Nothing Phone 3 rumored to feature Qualcomm's latest flagship variant

Lighted Glyphs on the back of the Nothing Phone (2)
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Early rumors suggest Nothing's Phone 3 will feature Qualcomm's toned-down Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC.
  • The chip launched in March and clocked at 3.0GHz with a singular high-performance core.
  • Rumors add that the Phone 3 could also see a price increase in India, which could affect the U.S. market.

It hasn't been too long since the Nothing Phone 2 hit the market, and rumors are beginning to swirl regarding Nothing's next flagship device, the Phone 3. 

According to 91Mobiles (Hindu), the Nothing Phone 3 will supposedly feature Qualcomm's latest SoC variant, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (via PhoneArena). The post adds that an industry official closer to the matter confirmed as much, alongside a claim that the device will rise in price — for one market, at least.

The source alleged that the Phone 3 will see a price of ₹40,000 to ₹45,000 when it launches in India. A rough estimate sees the device priced anywhere from $480 to nearly $540 in the U.S. if the rumors prove true. Rumors add that Nothing is "not interested" in pursuing the premium market of smartphones.

Apparently, the company wants to strike a balance between budget and premium without asking consumers for too much.

Pricing is always an object of curiosity, and, as PhoneArena noted, the Phone 2 launched with a $600 price tag in 2023. If Nothing is considering a price hike in India, perhaps we'd see the same in the U.S. For now, it's speculated that the device could see a nearly $100 increase in the US if these rumors are correct.

Regarding its chip, Qualcomm debuted the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which turned out to be a toned-down variant of the flagship SD 8 Gen 3. The chip clocked in at 3.0GHz alongside a singular high-performance core, slightly slower than its larger sibling's 3.3GHz max speed. The company stated the chip was designed to take on on-device AI features, similar to the beefier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The announcement stated the chip features Quad HD Plus display support at 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10/10+ support, and more.

More information about the Nothing Phone 3 is scarce for now. The Nothing Phone 2 launched with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, as Carl Pei stated he felt more comfortable with its tried-and-true capabilities over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Consumers were met with a 6.7-inch display and a maximum 512GB internal storage size.

Moreover, the Phone 2 launched last summer, which means teasers for the Phone 3 could start soon. The company started teasing the Phone 2 in May, meaning it may take a similar approach this year.

Nickolas Diaz
News Writer

Nickolas is always excited about tech and getting his hands on it. Writing for him can vary from delivering the latest tech story to scribbling in his journal. When Nickolas isn't hitting a story, he's often grinding away at a game or chilling with a book in his hand.