The Phone 1 features a unique full LED design and is competitively priced, but has not yet been launched in the US.
After months of leaving clues, the new company of OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, Nothing, has unveiled its Phone 1 device.
The company first announced the phone 1 in March, but there was nothing to see in terms of hardware or prototype.
Since then, Nothing has been gradually sharing details about the device. Previously, OnePlus took a similar approach to generating a buzz among consumers through a drip source of viral marketing.
The Phone 1 has a starting price of € 469, which is cheaper than the latest flagship smartphones from Apple and Samsung.
It comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G + chipset, a dual camera with two 50-megapixel sensors and support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6. The smartphone runs on Nothing OS, an Android-based mobile operating system.
The phone looks very striking at first glance, with LED lights on the back flashing for certain notifications. The phone also includes transparent or black color options, which show a unique lighting pattern on the back.
Nothing’s Phone 1 will be launched at a London kiosk from July 16, before opening online sales on July 21 and in certain stores. The phone will be available in more than 40 countries in Europe and Asia. However, the phone is not being launched in the US.
U.S. customers still have some hope, as CNBC reported that Nothing is looking for a partner carrier so it can start selling the Phone 1 in the country.
When Phone 1 was first announced, Pei considered the iPhone as its main rival in the smartphone market.
“If you want products that connect and work seamlessly together, the only option is Apple,” he said. “As soon as you leave this ecosystem for a Windows PC or an Android phone, it breaks down. There’s no alternative to Apple.”
Pei made a name for himself as a co-founder of the Chinese electronics brand OnePlus, which started with Pete Lau in 2013. The company’s first smartphone, the OnePlus One, was a kind of clandestine sensation and Time acclaimed as the “phone of dreams.”
10 things you need to know directly in your inbox every day of the week. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s summary of essential science and technology news.