If you think another mid-ranger phone can't ascend to the throne of smug confidence, think again. British brand Nothing, led by former OnePlus executive Carl Pei, has unveiled its latest trump card at the Google Android Show: the Nothing Phone (3). And it doesn't come cheap.
To be precise, the starting price is Nothing Phone (3) 2025 – “mid-range” phone positioned at 930 euros. Yes, you read that right. Almost a thousand for a phone that is supposed to target the mass middle class of the tech public. For comparison: the previous model, Nothing Phone (2), was sold for a more affordable 670 euros at launch.
This means almost 40 % price increase in one year – inflation can be hidden.
Nothing Phone (3): visual extravagance or technological elitism?
Of course, the Nothing Phone (3) 2025 won't be just another upgrade. Carl Pei promised advanced materials, better hardware, a new approach to software, and – of course – a more polished design that's meant to combat the boredom in the market. The transparent body with the famous LED strips called Glyph Interface, remains a trademark, but this time the light show is set to be upgraded. Some say it will shine better than the city lighting in Ljubljana – while saving energy, of course.
Nothing Phone (3) 2025: what do we get for almost a thousand euros?
- Chipset Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 – the latest flagship from Qualcomm's mid-range lineup. Not quite a Ferrari, but pretty close.
- 120Hz OLED display refresh rate, HDR10+ support and probably very thin bezels. So no "beard".
- Advanced camera (we're talking about a 50 MP main lens with a Sony IMX890 sensor) and more refined night photography. Finally, night photos without the look of an oil painting.
- Nothing OS 3.0, which is supposed to bring an even cleaner, yet playful user interface. Without bloatware, because that's a basic human right.
But…
With a price that is dangerously close to Apple's iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S24, the question arises: Who will buy this? So where are the buyers of Nothing Phone (3) 2025?
Although the Nothing Phone (3) 2025 is designed as a premium mid-range phone, at this price it flirts with serious flagships. Apple offers the iOS ecosystem, Samsung offers top-notch cameras and water resistance, and the Google Pixel series convinces with the best photography software and long-term support.
Nothing has design. And charisma. But is that enough?
Nothing or something more?
Nothing builds on a sense of difference. Their phones aren't just phones, they're a statement—a technological fashion statement for a generation that wants something fresh, a little retro, and definitely anti-corporate. But now that the price tag is hitting nearly four zeros, that anti-establishment charm is quickly approaching irony.
Carl Pei claims that they are targeting “value for design” audience. In short, people who would be willing to pay a little more for a more special phone. Maybe even too much.
Of course – it's below. supplemented paragraph, which you can include in your article, and talks about this trend among Chinese manufacturers. It is written in your desired tone – a little sparky, with an analytical outlook and a touch of irony:
The Chinese pattern: from people's price to premium ego
What Nothing does with Phone (3), really nothing new – at least not for those of us who have been following the smartphone market for a long time. This is typical development path of many Chinese manufacturers: they start out as “value-for-money” world saviors, then once they gain a loyal user base and a bit of confidence, prices soar higher than a SpaceX rocket.
Let's remember Huawei, which once offered premium phones for half the price of the competition, until it began competing with Apple with the P and Mate series – not only on performance, but also on price. Honor followed the same path after separating from Huawei. Similarly, Xiaomi, who started out as a 'folk hero' with the Mi series, but today the Ultra model easily costs over 1,200 euros.
And now here is Nothing – although based in London, with a soul, production and business logic that follows a proven Chinese school of price evolution: First win hearts, then wallets.
Will success follow ambition?
In a market where phones for 600 euros offer everything the average user needs (hello, Pixel 8a, Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi 14 Lite), Nothing will have to convince with character. And with serious performance.
Will it be Nothing Phone (3) 2025 will become a new cult icon, or will it find itself in a niche showcase for hipsters and design geeks - we'll see in July, when the phone is expected to be officially released.
Until then, hand in hand, many of us will still be asking ourselves the same question: Is 930 euros for a mid-ranger really... a little?
