Nothing has dropped a mysterious image of the upcoming Phone 3 on X(formerly Twitter) and calls it a work of “precise engineering.” We paused to take it all in and understand what the company is trying to suggest here, and our findings may disappoint many Nothing fans, especially those who were in awe of the company’s transparent back innovation and found those flashy, aka glyph interface, appealing.
Phone 3 may have none of those, but there could also be something better in the works.
The strange picture that was provided through a little update on the company’s backend, and perhaps on purpose, seems like a close-up of a new design piece. It looks like Nothing at first: some clean lines, a circular cut-out, and a tab that makes you think. But if you look closely, it screams: a new Glyph language, a new camera structure, and maybe even a whole new modular approach.
The photo doesn’t offer us the whole story (literally), but it does make us ask more questions than it answers: Is it a bigger camera case with a mechanical cover? Is Nothing ultimately going to use a periscope lens or a MagSafe-style accessory mount? And what’s up with that tab? Could that mean that parts can be taken out or that the SIM tray and accessory port have been redesigned?
What We Know and What We Think We Know
Let’s go back. Carl Pei’s Nothing has become known for its radical design choices, such as transparent backs, LED glyphs, and retro-futuristic vibes. But a recent report delivered a twist: the Nothing Phone 3 could not even have the Glyph interface at all. That cool notification system that uses LEDs might be going away, or at least getting a facelift. This fresh picture could prove that change. There isn’t a single LED light that is glowing. What is there instead? A more mechanical, cleaner look, maybe putting more emphasis on function than on the flashy appearance.
If Nothing is going to get rid of Glyph, they will need a strong ace up their sleeve. This teaser might be a clue to that. Let’s Think About It Responsibly? This might mean: A more expensive Nothing phone aimed at power users which has been suggested by Pei himself or a new route for modularity or extras or a Glyph 2.0 that blends in better and is less obvious or maybe it’s not a phone at all- what if Nothing is just trying to get you to buy an accessory? A charger without wires? A case that does smart things?
The Bottom Line
This may be the company’s biggest change yet. A new look, a new interface, and maybe the end of Glyph as we know it. No matter what occurs, one thing is for sure: Nothing is absolutely up to something.