Love it or loathe it, the Nothing Phone 3 is nothing if not eye-catching. While its design choices have certainly sparked debate — with at least a couple of comparisons to Picasso’s cubist phase — a new teardown from JerryRigEverything shows there’s a solid foundation behind the flash. And for a company that wears “weird” like a badge of honor, Nothing’s first proper flagship is surprisingly well-built and even somewhat repair-friendly (Source: YouTube via 9to5Google).
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
But you can’t say the Nothing Phone 3 isn’t sturdy
JerryRigEverything’s latest video dives into the Phone 3’s internals with his usual blend of dry humor and brutal honesty, and what’s inside reveals a device that’s more than skin deep. Starting with the standard durability tests, the Gorilla Glass 7i screen performs exactly as expected, scratching at Mohs level 6 with deeper grooves at level 7. Nothing shocking here. The aluminum frame also takes damage from a razor blade, but holds firm structurally. Even the burn test (don’t try this at home, kids) plays out with textbook results, leaving a permanent mark after a 20-second flame session.
Where it gets interesting is the bend test. Despite a frame riddled with plastic antenna lines and that awkwardly placed camera array, the Phone 3 refuses to flex or snap. It’s as rigid as an iPhone (which is saying something) and, frankly, that’s pretty respectable for a $799 phone designed by a company better known for aesthetic experimentation than structural integrity.
On the teardown side, the real surprises begin. Nothing’s transparent-ish rear panel peels off with the help of a razor blade and some heat, revealing a stylized internal layout that, despite looking like a cyberpunk exploded diagram, actually hides most of the real components beneath a shielding plate. The Glyph Matrix and rear camera bumps are fused into the glass, a structural decision that adds strength but could complicate certain repairs.
For that matter, the new Glyph Matrix gets an extra-special look once the clothes come off. Housing 489 individual LEDs, it’s more than a gimmick — it displays time, battery status, and even plays rock-paper-scissors. It’s integrated with a capacitive button that can sense touch through the glass, which forced a Pac-Man-style cutout into the wireless charging coil. That might sound like a recipe for disaster, but somehow, Nothing made it work, and without compromising functionality.
While the teardown reveals a phone that isn’t modular in the Fairphone sense, it’s still serviceable. With screws instead of glue in most places and a pull tab for the 5,150mAh battery, it’s clear the device was designed with at least some attention to repairability. The EU seems to agree, slapping it with a respectable “C” on its new smartphone energy label for repairability — right alongside a much shinier A for energy efficiency.
Internally, the Phone 3 is just as capable as its spec sheet suggests. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC is cooled by a chunky copper vapor chamber, the 65W charging port is tested for 30,000 insertions, and the dual stereo speakers pump out more sound than you’d expect from something this slim. The camera stack includes 50MP telephoto periscope, wide, and ultra-wide sensors, with OIS on the two former lenses. It is, basically, flagship-class through and through.
Nothing’s also shipped a hefty update alongside the hardware. Nothing OS V3.5-250711-2047 brings improvements to the Glyph Interface — including new ringtones with dynamic lighting and vibration — and updates to Essential Space like Flip to Record for meetings. Toss in optimizations for gaming, HDR video tweaks, and better pocket detection, and it’s clear the company is supporting its phones with more than just bold design.
Say what you want about the Nothing Phone 3’s looks (and I’m sure people will), but this teardown proves it’s more than just a pretty (and polarizing) face. Between the sturdy frame, smart component layout, and thoughtful design quirks, Nothing’s flagship is weird, wonderful, and — dare I say — surprisingly legit.
