More Nothing Details of the phone have been revealed (1) thanks to a hands-on video from Marx Brownlee (Opens in a new tab). In these shots we are finally able to see the phone from all angles, and get to know exactly the purpose of the unusual lights on the back.
These strange lights are actually called the “avatar front”, and they are a lighting system made of more than 900 LEDs. These sync with notifications and ringtones, and can be assigned to different apps or contacts.
It could also indicate that you’re using wireless or reverse wireless charging, or it’s turning on like an oddly shaped flashlight.
One of the lights that make up the avatar can also show the approximate percentage of the phone’s battery charge when plugged in if you shake the phone a bit.
We also see the front of the phone (1) for the first time in Brownlee’s video. It’s not exciting to look back. But it’s still interesting to see that nothing is missing for the hole in the left corner of the selfie camera, and it has given the phone perfectly symmetrical edges, like the iPhone 13.
We still don’t know much about the actual specifications of the phone (1). What camera sensors, screen size and refresh rate, how big and fast the battery packs, and what Snapdragon chipset powers it are all still a mystery.
It might not matter, because we heard some potentially bad news from the leaker Evan Blass (Opens in a new tab). He claims that there can be no availability of the phone in the US (1), which is supported by the fact that the StockX page for the phone (1) on which the first 100 units will be auctioned warns US bidders that the phone is not fully compatible in North Amarica.
There seems to be nothing beyond the US in terms of phone (1) availability and network compatibility. Disappointing, but understandable. It’s hard for young brands to achieve carrier adoption here, and without these deals, it’s not really worth negotiating retail channels at all…June 21 2022
It’s no surprise that nothing has bypassed the US market due to its heavy reliance on carrier partnerships. But undoubtedly, if this rumor turns out to be true, there will be many frustrated fans who want nothing.
We’ll only know availability details and specific specifications for Nothing Phone (1) next month, at the full reveal scheduled for July 12.
