[Review] Nothing Phone (3) and Headphone (1): Bold Design, Flagship Ambition, and a New Direction for Nothing

Nothing, the London-based startup founded in 2020 by Carl Pei, best known as the co-founder of OnePlus, has steadily grown from a bold newcomer to one of the most talked-about challenger brands in consumer tech.

Built on the vision of bringing personality and thoughtful design back to electronics, Nothing has quickly become known for its transparent aesthetics and clever use of light and sound cues. Today, it’s more than a design statement: the company is moving serious hardware, with over US$1 billion in lifetime revenue.

Earlier in July, the arrival of the Phone (3) and Headphone (1) marked Nothing’s most ambitious step yet. Over a month since launch, the products continue to draw attention for their balance of style and function, showing that the city’s saturated flagship market has space for a brand with a fresh perspective.

Phone (3): A Flagship with Identity

Nothing’s first true flagship, the Phone (3), introduces the Glyph Matrix, an evolution of its signature rear LEDs. Nearly 500 micro-LEDs light up in dynamic patterns for notifications, app progress bars, and even playful tools like a built-in Magic 8-Ball.

Paired with a new Glyph Button, it turns the phone’s back into a functional display.

The design maintains the brand’s transparent DNA with a tri-column grid layout and rounded “R-angle” edges for comfort. On the front, a 6.67-inch AMOLED display pushes 1.5K resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and a blinding 4,500-nit peak brightness, perfect for Singapore’s sunny outdoors.

Under the hood, it is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, up to 16 GB RAM, and a 5,150 mAh silicon-carbon battery with both fast and wireless charging.

The camera setup is equally competitive, featuring a 50 MP wide, 50 MP 3× telephoto, and 50 MP ultrawide on the rear, plus a 50 MP selfie shooter, all capable of 4K 60fps video.

Running on Nothing OS 3.5 (based on Android 15), the software brings features like Essential Search, Flip to Record, and Essential Space for distraction-free focus.

Nothing has also committed to five years of Android upgrades and seven years of security patches, a rarity even among bigger brands.

In Singapore, the Phone (3) retails at S

,199 (16 GB + 512 GB), positioning it firmly among other flagship competitors with a competitive price tag, while standing out with its unique character.

Headphone (1): Transparent Sound with Substance

The Headphone (1) marks Nothing’s first foray into over-ear audio, co-developed with British hi-fi brand KEF. The result is a striking pair of transparent headphones with plush memory-foam cushions and aluminium detailing.

Aesthetic wise, you either love it or hate it with its bold, angular curves. We love it for its retro sci-fi look.

Performance lives up to the looks: 40 mm dynamic drivers, Hi-Res Audio, LDAC, spatial audio with head tracking, and adaptive ANC powered by AI sound modelling.

Controls are physical, featuring a roller, paddle, and button, designed to be intuitive and reliable. We love this old school touch that makes the tech more fun.

Battery life stretches to 35 hours with ANC on, and quick charging gives you more than two hours of playback from just five minutes plugged in.

Retailing at S9, the Headphone (1) faces tough competition from stalwarts like Sony and Bose, but its combination of design flair and KEF’s tuning gives it a distinct edge for style-conscious audiophiles.

We stand by our verdict. Overall, both the Nothing Phone (3) and the Nothing Headphone (1) will appeal strongly to the fashion or design conscious tech consumers at a pretty reasonable price for a premium, unique look. Functional tech can be design-focused and beautiful. Nothing has done it again with these two new launches.

Pricing and Availability

Nothing Phone (3)

16GB + 512GB Model: S

,199
Colours: Black, White

Nothing Headphone (1)

Price: S9
Colours: Black, White

Online Stores

Nothing.tech (SG) 
Shopee Nothing Official Store 
Lazada Nothing Flagship Store 
TikTok Shop 

Retail Stores

Challenger (Funan, VivoCity, Jurong Point)
Courts (Orchard, Tampines, Jem)
Stereo Electronics (Plaza Singapura, Ion Orchard)
Popular Bookstores (Selected outlets)