Making sense of the Nothing Phone 3 buzz: Hype, hints, hopes, price (expected)

The Nothing Phone 3 is almost here — and the internet can’t stop whispering (and yelling) about it. 

With leaks flying, AI dreams stirring, and a July launch date looming, it’s time to unpack what we think we know about Nothing’s next flagship.

When’s the launch?

Circle your calendars and set your Glyph timers: July 1, 2025, at 1 PM ET is when Nothing plans to officially pull the curtain back.

And it tracks:

Phone 1: Dropped in July 2022.

Phone 2: Showed up in July 2023.

Phone 3: Well, it’s July again (almost) — so why break the streak?

Plus, with the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro already out as of March 2025, a flagship upgrade is the next logical step.

A word from CEO Carl Pei: AI is coming for your smartphone

Nothing’s co-founder and hype-machine-in-chief Carl Pei recently chimed in on social media with his vision of the “post-app world”. 

TL;DR: “Smartphones aren’t going away — they’re evolving. It’s time we made them feel more human.”

Translation: Nothing is betting big on AI — not just for show, but for making your phone feel more like a thoughtful assistant and less like a touchscreen to-do list.

Pei even teased early prototypes of AI-driven interactions and a refreshed UI design, with the Nothing Phone 3 leading the charge. “Expect smiles,” he said.

What's Nothing Phone 3 gonna look like?

We don’t have an official design yet — but we’ve got hints. Carl Pei may or may not have leaked renders on X (formerly Twitter), showing off what looks like:

• A possible new external button (maybe like Apple’s Action Button?)

• Slightly refreshed curves

• That signature Glyph Interface (with rumoured upgrades)

• And yes, don’t expect a total makeover. 

• The transparent, cyber-chic Nothing vibe is here to stay — but likely with more lighting tricks, more LED panels, and better control over those flash-meets-notification animations.

Potential features? 

Let’s speculate wildly (but responsibly)

If we were psychic — or just had great Wi-Fi — here’s what we’d bet on for the Nothing Phone 3:

Faster Charging: Expect an upgrade from the Phone 2’s already solid 45W. Maybe 65W?

Bigger Battery: The Phone 2 had 4,700mAh; we’re betting on a round 5,000mAh.

Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip: It’s the buzzword of the moment. If true, that means serious performance gains.

Improved cameras: Rumours say a Sony LYTIA sensor could be onboard. Better night shots? Sharper selfies? Yes, please.

More AI, less app clutter: With Nothing’s push into AI, expect features that predict your needs rather than make you dig through menus.

And yes — the dual-camera design will probably stick around. It’s kind of their thing.

Price tag?

We’re still in crystal ball territory here, but if Nothing sticks to its past playbook, expect something in the $599–$699 range. That’s still hundreds less than your average iPhone or Galaxy Ultra — and a big part of Nothing’s appeal.

Industry whispers (leakers)

X users are sleuthing every frame of Pei’s AI demo video for hints. Here’s what the experts and leakers are murmuring:

@91mobiles hints at a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip.

@PhoneArena says the cameras are getting a sensor boost, likely from Sony.

Some fans think the new side button could be fully programmable — i.e. custom shortcuts.

AI, the star of the show?

If Nothing pulls it off, the Phone 3 might be one of the first truly AI-forward Android phones. Think smart widgets, dynamic interfaces, and maybe even voice or gesture controls that learn your habits.

Carl Pei summed it up:

“This is our way of throwing our hat into the consumer AI race.”

The Nothing Phone 3 isn’t just shaping up to be another smartphone — it’s shaping up to be a statement. From upgraded silicon and smarter lights to a sprinkle of AI magic, it might be Nothing’s boldest (and most fun) device yet.

Stay tuned. July 1 is just around the bend. And if history repeats itself, it’s going to glow.