Adore it or detest it, the Nothing Cellphone 3 is nothing if not eye-catching. Whereas its design selections have definitely sparked debate — with at the least a few comparisons to Picasso’s cubist section — a brand new teardown from JerryRigEverything exhibits there is a strong basis behind the flash. And for a corporation that wears “bizarre” like a badge of honor, Nothing’s first correct flagship is surprisingly well-built and even considerably repair-friendly (Supply: YouTube through 9to5Google).
Magnificence is within the eye of the beholder
However you possibly can’t say the Nothing Cellphone 3 is not sturdy
An individual holding the black Nothing Cellphone 3
JerryRigEverything’s newest video dives into the Cellphone 3’s internals together with his ordinary mix of dry humor and brutal honesty, and what’s inside reveals a tool that’s greater than pores and skin deep. Beginning with the usual sturdiness checks, the Gorilla Glass 7i display performs precisely as anticipated, scratching at Mohs degree 6 with deeper grooves at degree 7. Nothing surprising right here. The aluminum body additionally takes injury from a razor blade, however holds agency structurally. Even the burn take a look at (don’t do this at house, youngsters) performs out with textbook outcomes, leaving a everlasting mark after a 20-second flame session.
The place it will get fascinating is the bend take a look at. Regardless of a body riddled with plastic antenna traces and that awkwardly positioned digicam array, the Cellphone 3 refuses to flex or snap. It is as inflexible as an iPhone (which is saying one thing) and, frankly, that is fairly respectable for a $799 telephone designed by an organization higher recognized for aesthetic experimentation than structural integrity.
On the teardown facet, the true surprises start. Nothing’s transparent-ish rear panel peels off with the assistance of a razor blade and a few warmth, revealing a stylized inside format that, regardless of wanting like a cyberpunk exploded diagram, really hides a lot of the actual parts beneath a shielding plate. The Glyph Matrix and rear digicam bumps are fused into the glass, a structural choice that provides energy however may complicate sure repairs.
For that matter, the brand new Glyph Matrix will get an extra-special look as soon as the garments come off. Housing 489 particular person LEDs, it’s greater than a gimmick — it shows time, battery standing, and even performs rock-paper-scissors. It’s built-in with a capacitive button that may sense contact by the glass, which compelled a Pac-Man-style cutout into the wi-fi charging coil. Which may sound like a recipe for catastrophe, however one way or the other, Nothing made it work, and with out compromising performance.
Whereas the teardown reveals a telephone that isn’t modular within the Fairphone sense, it’s nonetheless serviceable. With screws as an alternative of glue in most locations and a pull tab for the 5,150mAh battery, it’s clear the system was designed with at the least some consideration to repairability. The EU appears to agree, slapping it with a decent “C” on its new smartphone power label for repairability — proper alongside a a lot shinier A for power effectivity.
Internally, the Cellphone 3 is simply as succesful as its spec sheet suggests. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC is cooled by a chunky copper vapor chamber, the 65W charging port is examined for 30,000 insertions, and the twin stereo audio system pump out extra sound than you’d count on from one thing this slim. The digicam stack consists of 50MP telephoto periscope, broad, and ultra-wide sensors, with OIS on the 2 former lenses. It’s, mainly, flagship-class by and thru.
Nothing’s additionally shipped a hefty replace alongside the {hardware}. Nothing OS V3.5-250711-2047 brings enhancements to the Glyph Interface — together with new ringtones with dynamic lighting and vibration — and updates to Important House like Flip to Document for conferences. Toss in optimizations for gaming, HDR video tweaks, and higher pocket detection, and it’s clear the corporate is supporting its telephones with extra than simply daring design.
Say what you need in regards to the Nothing Cellphone 3’s seems to be (and I’m positive folks will), however this teardown proves it’s greater than only a fairly (and polarizing) face. Between the sturdy body, sensible element format, and considerate design quirks, Nothing’s flagship is bizarre, great, and — dare I say — surprisingly legit.