Nothing, the tech company founded by Carl Pei, has launched its first premium over-ear headphones, the Headphone 1, alongside its newest flagship smartphone, the Phone (3). This move signals Nothing's ambition to compete in the high-end market, challenging established players like Apple and Samsung.
Nothing Phone (3): A Flagship Enters the Arena
The Phone (3) represents a significant step up for Nothing, moving beyond its previously affordable and mid-range devices. With a price tag of £799 (around $799 in the US), the Phone (3) enters the premium segment, aiming to win over consumers with its unique design, high-end specifications, and advanced software.
The Phone (3) retains Nothing's signature transparent design, but with refinements and premium materials. One notable change is the introduction of the Glyph Matrix, a micro-LED screen on the back of the phone that replaces the traditional Glyph Interface. The Glyph Matrix displays app alerts, contact notifications, and real-time progress indicators, aiming to reduce user screen time. Users can also interact with the Glyph Matrix through "Glyph Toys," which are essentially widgets that function as a digital clock, stopwatch, battery indicator or even simple games. Nothing plans to release a public SDK, encouraging developers to create their own widgets and games for the Glyph Matrix.
The Phone (3) boasts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, along with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Phone (3) is powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. The base model comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while a higher-end configuration offers 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
The Phone (3) features a triple rear camera system, with all four cameras using 50-megapixel sensors. The main and periscope cameras also include optical image stabilization. The device allows users to shoot video at 4K and 60FPS across all lenses.
The Phone (3) ships with Android 15 and Nothing promises five years of platform updates and seven years of security patches.
Nothing Headphone 1: Premium Audio with a Transparent Twist
Alongside the Phone (3), Nothing unveiled its first over-ear headphones, the Headphone 1. These headphones feature a design consistent with Nothing's other products, including squircle-shaped earcups and see-through elements. The design is reminiscent of cassette tapes and includes a 3.5mm audio cable.
The Headphone 1 is priced in the premium category at $300, positioning it against competitors like Bose and Sony. The headphones feature active noise cancellation, Spatial Audio, and cushioned earcups. AI-powered active noise cancellation adapts to external sounds in real time. The inclusion of a 3.5mm jack will appeal to users who prefer wired connections. The Nothing X app allows users to customize their audio experience with an eight-band EQ and custom presets tuned by KEF. The Headphone 1 offers up to 80 hours of listening without ANC or 35 hours with noise cancellation enabled. A five-minute charge provides 2.4 hours of playback.
Nothing collaborated with KEF to create custom 40mm drivers for the Headphone 1, aiming to deliver high-quality audio that rivals competitors like Apple's AirPods Max.
With the launch of the Phone (3) and Headphone 1, Nothing is making a bold statement about its ambitions in the tech industry. The company is betting that its unique design language, premium features, and focus on user experience will resonate with consumers looking for something different in a crowded market.
