Arabian Post Staff -Dubai
Nothing has launched its Phone, marking a strategic leap into the flagship smartphone market with a starting price of $799. The device is slated for pre-orders on 4 July and will ship globally on 15 July, including US, UK and European markets.
Equipped with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset paired with up to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage, the Phone positions itself against premium models like the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9. The device sports a 6.67‑inch OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and peaks at 4,500 nits brightness. It houses a 5,150 mAh silicon‑carbon battery supporting 65 W wired and 15 W wireless charging, and enjoys an IP68 water‑resistance rating.
A standout feature is the “Glyph Matrix”—a rear-mounted 489‑LED dot‑matrix display replacing the older light strips—for clocks, battery status, incoming call alerts, mini‑games and more. This creative update includes an SDK for developers, touch interaction via a dedicated “Glyph Button”, and interactive “Glyph Toys” such as Magic 8 Ball, Leveler and rock‑paper‑scissors.
Photography receives a notable boost with a quad‑50 MP camera system: main, telephoto, ultra‑wide and front sensors capable of 4 K video at 60 fps. The periscope telephoto offers 3× optical zoom, doubling for macro work. Nothing has shared initial macro photos revealing impressive detail capture capability from as close as 10 cm.
Nothing OS 3.5 introduces AI‑enabled tools such as meeting transcription via “Flip to Record” in Essential Space, and an enhanced universal search experience. The company commits to five years of Android updates and seven years of security patches.
This marks the first true return to the US retail market since 2023’s Phone 2. The US base model is $799, while the upgraded 16 GB + 512 GB variant is $899. Colour options include black and white along with £799 / €799 equivalents.
In India, priced at ₹62,999 for 12 GB + 256 GB and ₹72,999 for 16 GB + 512 GB, launch bundles include free Ear earbuds, extended warranty and EMI offers. The India-specific model also boasts a 5,500 mAh battery and supports Android 16 upgrade in Q3 2025.
The design retains Nothing’s semi‑transparent aesthetic, though critics note a departure from earlier harmony: the asymmetric triple camera layout and the new Glyph Matrix has divided opinion. Weight is slightly higher than expected, but industry observers consider it the best build quality to date from the firm.
While marketed heavily as a “first true flagship”, benchmarks suggest the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 trails behind top-tier chips powering rival flagships; however, focused use is reported to deliver reliable performance. Display and brightness are standout assets, and long‑term software support adds value.
Gear enthusiasts and developers are drawn to the Glyph Matrix’s programmability. Developers have already begun creating third‑party “Toys” and Nothing promises further expansion in app support.
With its leap into flagship territory, Nothing is taking calculated risks—innovation in lighting and interactive features balanced against chipset choices that may polarise spec‑centric buyers. Enthusiasts eager for a design‑led Android device priced under $800 and enriched with AI‑driven features may find the Phone compelling.
