Apple and Samsung are perhaps two of the most well-known smartphone manufacturers. Both are highly rated by those who own them, according to Consumer Reports; However, they are far superior to the Nothing Phone brand. Based on owner satisfaction, Nothing is among Consumer Reports’ lowest-rated phone brands.
Consumer Reports ranks Nothing as the worst phone manufacturer in terms of owner satisfaction. Those who own a Nothing phone apparently wouldn’t recommend it to their acquaintances. The score is not just for a single phone from the company, but for the entire Nothing smartphone lineup, including Nothing Phone (3), Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, and Nothing Phone (3a). The phone brand also ranked quite poorly in terms of brand reliability.
Nothing’s low owner satisfaction score may also be due to its price. The Nothing Phone (3) is listed at $699, the same as the Apple iPhone 16e, but Apple is rated higher than Nothing in all Consumer Reports categories. On the other hand, the Galaxy A17 5G costs $249.99 and is also highly rated.
About Nothing smartphones
Consumer Reports’ Owner Satisfaction Score is based on whether CR members would be willing to suggest a Nothing smartphone to family or friends. It turns out that Nothing has such a low satisfaction score that CR members say they advise against anyone they know owning a smartphone made by Nothing. It was extremely unlikely that anyone who tested a Nothing phone would actually recommend it as an everyday smartphone.
Four of Nothing’s phones made the bottom five on Consumer Reports’ list. Each received the exact same ranking across the board in terms of owner satisfaction score, brand reliability, and battery. Another feature that adds to the low rating was the weight of the phones. According to CR, the Nothing Phone (3) is heavier than most other phones, which can make it more cumbersome in your hand, bag, or pocket. All of these aspects combined are why Nothing is placed in the lowest possible bracket among the best cell phones, according to Consumer Reports.
As a maker of mid-range phones, such as the Nothing Phone (4a), Nothing can also set prices that reflect this. The (4a), for example, costs around $500, which is less than most new Apple and Samsung phones. Given the popularity and owner satisfaction, it may not be worth the investment. However, Nothing ranks highly in a few areas, including display, camera quality, and performance.
What users think of Nothing smartphones
If you want a mid-range smartphone that isn’t a name brand, nothing exists to serve that market. Reddit owners say there are a few not-so-great things, like the location of the power button and the all-important key. One owner felt that the essential button was placed in an awkward spot where their thumb rested, requiring them to keep activating it. Even an Amazon reviewer says the button is annoying because it activates the phone’s AI and can’t be remapped.
The price of Nothing phones is another topic discussed in a Reddit thread. One user said that Nothing had good ideas but didn’t really execute them very well, and he would only recommend a Nothing phone if it was discounted. If paying around $600 for a smartphone seems outrageous to you, there’s always the Nothing “B” series phone.
Consumer Reports had good things to say about Nothing, however. Some features that hit the mark were the phones’ durability and water resistance. Battery life is also rated as good, with the (4a) model lasting around 40.5 hours. If you’re looking for a phone with a good camera, it might be worth it. However, when it comes to recommending a new smartphone, Apple and Samsung trump nothing in any Consumer Reports category.
