone (3) has become in 2026.
