The Nothing Phone 3 launched yesterday with a starting price of $799 in the US (around ₹68,400) — but in India, where the phone is actually manufactured, it starts at a steep Rs 79,999. Let that sink in: a product made in India is significantly more expensive for Indian buyers than for customers thousands of miles away.
Shortly after the pricing of the Nothing Phone 3 was announced, it sparked a conversation amongst the tech enthusiasts and Nothing fans on X due to the unbelievable price tag when considering the specifications of the handset and what the competitors are offering. While some disliked the design of the handset, most were concerned about the price tag of the device. While the pricing in India is already steep, the fact that the device is manufactured locally makes the whole situation more ironic and frustrating for the users here in the country.
Despite heavy government push for local manufacturing and incentives under the “Make in India” campaign, Indian consumers continue to face inflated pricing. The Phone 3 is reportedly assembled at a facility in Tamil Nadu, which should, in theory, cut costs by avoiding hefty import duties. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
With a price difference of around Rs 12,000 to Rs 13,000 for both the variants sold in the US and India, the Nothing Phone 3 will cost cheaper in the former region. Whether the device justifies the price tag is a question that’ll be answered when we review it but till then, the device looks like a hard sell here in the country where it is made.
What does this business decision imply? It’s clear Nothing sees India as a growth market — but not necessarily one it wants to prioritize when it comes to selling its higher-end phones. While the brand’s A-series and CMF products are decently priced in the country and do justify their asking prices, the Nothing Phone 3 seems like an exception so far.
In comparison, other Snapdragon 8s Gen 4-powered devices like the iQOO Neo 10 and the Poco F7 have a sub-Rs 40,000 price tag. Moreover, they pack bigger batteries, better displays, along with faster charging as well. Furthermore, at Rs 80,000, you could get a Galaxy S24 Ultra, a Vivo X200, an Oppo Find X8, or a OnePlus 13, etc., all of which are more powerful and sport some or the other superior feature to the Nothing Phone 3.
At the very least, if a product is made locally, the benefits should trickle down to the buyer. With the Nothing Phone 3, that clearly hasn’t happened.
