A new leak now points to there being another premium Android phone about to join the ranks to compete at the high end of the smartphone market.
Veteran tech leaker Evan Blass has posted a screenshot on X of an alleged internal email from Carl Pei, the CEO and founder of Nothing, the British tech start up most famous for its transparent phones with lights on the back. The email is dated 2 January and appears to be a new year message outlining some successes and looking ahead to Nothing’s roadmap for the year.
“This year will mark the launch of our flagship Nothing Phone (3)”, Pei writes in the leaked email.
“It will introduce breakthrough innovations in user interface, taking our first step toward our AI-powered platform. We’re aiming at redefining the user experience of personal computing devices – creating technology that knows you, makes your life easier, and is present where you are. Technology that enables us to achieve our greatest creative potential.”
Nothing made small steps to introduce AI into its phones and Ear earbuds last year by integrating ChatGPT. Users can call on the third party AI assistant by pinching the earbuds’ stem, activating it on the phone when doing so.
Though no firm release date is suggested by Pei, he goes on to write: “First up in Q1, we have a landmark smartphone launch that the world will be very excited to see.”
This implies the Phone 3 will be unveiled by the end of March 2025, though in the way it’s worded it’s not totally clear that he’s referencing that phone. It leaves open the possibility Nothing will announce a further new phone in Q1, but it’s most likely that’s when the Phone 3 will be announced,
Nothing Phone 3 will be the true sequel to 2023’s £579 Nothing Phone 2 after last year’s Phone 2a and 2a Plus brought a different design and even cheaper prices to the brand’s smartphone line up.
By referring to the phone as a “flagship” in the company email, Pei is implying the firm could be set to rival Samsung, OnePlus and Honor with the features and specs on board. Nothing fans will hope that the price stays lower than its rivals to give customers true bang for buck.
Nothing’s phones stand out not only for their design but also the firm’s unique Android software. Unlike most, Nothing opts for a minimalist look with monochrome app icons and tools to keep you mindful of your screen time. Other companies overstuff Android with bells and whistles where Nothing strips back the experience for the better, as Express.co.uk has found when reviewing the devices.
But the apparent push by Nothing into a phone that’s fully AI is part of the whole industry’s move to harness the power of artificial intelligence. Where specs and cameras have been the arms race of the phone industry for the past decade, the next ten years could be all about how smart the smartphone really becomes, and if people will find the features useful in day to day life.
