I used the $799 Nothing Phone 3, and these features surprised me in the best way

Nothing's new flagship phone is its most expensive and risky product yet. At $799, the Nothing Phone 3 no longer undercuts its midrange competitors. Instead, the handset takes on the likes of the iPhone Pro, Pixel Pro, and Galaxy S phones of the world with a striking design, functional AI features, and fine software tuning. 

Also: I tested Nothing's first over-ear headphones, and they made my AirPods Max look boring

And it does so while sacrificing its most iconic feature, the Glyph Lights, which have now been replaced by a more subtle and unique Glyph Matrix interface. More on that later.

I went hands-on with the Phone 3 at Nothing's launch event in London, and here's why it's poised to make a splash in an ever-competitive market.

Putting the 'fun' in functionality

As a tech enthusiast, I couldn't ...