Tech fans are voicing disappointment after Nothing officially confirmed the upcoming Phone (3) will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, not the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite as many had hoped.

Despite the five-year-old British brand marketing the Phone (3) as its “first true flagship,” the choice of silicon may suggest otherwise.

While the 8s Gen 4 delivers solid gains over the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 used in the Nothing Phone 2, with a 36% CPU boost and 88% GPU jump, it lags well behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite powering premium rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy S25 and the OnePlus 13.

CEO Carl Pei defended the move in a recent Nothing TV video, claiming the phone will “feel a lot snappier,” but critics point out the gap between the 8s Gen 4 and Elite chipset is significant, especially in longevity.

Given the likely two-year upgrade cycle, many worry the Phone (3) will fall even further behind as Android flagships continue to evolve.

Making matters worse, the same chipset will power cheaper handsets like the Poco F7, which could retail for less than half the rumoured A$1,300 price of the Nothing Phone 3.

While Nothing fans appreciate the brand’s signature design and UI flourishes, the omission of top-end hardware leaves questions about value for money, and whether the Phone (3) can truly compete with Android’s elite.

With its July 1 launch fast approaching, Nothing must now convince buyers that design, software, and experience matter more than raw power. But for many, calling this device a “true flagship” may be a stretch.