After facing criticism over the Phone (3)‘s Rs 79,999 pricing in India, Nothing has clarified that the device isn’t aimed at price-sensitive markets. A spokesperson from Nothing told Bloomberg that while the company understands the backlash, it considers its profit margins essential for long-term growth.
Most of the pricing complaints, the spokesperson added, are coming from India, a region the company doesn’t consider a primary target for the Phone (3). Instead, the company claims to offer other phones better suited to Indian users in terms of pricing and positioning.
For Indian buyers, Nothing’s statement suggests the Phone (3) is unlikely to see any discounts in the near future. If the Rs 79,999 price feels out of reach or doesn’t meet expectations in terms of value, users may want to consider alternatives within Nothing’s own lineup or competing flagships from OnePlus, Samsung, Apple, etc.
In our Nothing Phone (3) review, we said, “the real issue, and the reason many people are understandably frustrated, is the pricing. Nothing can justify its design decisions all it wants, but in India, that Rs 79,999 price tag makes the Phone (3) a tough sell, no matter how good it is. And make no mistake, it is a pretty good phone.”
The device also packs capable performance from the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC and a versatile camera setup, but they don’t fully match the competition at this price, like the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16. At this price point, expectations rise and in India, those expectations are shaped by years of flagship comparisons.
But if you’re someone who values a bold design and are willing to pay for it, then you should consider the Phone (3). As we said in the review, “Nothing is well aware that it created an asymmetrical camera setup, likely as a way to make a statement and stand out. But in doing so, it has also ensured that only those who truly want a bold, unconventional design will buy this phone.” The Phone (3) gets a few things right, such as clean software, good battery life, and a great display. However, its bold design and chipset choice make premium rivals like the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 look better.
As for those unhappy with the design, Nothing CEO Carl Pei has a blunt response: “If you don’t like it, just move on.” In a recent video on the Nothing YouTube channel, he said that while it’s encouraging to see how invested the community is, things may have gone too far, as he claims that people are harassing Nothing employees for the design.
Why it matters for you
If you’re in India and feeling priced out by the Nothing Phone (3), you’re not the intended audience, and that’s okay. Nothing is segmenting its products more clearly now, and Indian buyers are likely to get better value and locally relevant features from the brand’s A-series or upcoming CMF and rumoured Nothing ‘Lite’ and ‘T’ phones. That said, the Phone (3) still makes a statement, just not one aimed at everyone.
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