Here's Why Nothing Phones Are Actually Worth Buying

You may be familiar with larger smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung, which produce devices like the iconic iPhone and Samsung Galaxy lineup. However, there are other phone brands available, such as Nothing. The name may suggest there isn't much to the phone brand, but don't let it fool you. Nothing's phones are priced well below most flagships and still come with plenty of features.

We've tested several Nothing phones, and in our Nothing Phone (1) review, we found the phone to be pretty well designed, with a look and feel owners tend to love, too. The brand has since moved upmarket, and our Nothing Phone (3) review found its latest flagship holds its own at $799. If you are looking for a smartphone that won't set you back $1,000 or more, every Nothing phone fits the bill, making them worth considering if you want a solid smartphone without paying flagship prices. Its latest software, Nothing OS 5.0, is based on Android 17 and began rolling out in October 2026, starting with the Phone (3), but availability depends on the model. Older devices, including the original Phone (1), Phone (2), and CMF Phone 1, aren't eligible for the update.

Between our testing and a look at its software, Nothing stands out for offering a more customizable experience. That, along with its more affordable prices, is why a Nothing phone may be worth buying over other brands.

Looking at the prices, it's clear why Nothing stands apart from major competitors like Apple and Samsung. Nothing's phones are more affordable, with its flagship Phone (3) listed at $699 on Nothing's website at the time of writing. By comparison, Apple's iPhone 16 now costs $899, a $200 difference. Of course, many Apple users will opt for the newest model, which would be the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,199. For even greater value, the Phone (4a) Pro launched at just $499.

As for the phones themselves, there are several reasons that make them actually worth buying. They pack plenty of power, with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip in the Phone (3) and a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 in the Phone (4a) Pro, and owners say they feel fast in everyday use.

Nothing's phones also have big batteries, with the Phone (3) at 5,150 mAh and the Phone (4a) Pro at 5,080 mAh. Most people should get through a full day, and light users may stretch to two, though heavier use will drain the battery faster. They also feature an AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. For photos, the Phone (4a) Pro has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens.

One feature some owners find frustrating is a physical button. The Essential Key, which sits on the side of Nothing's recent phones, captures a screenshot or records a voice note and saves it to Essential Space, where AI organizes it. That can be handy if you use it, but on some models, its placement makes it easy to press by accident. In our Phone (3) review, we kept mistaking it for the power button, and owners on Reddit report the same problem. It also can't easily be remapped to do something else without digging into developer options, though the newer Phone (4a) places it in a better spot.

Some owners also say the screen picks up fingerprints and smudges easily, and that the speakers aren't the best for music or videos. If either matters to you, it's worth trying the phone in person first.

Nothing focuses on mid-range phones for people who don't want to spend a fortune on a smartphone. In our Nothing Phone (4a) review, we found it to be the best phone in its price bracket, with solid performance, a versatile camera, and a distinctive design. If anything, Nothing understands how to make a phone that does everything most people need without costing a lot.