“Iterations, not innovations.” That’s what Nothing CEO Carl Pei said in his live stream promoting the launch of his company’s very first smartphone. Calling out Apple specifically, Pei was referring to ostensible innovations — or simple advancements — for devices these days (e.g. an added camera lens or an increased screen size) that feel more incremental than revolutionary like they did in the past. So, building off the success of Nothing’s ultra-light wireless earbuds, the Ear 1, the brand has announced its first smartphone — Phone 1 — which promises to breathe new life into the smartphone industry once again.
While the phone has yet to be fully revealed, Pei’s presentation did share some details. It will be operated by the new Nothing Operating System (OS). Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform, it is modeled to be a barebones version of Google’s Android operating system to achieve Phone 1’s higher speed and faster connectivity, with 40% fewer pre-installs and an app usage optimization that allows for apps to open and close extremely quickly. Nothing understands the anxiety that today’s hyper technology can burden us with, with information at our fingertips that often ramps us up as much as it does benefit us. Because of that, the Phone 1’s minimal animation doesn’t overwhelm or create unnecessary disquietude but streamlines the functionality to be, well, functional. This goes along with the uniform date/time setup across the always-on-screen, the log-in screen, and the home screen for a smooth, continuous feel.
Utilizing dot matrix graphics, the Phone 1 employs a unique aesthetic and style that makes using your phone fun while also serving a purpose. The voice recorder features a simple and interactive analog tape reel graphic that moves as you play and rewind your recordings. It’s these added touches that make Nothing’s upcoming device so highly anticipated among those looking for a fresh addition to the tech scene.
Coming with three years of OS updates and four years of security updates, the Phone 1 will be the lodestone of Nothing’s open ecosystem approach, effortlessly connecting to and offering support for devices from other brands. And while the phone’s appearance has yet to be revealed, Nothing promises that its design is both “stunning” and “like nothing else.” The Phone 1 is expected to launch this summer, but the Nothing OS will roll out this April for select smartphone models.
