Nothing phone's Eccentric Design Aims to Light Up the Market

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Nothing phone's Eccentric Design Aims to Light Up the Market
13 Jul 2022
5 min read

News Synopsis

Nothing, a UK-based company, has launched an Android phone that it hopes will re-energize the smartphone market. The eye-catching Nothing 1 has a translucent back with hundreds of light-emitting diode (LED) lights that serve as notifications. Nothing raised more than $144 million (£122 million) in funding for the handset's development.

Nothing 1's creator, China-born Carl Pei, 32, who co-founded phone company OnePlus and is well-known in the smartphone industry, told BBC News that he wanted to "make tech fun again" for both consumers and investors.

According to the company, it has received over 200,000 requests for pre-orders of the £399 phone, which is roughly half the price of an average iPhone and is manufactured in China and India.

The company also intends to develop a luxury product, and Mr. Pei says he hopes to collaborate with Tesla, the electric-car manufacturer.

Despite software teething problems, Nothing has sold more than 500,000 units of its first product, wireless, noise-canceling headphones Ear 1, which was released in August.

"Add in the current macroeconomic situation and cost-of-living pressure, and it means being successful will be a huge challenge." Globally, smartphones sales were down 17% in May, compared with last year, according to CounterPoint Research.

TWN Tech Beat