DESIGN /
DIGITAL
July 29, 2022
Nothing, the UK consumer tech company, presents a new era of smartphone: Nothing.
Nothing
A unique mechanical design with a see-through back
Nothing, which garnered attention last year with the skeleton-bodied wireless earbuds "Nothing ear(1)," is now releasing its next product: the smartphone "Phone (1)." What kind of smartphone will this ambitious brand create?
Text by KOBAYASHI Miki
Not just design and functionality, but also SDGs considerations
Nothing aims to bring artistry and passion back to the gadget industry by building an ecosystem of highly connected technological products. The wireless earbuds Nothing ear(1), released last year, were praised for their skeleton body design and became a topic of conversation in Japan.
Following the success of ear (1), the next product is the smartphone "Nothing Phone (1)." It is sure to be one of the most anticipated tech products in recent years.
As proof, the design was unveiled at Art Basel in Switzerland. On June 21, a limited edition of 100 units with serial numbers was auctioned on the US global online marketplace StockX, with the highest bid reaching $3,000, approximately 10 times the retail price.
Details such as specifications will be released from July 12 (July 13 Japan time), with over 200,000 pre-orders currently awaiting worldwide. The phone is scheduled to launch in Japan in August.
Combining functionality and design with consideration for SDGs, this is truly a smartphone for the new era.
Let's take another look at the Nothing Phone (1).
First, the transparent back, composed of over 400 components, catches the eye. The unique mechanical design is said to be inspired by artists such as Massimo Vignelli, who designed the New York subway map.
The frame, made from 100% recycled aluminum, is lightweight yet robust, and over 50% of the plastic components use industry-leading proportions of bio-based or post-consumer recycled materials.
The Glyph Interface on the back, made up of 900 LEDs, uses unique light patterns to notify you of incoming calls, app notifications, charging status, and more. When placed face up, the Glyph Interface silences notification sounds, providing alerts solely through light.
Nothing OS offers the best of Android. It features the powerful and reliable Snapdragon™ 778G+ chipset for speedy and smooth performance.
The camera system consists of a main and ultra-wide lens, both equipped with excellent 50MP dual cameras. Intelligent features like Night Mode and Scene Detection automatically adjust settings for perfect shots every time.
Carl Pei, CEO and co-founder of Nothing, says, "We designed Phone (1) to be a product that people would be excited to show off to their friends and family." He also adds, "Currently, the market is filled with derivative products that are cold and uninspiring. It's time for fresh ideas."
In the past, the mechanics born from technological advancements were exciting, and their very existence brought a sense of wonder. Nothing is making technology fun again, stimulating creativity. After all, smartphones connect people. The future that Phone (1) ushers in, in terms of bringing joy back to daily communication, is something to look forward to.
It will be available for pre-order exclusively at KITH TOKYO on August 2nd.
Nothing Phone (1)
- Colors | White, Black
- Configurations | 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB (late summer release)
- Price | ¥69,800 (tax included) for the 8GB+256GB model (as of July 13)
- *Other prices and detailed release dates and sales methods will be announced later.
- Release | Nothing Phone (1) will be available for open sales starting Thursday, July 21, in over 40 countries and regions, including the UK and Europe, primarily on nothing.tech and at select carrier shops. General release in Japan is in August.
Inquiries
Nothing
https://jp.nothing.tech/